Social Investment - license to lose?

One might expect there to be only the slightest similarity between venture capital and social investment; perhaps the fact that money changes hands or that a return is expected. Surely that is where the similarities end?  Based on our experience, no it isn’t. We believe there could be a parallel to be drawn between grant-funding and investment in the development of fast-growth, high-potential organisations in the social and private sectors. Eh! – how so?

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Ernesto Sirolli: Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!

The person who can do it all doesn't exist - Ernestor Sirolli on how communities and individuals can encourage entrepeneurs if you just get out of their way.

Risk & Failure

Interesting article on risk and the appetite for it (or not) in the Harvard Business Review. Sir Ronald Cohen argues that the social or impact investing is where the VC market was 35 years ago and

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Growing Social Innovation - VPF News (Feb 2013)

Click here to read the latest inspiring stories from VPF's portfolio of innovative social ventures, and update yourself on new members, initiatives and opportunities across the VPF network.

Matching need & resource...

 

...or making your money work for good

One of our ventures, Shelterbox, last week made me think.

Shelterbox was set up as a rapid response outfit and deploys many, many times per year, often to areas struck by disasters that don’t make the mainstream news. Luckily they have regular strong support to enable them to do so. But a truly enormous disaster, one that leads the ten o’clock news, does two things.

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