From blockchain to blended finance: GDI and its initiatives at SOCAP
Were you at SOCAP17? GDI and its initiatives hosted five sessions this year at SOCAP, the world’s leading conference on impact investing and social enterprise:
- Alice Gugelev, GDI: Transforming INGO Business Models: The Role of Market-based Solutions and Impact Investing
- Erika Boll, GDI: How Blockchain will Change the Way We Invest for Impact
- Marina Kaneti, GDI: Changing the Narrative for Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets
- Convergence [exited]: Mind the Gap: How to Achieve the SDGs with Blended Finance
- New Standard Institute [GDI supporting]: The $2.5 Trillion Challenge Hanging in Our Closets: Can the Fashion Industry Become a Source for Good?
Scroll down for some of our favorite photos and quotes from the sessions:
Transforming INGO Business Models: The Role of Market-based Solutions and Impact Investing
Marilia Bezerra (CARE Enterprises) on bringing impact investing into INGO business models: “We need to become less transactional and more relational.”
Richard Gomes, of Shell Foundation, discussing the future of INGO business models: “We’re obsessed with attribution of impact, by additionality. I don’t think we crack any problems if we don’t first tackle this issue.”
How Blockchain Will Change the Way We Invest for Impact
GDI’s Erika Boll started the conversation on blockchain for impact with the basics: “How would you explain blockchain to your grandparent?”
Shane Ninai (Day One Capital) on the risks of blockchain: “‘Fail fast and cheaply’ doesn’t work as well in emerging markets as it might in Silicon Valley.”
Changing the Narrative for Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets
GDI’s Marina Kaneti: “How much longer are we just going to fund women for basket weaving?”
Victoria Fram of VilCap Investments: “The perception in Silicon Valley is that women only start women-centric businesses. Based on what we see in our portfolio, it’s a myth.”
Tahira Dosani of Accion Venture Lab: “People forget women are 50% of consumer base – that provides an important business case for entrepreneurs who can design for what these consumers want and need.”
Mind the Gap: How to Achieve the SDGs with Blended Finance
Convergence’s Joan Larrea: “Simple structures (that can be analyzed in 5 mins) are the holy grail of blended finance.”
Jason Henning of Global Partnerships: “Getting the right blended finance investors and structures together is like finding a needle in a haystack…and also having to thread it while in the haystack.”
