How Microfranchising can Scale Social Enterprise and Microfinance Institutions
- Tuesday, November 3, 2009
- 6:30pm – 8:30pm (6:30-7:00 Registration and Reception; 8:00-8:30 Program)
- Location: Fisher & Phillips LLP – 1700 Resurgens Plaza, 945 East Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA (see parking and Marta directions below)
- Cost: Non-students: $10, students: free. You can make your payment at the registration table by cash or credit card. Online payment will be provided soon.
- RSVP: Please RSVP via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182040996356) or via email at scisyp@gmail.com so we can have a reasonable headcount.
Please join the SCIS Young Professionals and WAM Atlanta on Tuesday, November 3rd, for a global panel event, Beyond Microcredit: Can Microfranchising Scale Social Enterprises? Ayllu Initiative, Social Venture Group of Gray Ghost Ventures and a microfinance professional from WAM Atlanta will lead an active discussion to determine the role of franchising in scaling productive activity at the bottom of the pyramid.
About Ayllu and Melissa Richer:
Melissa Richer is Executive Director of The Ayllu Initiative, a US-based ‘hybrid’ nonprofit whose purpose is to scale social enterprise, bringing market-based solutions to poverty into new markets. Specifically, Ayllu will group together social enterprise ‘microfranchises’ and work with microfinance institutions to create product offerings for these microfranchise clusters. Melissa currently lives in Brazil, where Ayllu is launching a pilot program in collaboration with local organizations, microfinance institutions, and communities. Melissa previously worked for Ashoka, an organization that supports social entrepreneurs who solve social problems in innovative, systems-changing ways. Melissa is a native of Philadelphia and a 2007 graduate of Duke University.
About Arun Gore, Managing Director and Principal, Gray Ghost Ventures Social Venture Fund
Arun Gore comes to social venture capital investing after executive roles in information and communications technology companies. Arun has supported Gray Ghost Ventures with financial, market and industry evaluations of Indian investments as well as the governance of its existing portfolio companies. In addition to this, Arun has run a consulting practice since 2006, which includes managing joint ventures for T-Mobile, establishing Indian operations for US firms and promoting private equity investments for start-ups. Arun previously managed market operations, budgeting, vendor financing, and streamlined operations for T-Mobile USA. Before joining T-Mobile, Arun led the international operations of SAI Inc., an energy and oil field supplies company. Arun has a BSc Science from India, a BS in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from the US.
About Social Venture Group of Gray Ghost Ventures:
GGV’s Social Venture Group is a for-profit social venture capital fund capitalized by investment partners committed to its vision for social impact investing. They invest in social enterprises internationally.
About WAM Atlanta:
WAM Atlanta is an organization devoted to assisting and promoting micro-entrepreneurs and microfinance initiatives while also advancing and supporting Atlanta women working in microfinance and microenterprise development through education and training, by promoting leadership opportunities, and by increasing visibility of women’s participation and talent in microfinance.
