This panel was part of the Skoll World Forum’s 2022 Ecosystem Day and was wholly curated and hosted by Mercy Corps Ventures. To us, climate resilience means focusing on individuals and communities who are already impacted by climate change and ensuring that the least powerful stakeholders — those who are…

In this blog, we provide a detailed view of the ‘crypto for good’ landscape in emerging markets. These findings are based on proposals received from our second Crypto For Good Fund (‘C4G2’), providing valuable insights to builders, funders, and others in the blockchain ecosystem. Insights in brief C4G2 received 200 applications for pilots in 50 different countries We are in a multi-chain and cross-chain future

In 2022, we launched a pilot with SympliFi, Kwanza Tukule, UTU, and Kotani Pay, leveraging decentralized finance (DeFi) to power a Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) product for small businesses, such as food vendors, in Nairobi, Kenya. Pilot Insights (read our full insights here) Access: For 77% of food vendors, this was the…

As pressure on food systems grows, so too does the opportunity to serve East Africa’s 20 million smallholder farmers. Stable Foods is building a food production system for farmers in Kenya through an end-to-end platform that includes an innovative irrigation-as-a-service offering. This brings drip irrigation to plots as small as…

The high cost of fuel and limited access to reliable electricity across Africa is holding the continent back. Kofa’s mission is to facilitate access to cost-effective, electric energy where and when it is needed the most. …

Robust impact measurement and management (IMM) is core to who we are and integrated throughout our entire investment process. — High-quality IMM is vital for early-stage startups because it increases efficiency, business resilience, and investment attractiveness by helping companies better articulate and validate their customer value propositions. All of our portfolio companies are impact-focused, working to improve their customers’ lives in their target region or sector. …

Mercy Corps Ventures and Forest Carbon launch a data transparency pilot that will bring high-quality forest restoration data on-chain for the voluntary carbon market, driving positive impact for rural communities in Indonesia. Pilot goals: Integrate Web3 technology into the carbon credit issuance process, generating and storing the high-quality data missing…

Pioneering solutions is risky and difficult. While capital is an important component of supporting nascent business models, it’s not enough. Early-stage startups operating in emerging markets need support tailored to their needs. Our Venture Platform is our offering beyond investment. Designed to address the needs and risks of the types of companies we invest in, our Venture Platform…

Learn more about our Impact Measurement & Management approach here. Every year, we measure the impact of our portfolio and take time to reflect on what we’ve learned from the entrepreneurs we work with and the markets we operate in. Rigorous impact measurement and management and developing insights are a core part of our approach and impact model, not an afterthought. Thinking deeply about trends, fails, and lessons learned helps us make better decisions, drive smarter investments, and inform the ecosystem, advancing the impact we’re collectively committed to creating.