Funding

The legacy of microfinance: does it live up to its hype?

This article was originally posted in Harvard Kennedy School Review The origin story of microfinance began with Muhammad Yunus, a Professor of Economics who returned from the US to teach in his native Bangladesh. Amid high poverty rates, he found himself questioning how economic theory could address the immediate needs of the poor around him. He started experimenting with lending …

What Makes Crowdfunding a Vital Tool for Social Entrepreneurs?

Though an early-stage social enterprise should prioritise bootstrapping as its means of financial sustenance, for some, this is not always a viable option. Converting some ideas into businesses can be capital-intensive, particularly those dependent on expensive production, research and development. This is why crowdfunding is becoming the go-to option for so many entrepreneurs, including those launching a social enterprise.  Traditionally, …

Why Women-Led Social Enterprises Are Killing It On Crowdfunding

There has never been a better time to launch a business as a female entrepreneur. Investments in startup and growing businesses isn’t just for men clad in dark suits at the top of flashy financial institution buildings any longer. Many people, not just friends and family, want to help entrepreneurs solve problems, innovate, and create jobs. This is particular of …

Before Marketing to Social Entrepreneurs, Crowdfunding Platforms Should Understand Social Enterprise

There is an old adage about the benefits of teaching a man how to fish, rather than giving him the fish. But what happens if you simply give the man a fishing rod and walk away? Technically a service has been provided, but without any guarantee of long-term success. Most large Crowdfunding companies knowingly or unknowingly, operate on this principle. Crowdfunding …

Entrepreneurship Without Borders: Back a Campaign in Any Currency on UpEffect

Exciting news! The UpEffect team recently implemented several new features that not only make our platform an equal player with industry giants like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but in fact exceed these platforms’ capabilities. According to the World Bank, initiatives to modernize payments are crucial in efforts to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2020. UpEffect is the first crowdfunding platform to not …

Updates on the Crowdfunding Industry from the UK Alternative Finance Report

Over the past 10 years, the crowdfunding industry has become more than a side project happening on the borders of the established circuit of banking and financing.  This change became more evident as people grew tired of standing on the sidelines of business. Everyday, small entrepreneurs with great ideas bravely decided to put them forth and consumers responded accordingly – …