SELCO was big part of life for 3 years. Then I moved... on to Counselling and back to Hyderabad. So, when I got a call a few months back asking if I'd be interested in working on a project with them, I found myself saying a wholehearted 'yes' without even a thought.
End of three months was the 'Inclusive Investment Workshop ' held on 20th April at Bangalore.
End of three months was the 'Inclusive Investment Workshop ' held on 20th April at Bangalore.
We had entrepreneurs, investors, academia and other interested folks. A day and an experience that made me, all over again, understand why SELCO inspired enough for me to up Google and move to Bangalore.
The project was aimed at a deeper understanding of 'how impact investments have influenced an enterprises ability to bring about social change with financial sustainability'.
Let me break that up.
A 'social enterprise' is a company, a private limited company, working in the developmental sector, set up with a social objective, while yet being financially sustainable.
Impact Investment is 'patient capital that invests in the developmental sector, in social enterprise'. They function on what's called 'impact returns'. While they also look for financial return (ideally lower IRRs and longer Exits) they also measure 'Impact Metrics'.
The workshop was an effort to decode the 'balance' between social impact and financial returns, where invariably one gets compromised over the other, and sadly it is mostly the depth of impact that gets compromised.
The big pictures questions that we set out to find answers to........Where are the fault lines? How do we overcome them? How do we enable the sector that strives to make the world a more equitable place to live in?
The workshop was an effort to decode the 'balance' between social impact and financial returns, where invariably one gets compromised over the other, and sadly it is mostly the depth of impact that gets compromised.
The big pictures questions that we set out to find answers to........Where are the fault lines? How do we overcome them? How do we enable the sector that strives to make the world a more equitable place to live in?
At micro level.....we did in-depth interviews of 30 social enterprises across the country, and this is an infographic of the process.
Needless to say, it was an absolutely fascinating and enriching experience talking to 30 social entrepreneurs about their stories.
Evencargo, a company that's enabling women delivery girls for the Amazons and Swiggys.
VShesh enabling skill training and employment for the differently-abled
Vatsalya and IKure working to take good quality primary healthcare to rural India
Dharavi Markets creating employment for women in Dharavi
Skillveri, providing simulation training and employment for the rural youth, in the manufacturing sector
Edusports providing quality sports training to children in rural government schools
Banyan Roots reviving traditional sustainable agricultural practices to improve the lot of the farming community in Rajasthan
......and the list goes on.
Evencargo, a company that's enabling women delivery girls for the Amazons and Swiggys.
VShesh enabling skill training and employment for the differently-abled
Vatsalya and IKure working to take good quality primary healthcare to rural India
Dharavi Markets creating employment for women in Dharavi
Skillveri, providing simulation training and employment for the rural youth, in the manufacturing sector
Edusports providing quality sports training to children in rural government schools
Banyan Roots reviving traditional sustainable agricultural practices to improve the lot of the farming community in Rajasthan
......and the list goes on.
Each an inspired story, each unique in what it sets out to do. The bootstrapping phase of a start up, the building of a business model that works in the social sector, keeping in sight their vision of social impact, struggle to find a footing in an ecosystem that is far from conducive.... the sentiment and passion that keeps them going against all odds.
Some pictures from the event:
Harish, talking with depth and passion as always
A panel discussion in progress, all impact investors and moderated by Mara from Oxfam, on the extreme left.
A graph bringing out the depth of the issue. The blue line is the poverty line. Green line showing how short term change can bring in incremental benefit, and how a single setback can bring things back to or even lower on the poverty line.
The question being asked, what would enable sustainable change...reach the orange line, a line of social security that brings in the level of stability.
The question being asked, what would enable sustainable change...reach the orange line, a line of social security that brings in the level of stability.
A snapshot of the audience
Some quotes from our interviews
Back in office, at my old table. Roshan and Nitesh doing some dramatic posing :)
Brought back all the emotion and depth of the SELCO experience. Sarah, Swathi and Amogh, was wonderful working with SELCO, and you again !!
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