Dignity starts with a job

Dignity starts with a job

January 24, 20242 mins

Upaya Social Ventures (Upaya SV) was founded 12 years ago to create dignified jobs for people living in extreme poverty by building scalable businesses with investment and consulting support. Upaya is…

Naya Kya Hai?

Naya Kya Hai?

January 12, 20242 mins

(For non-Hindi readers, Naya Kya Hai means “What’s New”) Let me start by telling you what is NOT new. It’s December-end (early-Jan) and I’m 4 ~2 weeks away from racing yet another Tata Mumbai Marathon…

Is Impact Investing Dead?

Is Impact Investing Dead?

December 16, 20233 mins

(Created with Bing Image Creator/Dalle-3 using “impact investing is dead. long live impact investing”) This was the first question that popped up when I heard about Omidyar India’s news. And then I…

World Bank India Development Marketplace: Finalist Review Part 2

World Bank India Development Marketplace: Finalist Review Part 2

May 30, 20132 mins

[Editor’s Note: The World Bank’s Development Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grants program that surfaces and funds innovative projects with high potential for development impact that are scalable…

World Bank India Development Marketplace: Finalist Review Part 1

World Bank India Development Marketplace: Finalist Review Part 1

May 29, 20133 mins

[Editor’s Note: The World Bank’s Development Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grants program that surfaces and funds innovative projects with high potential for development impact that are scalable…

Artha Platform, closed social enterprise version of Angel List, announces Challenge

Artha Platform, closed social enterprise version of Angel List, announces Challenge

May 28, 20132 mins

Pic courtesy arthaventurechallenge.com This post was supposed to be about Artha Venture Challenge (AVC) – a call for applications from social ventures across India operating in the sectors of…

Simpa Networks Closes $2 million Series B round

Simpa Networks Closes $2 million Series B round

April 05, 20132 mins

[Update (Apr 8, 2013): Simpa’s CEO Paul Needham wrote back with a few details. ADB joins other investors such as Schneider Electric, DOEN Foundation, Invested Development, Hilti Foundation, Village…

Will Poole, on the 10 commandments of pitching BOP startups

Will Poole, on the 10 commandments of pitching BOP startups

April 02, 20133 mins

Pic courtesy usf.vc [Editor’s Note: A few weeks ago, I had an engaging coffee chat with Unitus Seed Fund‘s (USF) Srikrishna Ramamoorthy and Eleanor Horowitz. The bulk of our discussion was on early…