Guess what I found, even in the most remote fish village in Tai O!
Asia
Empathy
Our best hope for the future is not to get people to think of all humanity as family—that’s impossible. It lies, instead, in an appreciation of the fact that, even if we don’t empathize with distant strangers, their lives have the same value as the lives of those we love. – Paul Bloom, The Case Against Empathy
Three Month Check In
Now that I’ve reached the halfway point of my FMS placement, I thought it would be a good chance to list out some of the highlights of what I have been up to at Unitus Seed Fund since starting here: USF announced two new investments into iStar and Jack on Block USF won Villgro’s “Best Indian […]
Notes from Sankalp: Identifying the Value of Social Enterprise Incubators
Last month, I had a chance to attend India’s largest and leading impact investing and social enterprise conference, the Sankalp Unconvention Summit, in Mumbai. The conference, which attracted 1,000 attendees, plays host to several social impact awards, serves as a venue for entrepreneurs to meet investors, is a massive networking opportunity, and offers a quasi-think […]
The Story of Goecha La – Insights on Sikkim & The Business of Himalayan Trekking
I have recently returned from the incredible experience of trekking Goecha La, a 5000m (16,500ft) pass in the North Eastern Himalaya in the Indian State of Sikkim. The state of Sikkim is a world of its own when compared with … Continue reading →
Microfranchising & Meso-Lending in India
Kinara Capital – Borrower Profiles
Low Cost Smartphone Based Psychometric Credit Assessment for Micro and Small Businesses in India
As I mentioned in a previous post, there is a huge demand for credit of around $198 billion among micro and small businesses in India which make up a hugely important section of society responsible for a significant portion of … Continue reading →
Back to Motherland
As I left the grand entrance of my firm’s headquarter with all my hoarded belongings over the last three years, I glanced back wondering if I would ever return. Would I miss the energetic morning greetings from the only security guard with big smiles, would I miss the ever-changing lights from Helmsley Building that cheer […]
Largest Solar Cooking System in the World – Shirdi, Maharashtra, India
The Dawn of Solar
Humankind has been mesmerized by the power of the Sun for millennia. The idea of a sun deity is pervasive across many religions, cultures & geographies including the Egyptian Sun God, Ra, the Hindu Sun God, Surya, the Greek deity … Continue reading →
Solar Sunday
This past Sunday I had the privilege to meet fellow solar energy enthusiasts Catlin Powers, Co-Founder of One Earth Designs, and Colonel Varma, a retired Indian Army veteran for Sunday brunch. This was no ordinary meal however. Everything we ate … Continue reading →
Acumen+Bangalore Launch Event
What would you do with $2,300,000,000? You could buy 4500 Maybachs, a stay at Burj Al Arab for 600 years, 45 luxury yachts or 100 private jets — OR — You could improve education in 10,000 schools, give healthcare to thousands, provide power to 1,000 villages, or invest in agriculture that will impact 10,000 […]
Acumen+Bangalore Launch Event
What would you do with $2,300,000,000? You could buy 4500 Maybachs, a stay at Burj Al Arab for 600 years, 45 luxury yachts or 100 private jets — OR — You could improve education in 10,000 schools, give healthcare to thousands, provide power to 1,000 villages, or invest in agriculture that will impact 10,000 […]
Bangalore: The Garden City
Bangalore, known as the “Garden City” or the “Silicon Valley of India” is a city of about 8.5 million people and the capital of the south Indian state of Karnataka. The city is booming with the energy of an emerging … Continue reading →