“At the intersection of money and meaning” is the mantra for a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors. At the inaugural Social Capital Markets 2008 Conference (SoCap08), attendees will learn what works and what doesn’t in this new world of social capital and social entrepreneurs. If you are an entrepreneur who is changing the world or an investor focusing on blended value and the integrated bottom line, this conference will help you find the ideas, partners and capital you need to succeed.
Full Circle Fund is an engaged philanthropy organization cultivating the next generation of community leaders and driving lasting social change in the Bay Area. Join Full Circle Fund for an evening of inspiration and networking featuring top microfinance expert and SVMN Board Member Elizabeth Funk. This event is also a chance to mingle with Full Circle Fund members and learn more about how to get involved in Full Circle Fund.
How Muhammad Yunus, Grameen, & Microfinance are Changing the World
Please join us Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at the Intuit HQ in Mountain View for the next SVMN meeting where our speaker will be Alex Counts, President and CEO of Grameen Foundation:
Alex Counts, Grameen Foundation
Alex will discuss his new book Small Loans, Big Dreams which tells the story of microfinance through the eyes of borrowers, lenders, and leaders of microfinance. Alex will share his perspectives from the book as well as personal experiences from the early years of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, where he spent years working side by side with Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner & founder of Grameen. [Note: You may purchase the book in advance from the Grameen Foundation website and bring it to the meeting for Alex to sign.]
UPDATE:
With the rich perspective of a person who has been involved in microfinance since early on and dedicated his entire career to this field, Alex Counts spoke about his professional journey, Grameen Foundation and other Grameen organizations, and the frontiers of microfinance. He told poignant anecdotes about individual micro-borrowers, reminding us of the real, daily struggles that the working poor face to survive. He also encouraged people to think boldly about how to leverage microfinance’s unique asset — the relationships and trust between MFIs and poor people, this already-existing ‘pipeline’ — to create greater social improvements in the near and long-term futures. The field of microfinance is far from saturated, and much more can be done to evolve the systems that have been built thus far. Alex encouraged civic groups and networks like SVMN to dedicate themselves to ethically scaling microfinance around the world.
After his inspiring and good humored speech, Alex answered questions and also spent time signing his new book and speaking with SVMN members individually.
What happens to emerging economy businesses that aren’t served by either commercial banking or microfinance? In many developing countries, large businesses have access to formal, bank-based credit and capital markets; meanwhile households and micro-entrepreneurs have access to micro-loans. This leaves a massive economic gap known as the “missing middle” in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs account for half of GDP and two-thirds of jobs in developed countries, and are potentially a high-impact, high-return investment. Please join us to hear Google.org discuss how we can drive capital to these enterprises and what lessons can be shared between the SME and micro-enterprise sectors.
What is it really like to run a microfinance institution? What does it feel to be a loan officer? What things keep you up at night? How do you decide who to loan to? What do you do if someone just can’t repay? Come hear from three leading microfinance institutions: Pro Mujer, WORTH, and WAMER; about their experiences in the field,;and dealing with the day to day operational challenges of microfinance.
