social fusion

We will take head-on the debate about whether there are necessary trade-offs between social and environmental sustainability, and robust financial returns. Our focus is to outline an opportunity landscape of leading edge business and capital innovations, and engage in a lively debate about key issues. Questions to be examined: Where’s the pipeline - how strong are the investment opportunities in social enterprise? Is there real capital here, and where is it? What kind of capital is needed? Throughout the year, we will connect each session with a look forward – examining future business innovation and investment opportunities, and uncovering risks we may not yet see.

Speakers:

Paul Herman: Paul Herman joined Omidyar Network as Director of Strategy to help shape the future of its $400-million mission-based investment fund. Previously, Paul was Chief Development Officer of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public (www.ashoka.org) for three years, helping grow revenue from $12mm to nearly $20mm. .
Thierry Sanders: Thierry Sanders is Founder of BiD Challenge. The Business in Development - BiD Challenge is the world’s first global clearing house for business plans for development, with over 5000 members and 1600 business plans in under a year of operation. Thierry brings a robust mix of private sector, development and innovative finance experience to his founding role as BiD’s CEO. His background includes debt-equity swaps with ABN Amro Bank; Fair Trade; valuation of development related companies; joint ventures in Asia; carbon trading with developing countries at EcoSecurities.

Bert van der Vaart: Bert van der Vaart is CEO & President of SEAF. After serving as SEAF's legal counsel from its foundation in 1989, Bert joined SEAF in 1994 as Director-General of CARESBAC-Polska, SEAF's first investment company, which he grew to $15.9 million. Under his direction, SEAF has increased the total capital under management to more than $280 million; made more than 235 investments and achieved more than 125 exits. Mr. van der Vaart has spoken on SMEs and development at the IFC, World Bank, Harvard University, Wharton, and the OECD, among others.
Randy Williams: Randy Williams is Founder & CEO, Keiretsu Forum. Randy founded the Keiretsu Forum in September 2000, to provide a disciplined and structured approach to private equity investing. Since its inception, Keiretsu Forum has expanded to thirteen chapters throughout the United States and Canada. With over 400 members, Keiretsu Forum is the largest angel investment community in North America. Since 2000, Keiretsu Forum members have invested over $60MM in 87 companies in technology, real estate, healthcare/biotech/life sciences and other sectors.
Moderated by Amber Nystrom: Amber Nystrom is Founding & Executive Director of Social Fusion. Amber brings to Social Fusion 14 years experience growing business and development in the U.S. and internationally. She has worked in Silicon Valley, Latin America, Africa and Europe, as an entrepreneur and specialist in sustainable development and public-private engagement. As a part of Social Fusion’s Advisory Services on catalyzing innovative flow to social enterprise, Amber has consulted to the World Bank, Ashoka and others, and is currently leading a special capital project and case study review for Actis, a UK based PE fund with over 3.2B under management investing only in the world’s poorest countries.