Has anyone heard of firms like this that invest in microfinance firms or companies with the goal of providing products / services to the poor? I've found three:
1) Acumen Fund: http://acumenfund.org/about-us/about-us.html
2) Gray Ghost Ventures: http://www.grayghostventures.com/socialvf/portfol…
3) BlueOrchard: http://www.blueorchard.com/jahia/Jahia/op/edit/Pr…
Has anybody heard of other firms built along similar missions? I'd be interested in finding out more.
Interesting, I've never even heard of a social venture fund.
I do know that microfinance institutions, at a certain scale, are quite profitable. As such, some MFIs in India have received tons of venture capital from top-tier investors.
For example, SKS Microfinance has received investment from Sequoia Capital and Columbia Ventures.
There's tons of opportunities like this around India. Lots of entrepreneurs are doing stuff to serve the rural areas.
TeamLRAM http://teamlram.wordpress.com
Thanks! I've read about the SKS Microfinance investments. In fact, there's an HBS case about it, if I remember correctly. My interest has actually shifted a little more towards more general social investments, though.
Does anybody know more?
Here's one: http://www.bamboofinance.com
They're based in Geneva, though, like BlueOrchard.
I've heard of these kinds of funds. As far as MFIs go, the Microvest fund is pretty good. Not sure what the comp is like at these place, don't see too much upside.
Here's my list: Gray Ghost Ventures Presumed Abundance Ennovent Acumen Fund Lok Capital Unitus PE E+CO Root Capital Gray Ghost DOEN Coopertatief Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund FirstLight Venture Gray Ghost Social Venture Fund Elevar Equity - Bangalore Unitus Capital Grassroots Business Fund Aavishkaar R.F. Chandler Bamboo Finance Venture East Orient Global Oasis Omidyar Legatum Ventures Toniic Angels SONG Advisors D.O.B. Foundation Enviu LGT Venture Philanthropy inventure fund
Actis isn't 100% poverty-oriented, but it's awesome from what I've heard.
http://www.act.is/
Bump. Looking for more information on social venture funds. I am starting my own research to come (LinkedIn searches, cold emailing) and will report back on what I find, but this area is interesting to me and I wanted to start by asking questions in case I can get answers without having to do every bit of the research myself.
1) What is compensation like? (We're all wondering, had to ask)
2) What is b-school placement like?
3) How does the work differ from working at a socially oriented endowment/foundation (e.g. Gates Fund) vs. differ from working at a traditional VC firm? What is the day to day like?
4) What types of jobs do you generally exit to?
5) How are the hours? Travel? If you work in a social fund that has a large EM presence, do you go there?
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