SAN FRANCISCO-Thursday 24 October 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Citi Inclusive Finance, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Ford Foundation today introduced Scaling Enterprise, a $100 million loan guarantee facility, which will enable Citi to provide early-stage financing in local currency to companies that expand access to products and services for low-income communities in emerging markets. The announcement was made at the 2019 SOCAP Conference.

Loans and working capital in local currency and at affordable rates can enable early-stage social impact companies to achieve scale, greater efficiencies and lower costs. Scaling Enterprise will facilitate vital growth financing to eligible companies that are expanding access to finance, agriculture, energy, affordable housing, water and sanitation to low-income households in emerging markets.

Marking the first two transactions under Scaling Enterprise, the partners have committed $5 m ... Read more »

Renowned festival of design and creativity OFFF, announced as first content partner

BARCELONA-Thursday 24 October 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The GSMA’s successful Four Years From Now (4YFN) start-up platform and Sónar, the international festival devoted to advanced music, creativity and technology, today announced further details of their hotly anticipated co-curated event, xside. Taking place within the 4YFN venue, from 24-26 February 2020 at Fira Montjuïc, in parallel to 4YFN and MWC Barcelona 2020, xside is a new gathering including conference, networking and music to explore the role technology, design and innovation play in the future of creativity, cultures and business.

As the creative heart of 4YFN and MWC Barcelona, xside is designed to create links between Sónar’s audience of creative communities, and the technological and entrepreneurial attendees of the world’s largest mobile event. It is the first integrated co ... Read more »