Village Capital

In the heart of Mexico City, the ADAPT LatAm initiative brought together innovators with a shared mission: to address some of the most pressing challenges related to climate change, healthcare, wellness, and economic mobility. Village Capital, with support from MetLife Foundation (including inviting us to their offices), created a space where entrepreneurs could connect, share insights, and collaborate on solutions that drive lasting impact. This video gives you a glimpse into how these resilient and creative minds are building stronger communities and ecosystems in Latin America. Watch these inspiring stories and learn how they’re shaping the future with a deep understanding of the social and environmental challenges they face. Thank you to MetLife Foundation for your unwavering support in making this journey possible! ??? En el corazón de la Ciudad de México, la iniciativa ADAPT LatAm reunió a innovadores con una misión común: abordar algunos de los desafíos más urgentes en áreas como el cambio climático, la atención médica, el bienestar y la movilidad económica. Village Capital, con el apoyo de MetLife Foundation (incluyendo invitarnos a sus oficinas), creó un espacio donde los emprendedores pudieron conectar, compartir conocimientos y colaborar en soluciones que generen un impacto duradero. Este video te ofrece un vistazo de cómo estas mentes resilientes y creativas están construyendo comunidades y ecosistemas más fuertes en Latinoamérica. Descubre las inspiradoras historias de estos emprendedores y aprende cómo están dando forma al futuro, con un profundo entendimiento de los desafíos sociales y ambientales que enfrentan. ?Agradecemos a MetLife Foundation por su apoyo inquebrantable en hacer posible este camino! https://lnkd.in/gv3_Tggz

Investors fuel impact-creating startups, yet funding often misses entrepreneurs with great solutions. Today, for #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek, we turn to investors diversifying their portfolios and supporting underrepresented founders. At Village Capital, we’re dedicated to reinventing systems – including helping provide investors with the tools and strategies to do just that. Our report, Smarter Systems, takes a deeper look at the gender financing gap puzzle, examining how investors evaluate startups, particularly addressing the discrepancies between women-led and men-led startups. The report provides actionable resources for investors looking to revamp their process for equity: enhancing objectivity, increasing accuracy, and reducing reliance on “gut instinct.” Curiosity, creativity, and learning are all required. We’re looking forward to seeing the real results of these shifts. Investors tapping into overlooked opportunities are not only generating financial returns and meaningful impact, but building a more equitable and inclusive ecosystem for all. ?? Download our full Smarter Systems report for more insights! https://lnkd.in/g-Z6zUZK #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek2024 #GEW2024 #startups #startupaccelerator #impinv #socents #greentech #healthtech #founders #entrepreneurs Global Entrepreneurship Network

An entrepreneur’s journey is built on connections – and ESOs (accelerators, incubators, and university programs) help build the networks they need to thrive. That’s why we develop, test, and share new tools, processes, and practices that ESOs can use to unlock social and financial capital for early-stage, impact-creating entrepreneurs. Over the years, we’ve had the chance to train some incredible leaders around the world supporting innovative entrepreneurs through our accelerator-for-accelerator programs. We continue #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek by highlighting just a few ESOs changing the entrepreneurial narrative worldwide: ?? Go Paladin, a US-based nonprofit organization, aims to increase underrepresented entrepreneurs in tech by connecting to resources to amplify their impact. ?? Athar Accelerator in Egypt supports tech-enabled and green startups, empowering over 300 founders, 1,200 digital talents, and 10,000 community members while creating more than 900 jobs since its founding in 2016. ?? Zimba Women in Uganda provides technical and software solutions for women-owned SMEs that enable them to manage and scale their businesses more professionally. ?? Colombia-based Amplo Kaya promotes inclusive economic development in Latin America by helping small businesses have the conditions for a successful capital flow. Want to learn more about how ESOs are shaping an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem? Head to our ESO program page for open applications, news, and insights: https://lnkd.in/gS-xc6nN #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek2024 #GEW2024 #startups #startupaccelerator #impinv #socents #greentech #healthtech #founders #entrepreneurs

Last month, Village Capital CEO Allie Burns and Managing Director of Impact Investments Heather Matranga joined the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF)’s Knowledge Sharing event in Amsterdam, Netherlands, marking their 10-year anniversary. The event convened a community of impact investors, DFIs, and entrepreneur ecosystem leaders active in emerging markets, including British International Investment, FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, Ankur Capital, Briter, Endeavor, Argidius Foundation, and ABAN, among others. The event was rooted in examining the role of impact investing – specifically what’s working, and what’s not – in emerging markets. The day-long event included common threads that connected the insights: In emerging markets, there are robust ecosystems with growing exit activity, and a strong need for local capital. A key question raised throughout the day: what will the next ten years bring? Allie participated as a featured speaker alongside Lucia Montalvo Castro, Salua García Fakih, and Kevin Simons on the panel moderated by David van Dijk in a discussion about how entrepreneurs are successfully – and unsuccessfully – navigating the “valley of death” paradigm within the early-stage growth continuum in emerging markets. One entrepreneur on the panel shared about an all-too-common experience of chasing investors’ (sometimes impossible and opposing) whims and demands for quick returns at the cost of their impact or long-term sustainability. Instead, the panel asked, what if entrepreneurs were to prioritize what their customers want and need to shape how they grow their business – rather than what investors want – and build their strategy for financing growth from that lens? Form should follow function and not the other way around. This means that investors should be flexible (and strategic) in meeting the needs of the financing structures best suited for the companies’ growth, and companies shouldn’t have to contort themselves to fit the needs of investors or specific capital structures. Learn more about redefining the fundraising journey for startups from Allie Burns, Nathaly Botero Botero, and Aunnie Patton Power: https://lnkd.in/evKFsh-R

Though this is not my first time starting a business, this is my first time launching a startup with such an ambitious growth plan and with such high potential to make a positive impact on people and the planet. The Village Capital Greentech Europe 2024 program has been an amazing opportunity to better understand the bar we need to reach to be investment ready. But beyond the practical knowledge, it's been a true privilege to connect with such a talented group of women leading the charge in green tech all across Europe. I've learned so much, and every session has left me feeling inspired and energised. Thank you for sharing your journeys, insights, and support! ?? Natasha Yamamura Elizabeth Lee Noma Nkala Alba Jiménez Pagán Lisa O'Riordan Mary O'Riordan Gabriela Joelsas Timerman Olivia Page Caroline Schober Louise éon Ananta Vangmai Nikhita Bhagwat Gillian Gover Jessica Serra

We’re kicking off #GlobalEntrepreneurWeek by shining a spotlight on impact-creating startups. Those led by founders with lived experiences and diverse perspectives are uniquely positioned to create change but often face steep barriers to accessing growth resources. Their innovative solutions show the power of lived experience, embodying the idea “entrepreneurship for everyone,” because when founders from all backgrounds are given equitable access to opportunities, the impact of their startups follows. At Village Capital, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with 1,800 startups, democratizing entrepreneurship by helping them reach the investment readiness of their startups regardless of their background. Here are a few impact-creating startups we want to introduce to you today: Chile-based Lazarillo enables people with visual disabilities to navigate independently through a mobile app that provides custom, accessible digital maps. Download our Disability Innovation report to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eXdPW5_f Farm.IO Limited in Ghana champions climate-resilient farming by helping small-scale farmers, farm workers, and small businesses find sustainable ways to boost their livelihoods through enhanced produce quality and earnings. We share more on our blog post: https://lnkd.in/dfc96mT3 WorkOnward (Techstars '23) Your Job, on the Map., in New York, NY, facilitates hiring at a local level and encourages job seekers to consider small businesses by connecting hourly talent with small businesses through a map-based job platform. Our blog post has more details: https://lnkd.in/ey2Tw9UK Portugal’s BetterSea is a “one-stop shop to maritime decarbonization,” reducing the carbon footprint of shipping companies by overcoming regulatory, operational, technical, and financial constraints. Check them out here: https://lnkd.in/gJaFebeS Empowch, operating both in Lebanon and the US, is a mobile payments and financial services platform empowering unbanked freelancers and marginalized individuals, including rural and migrant women in the MENA region. Read our blog post for more: https://lnkd.in/dUqw2ZKU ??Do you know of an impact-creating startup that deserves a shout out? We’d love to hear in the comments! #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek2024 #GEW2024 #startups #startupaccelerator #impinv #socents #greentech #healthtech #founders #entrepreneurs Global Entrepreneurship Network

It’s #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek! We love the spotlight this brings to entrepreneurship and celebrating innovative solutions worldwide. ? This year's theme, Entrepreneurship is for Everyone, aligns with our vision to create a world where all entrepreneurs, regardless of background or location, can access resources, grow their ideas, and make an impact. Impact-creating, diverse-led startups effectively tackle the biggest environmental, social, and economic challenges. But traditional funding models, ingrained biases, and barriers to early support for underrepresented communities limit their impact. In fact, VC serves just 0.05% of startups globally, excluding many impact-creating startups and startups led by women and other underrepresented communities. That’s why we’re relentless in our pursuit to create systems-level change, championing approaches that unlock capital for overlooked founders by designing, testing, and sharing new tools, technology, and processes. But we can’t do it alone. Startups, Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), investors, and capital providers all have a critical role to play. ?? Over the next five days, we’re thrilled to spotlight these groups, their efforts to create entrepreneurial opportunities for all, and how Village Capital collaborates with them to build more equitable and inclusive ecosystems. We invite you to learn more about our work and help us amplify our impact with our tools and resources. ??Join us in making “entrepreneurship for everyone” a reality.? #GEW2024 #EntrepreneurshipForEveryone #ImpactInvesting

Today is the day! After nearly two years of research and planning, I am thrilled to announce the launch of Sage's three-year partnership with Village Capital - Sage Impact Entrepreneurship | Scaling Solutions for People and Planet. I cannot wait to meet the amazing entrepreneurs who this program will support. Please help us spread the word to entrepreneurs in the US, UK, and Southern Europe with world-changing ideas ?? More details and eligibility criteria via the links below.

Applications are now open for Sage Impact Entrepreneurship!?? ? In partnership with Sage Foundation, this three-year initiative will support 165 entrepreneurs across Southern Europe, the UK, and the US, who are making a positive environmental, social, and economic impact in their communities.? ? Our program will focus on startups creating solutions for people and the planet in key areas like clean energy, biodiversity, sustainable infrastructure, circular economy, climate-resilient health, environmental justice, and data analytics and climate intelligence.?? ? We aim to drive systemic change through innovation and collaboration.? ? ?? Applications for the first program close on January 10, 2025.? ? Learn more about eligibility criteria and apply at the links below: ?? Apply to Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Southern Europe and the UK: https://lnkd.in/gTn_ng-u ?? Apply to Sage Impact Entrepreneurship United States: https://lnkd.in/guK6eC-x

Completing an accelerator program and joining the Village Capital alumni community isn’t the end; it’s the start of a new chapter. ?? ? We’re proud to support entrepreneurs building emergent solutions for environmental, social, and economic challenges around the world – especially when we get to see and celebrate their trajectories after their time in an investment-readiness program. Ana Rachel Estrougo, Founder and CEO of The Octopus Club, shares how the frameworks and mentoring in the program helped the company level up and plan for what’s next. The Octopus Club (based in London, UK) is a secondhand peer-to-peer marketplace to buy and sell maternity, baby, and children’s items, including clothing, toys, and accessories – lessening the financial burden for families. The startup participated in our Greentech Europe 2024 program. Our Greentech Europe initiative tackles two big challenges: enabling the green transition across all sectors in Europe, *and* working on tackling that inequality by supporting diverse-led startups. We’re also thrilled to offer resources and support to entrepreneurs everywhere (even those not part of our programs). We created Abaca, a tool that houses multiple tools for entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, and capital providers. It began as a way to bring our tested accelerator resources and insights online and has since become a hub for innovation. Learn more about our latest resource, Capital Explorer, a tool for founders to explore different funding options. https://lnkd.in/eZxmrf-a