Date Announced: 08 Nov 2010 This is great news for Barefoot Power and comes soon after winning three Lighting Africa awards.We have formed an innovative trade finance fund with Dutch microfinance investor Oikocredit and the European Infrastructure Fund and together we are offering short-term loans to SMEs to sell microbusiness solutions designed by us. This ‘Venture Debt’ model allows SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs to grow quickly from start-up level through successful sales, with 100% growth rates often achieved in the first 6-12 months.More than 350 proposals were submitted and our innovative solution for SMEs is one of 14 winners, receiving funding and recognition for our work. We will be named as a winner at the upcoming G-20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea, on November 11-12 and have also been invited to attend an SME conference in Cologne, Germany, on November 15-16.We’d love you to help us celebrate this achievement, but first we have a small favour to ask. Three of the winning solutions will be selected as the People’s Choice based on votes. This is where you come in.If our work resonates with you, please vote for our proposal, titled “Barefoot Angels Fund and Micro Supplier Credit” before this Friday at 5pm.You can vote for us here. All you need to do is click on the vote button on the top right-hand side of the page. You may need to join the Changemakers website (if you’re not a member already) by entering your name, email and user name, but once you have registered, your vote will be confirmed.Find out more about how we build better lives through social entrepreneurship at www.barefootpower.com. Barefoot Power welcomes your input on our work and you can contact us at [email protected].Thanks in advance for voting for Barefoot Power. Don’t forget to do it by 5pm Friday to make it count.Stewart CraineFounder
Contact
Barefoot Power
E-mail:[email protected]
Web Site:www.barefootpower.com
