In an effort to prove that small and growing businesses (SGBs) have the power to drive prosperity in the developing world, the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs hosted its fifth Metrics from the Ground Up conference recently. The Network released its “2012 Impact Report” detailing three action areas for the SGB sector: hurdles for female entrepreneurs; the finance gap for start-ups; and the difficulties faced by small holder agricultural businesses when attempting to enter the global market.
Several media outlets reported on the findings. Read below for the wide-reaching coverage:
From The Wall Street Journal Washington Wire
June 17, 2013
“Lenders Target Developing Nations’ Top Entrepreneurs”
By Andrew Aylward
What would happen if business owners in developing countries who lacked access to commercial lending were offered a more generous helping hand – offering credit that exceeded the typical $5,000 microloan?
That question underpins a report released last week by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, a project of the Aspen Institute started in 2009. Read full article here.
From NextBillion.net
June 15, 2013
“Keeping the Spigot of Funding Flowing to SGBs”
By Scott Anderson
Looking over Impact Report 2012 by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), which zeros in on the state of small and growing businesses (SGBs) – particularly those with the potential for reducing poverty – I was reminded of the old idiom about the half-full (or half-empty) glass of water. Read full article here.
From The Washington Post-Innovations blog
June 13, 2013
“Here’s What We’re Watching/Reading Today”
By Emi Kolawole
The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is hosting a networking event in Washington, around its fourth-annual Impact Report on Thursday evening. The ANDE, a project of the Aspen Institute, focuses on supporting small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets. Read full article here.
From Forbes.com
June 13, 2013
“Small And Growing Businesses Are Key To Our Job Problems”
By Samantha Smith
In both developing and mature economies, small and growing businesses (SGBs) struggle with three problems —access to industry, small initial capital, and strong human resources. In my own research I’ve found this, and ANDE’s latest impact report confirms this and more. SGBs can be defined as businesses able to grow beyond a small business meant for livelihood and able to employ staff upwards of 200 or more. Read full article here.
From Bloomberg BusinessWeek
June 13, 2013
“Impact Investing: Lots of Interest, but Where’s the Big Money?”
By John Tozzi
There’s plenty of interest in supporting entrepreneurs in the developing world these days, from the elite hobnobbing at Davos, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the G-8 summit. Last year, financial institutions devoted to development, foundations, and other entities formed 30 new investment funds to channel money to small, growing companies overseas. They invest in businesses that have 5 to 250 employees and need $20,000 to $2 million to expand. Read full article here.
From Stanford Social Innovation Review
June 13, 2013
“Aligning Interests in Impact Investing”
By Daniel Izzo
If we want to develop a new industry, alignment of interests is critical for long-term success.
The structure of a traditional venture capital fund provides two sources of revenues to fund managers. The first is the management fee, which covers the costs of the team, the investment processes, and the monitoring of portfolio companies. It is calculated as a fraction of the total amount invested in the fund and is paid monthly to the management company. The second form of compensation is the carry cost. Early in the life of the fund, the manager and the investors agree on a minimum expected annual financial return. If the return is exceeded, a portion (usually about 20 percent) of the excess amount is due to fund managers as success fee. Read full article here.
From Business Figths Poverty blog
June 13, 2013
“Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs 2012 Impact Report”
By Katie Dumont
Today the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs launches our 2012 Impact Report. The annual report highlights new data on the increase in investments in small and growing businesses (SGBs) as well as other trends and challenges that the sector faces. For the first time this year we’re holding launch events not only in the United States, but also in the four regions where we have a physical presence. By doing so we hope to draw further attention to the potential of small and growing businesses to create jobs, stimulate long-term economic growth, and produce environmental and social benefits. Read full article here.
