The funding challenge has always loomed large over social entrepreneurs wanting to change the world. For many, the difference between their breakthrough innovation going big and their business going back to the drawing board can often come down to securing that next check.
While funding takes on many forms, a transformative step in the life of a social enterprise is the leap from grant to investment capital. Innovative ideas that impact development can draw an array of support from donor entities, from grants to incubator services. But the jump to debt or equity capital from investors willing to bet on the commercial viability of a social business model is typically an early — and critical — litmus test for long-term growth.
So how exactly does one pitch their idea as if their livelihood — literally — depended on it?
About the author
Naki B. Mendozamfbmendoza
Naki is a former reporter, he covered the intersection of business and international development. Prior to Devex he was a Latin America reporter for Energy Intelligence covering corporate investments and political risks in the region’s energy sector. His previous assignments abroad have posted him throughout Europe, South America, and Australia.
