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Can Impact Investing Avoid the Failures of Microfinance?

Harvard Business Review

Morgan projected up to $1T in investment would be deployed this decade — which would make impact investing twice the size of official development aid to the world’s less develop countries (as defined by the United Nations) , presuming historic levels of aid stayed constant since 2010. Lessons from Microfinance.

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How One Startup Developed a Sales Model That Works in Emerging Markets

Harvard Business Review

Launch day was a wild success. Experiment #5: Microfinance Institutions. In emerging markets, microfinance has been a key economic engine in helping low-income households fund businesses and other important purchases in daily life. Chai stands were built, graphics were printed, and the team was ready for launch.

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Entrepreneurship Needs to Be a Bigger Part of U.S. Foreign Aid

Harvard Business Review

” In less mature economies and fragile regions of the world, entrepreneurs are just as, if not more, critical to livelihoods and development. Among the initial findings : more effective programs emphasize communication skills, networking, and organizational structure over developing finance and accounting skills.