An evolving product of the ANDE conference, which I hope to write more about soon:
The growing number and capacity of local intermediaries in emerging markets is a success story of Small and Growing Business (SGB) investing. Yet, they have not found their space in the investment value chain. They are underutilized as a potential deal source and investment advisor, with investment funds relying on parallel structures to make investments. This failure to adapt to new possibilities is stunting the growth of SGB investing.
To read more, click here... opinions welcome!
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Getting In...
Getting in to social enterprise is notoriously difficult. The same with the charitable sector. I do not remember my own experiences fondly - running up to the stage at BOP conferences in Barcelona, Paris, Warsaw, New York with half of the audience, just to be disappointed to find that the speakers could not give us a job! Or spending two months in Dakar looking for productive work... I wasn't picky.
Having said that, im not sure its supposed to be easy. Those months of really trying show dedication and initiative: Real entrepreneurs are found through a tough selection process. I dont want to undersell it, but supporting a nascent industry in develping countries is not always easy and requires an edge. Not that one is supposed to say this out loud, but its not like im trying to pull up any ladder and am always happy to help those who really try. I am mainly basing this on my experiences which brought me into contact with a lot of people that were just not ready for this, and in the end always left unhappy and with the organization in tatters. There is a darker side to this too: I was in the fortunate position to be able to afford the low wages and distance to family and friends. Many are not, and I am fully aware that this drives an industry that is carved more of one mind than is probably good for it...
The reason I've been thinking about this are a series of posts on Next Billion, most prominently "Looking for ways to get invloved", which seems to advocate Fellowships as the new internships (although internships are still available). New Ventures and the organizations listed are only continuing (or have led) a proliferation of websites and events that give an "in" to the industry (Just Means, Social Edge). By an large they are doing a great job supporting a larger, more sophisticated talent pool, but i wonder at what point there will be too much of a good thing.
Having said that, im not sure its supposed to be easy. Those months of really trying show dedication and initiative: Real entrepreneurs are found through a tough selection process. I dont want to undersell it, but supporting a nascent industry in develping countries is not always easy and requires an edge. Not that one is supposed to say this out loud, but its not like im trying to pull up any ladder and am always happy to help those who really try. I am mainly basing this on my experiences which brought me into contact with a lot of people that were just not ready for this, and in the end always left unhappy and with the organization in tatters. There is a darker side to this too: I was in the fortunate position to be able to afford the low wages and distance to family and friends. Many are not, and I am fully aware that this drives an industry that is carved more of one mind than is probably good for it...
The reason I've been thinking about this are a series of posts on Next Billion, most prominently "Looking for ways to get invloved", which seems to advocate Fellowships as the new internships (although internships are still available). New Ventures and the organizations listed are only continuing (or have led) a proliferation of websites and events that give an "in" to the industry (Just Means, Social Edge). By an large they are doing a great job supporting a larger, more sophisticated talent pool, but i wonder at what point there will be too much of a good thing.
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