Comment by Tim White on July 3, 2008 at 7:15am

Hi Will,

Generally I find that companies who say they support entrepreneurs do so when there is virtually no risk. This is also how the banks work. Does your company also have this fail-safe approach or do you really get down to helping social business from the ground up?

Comment by Will Snell on July 7, 2008 at 2:36pm

Tim

Thanks for yours. I agree that a lot of banks etc do require a level of security for lending that is too high for many viable businesses. As we don't provide funding ourselves (only mentoring support) it's less of an issue for us, but I agree that there is a need to do more than simply support those companies that have already demonstrated a certain level of success.

Comment by Tess Newton Cain on September 4, 2008 at 1:40am

I am the Vanuatu Country Manager for the "Enterprise Challenge Fund" (AusAID funded) - we provide grants to private sector enterprises to overcome external obstacles (such as inability to access commercial finance) in order to commercialise sound business projects that have pro-poor flow on benefits. Grants of AU$100,000 to AU$1.5 million are available on a matched basis (50/50 at a minimum). Visit our website for more info (www.enterprisechallengefund.org) or contact me to discuss Vanuatu-specific projects.

Comment by Tasha Smith on September 27, 2008 at 10:35pm

Hello i'm a little new here but i'm finding my way around. I want to assist in anyway possible and would love to network I have a site www.tashasmith.webs.com that assists low-income families the site is being upgrade daily. However i'm leaving town this week on business and I wanted to ask if someone would like to help me on this project and with the site as far as updates and adding new resouces occasionally? I have all the material and would love to have the assistance. I also run two other businesses online but this is one project i've decided to do myself. I would also like to add the links to anyones site that would like to place them on my site.

Comment by Keith McGuinness on November 6, 2008 at 10:35pm

Hi everyone. I'm also new year, just signed up to BFP this evening. I run www.adupo.com, a website selling a wide range of fair trade gifts items imported directly from my business partner, Mike Mwaniki Njogu, in Kenya. so i think it is fair to say I am supporting a entrepreneur! for more information about the site and our products, see my profile or blog post or drop me a line.

Comment by Fiona Mati on November 20, 2008 at 8:53pm

Hi all,

I’m a new member. I run a website called the Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise (Yipe.org) that provides youth entrepreneurs with news, information and skills on starting and running business.

I am keen to hear about barriers to enterprise faced by entrepreneurs in different countries and how they overcome them. Coming from Kenya, I find that youth entrepreneurship here is given mere lip service, so I would like to hear how entrepreneurs are supported in other countries. You can see my profile to learn more about my work.

Comment by Rosemarie on November 23, 2008 at 11:54pm

Hello all,

I am also new to the group. I am hoping to network with members from this community to learn and also share ideas. I am currently working on a major project to help fight poverty in the ghettos and inner-cities of Jamaica. It is the first time that I am stepping out and doing somthing like this. I do not know how things will work out but I know that I have to do something to help the people of my country. You can find out more information about the One-Love Unity Fest project on my page. I am very open to ideas and suggestions. Thanks!

Comment by Petronella du Toit on February 19, 2009 at 7:12am

Hallo Will

The ZA Trade Project provide a platform for collaboration between experiences consultants to perform quality business development tasks such as Business plan writing and fund applications services. I am a founder member of this network and use this platform to perform quality services. By subcontracting me, the economic development agencies are employing an experienced network who operate on local (South Africa) and international level to raise finance for projects which motive trade. This does not mean that the agency is not in control of their projects. Work will be published in the shared online folder hosted by BoxNet at intervals as required by the agency. Access to the folder will be password protected. Agencies can also use this folder to upload instructive documents related to the project.

You will increase productivity with more business transaction against less expenses and enable more supportive quality services to those you serve. I only charge a fixed monthly fee of R5,000 while government development agencies usually have to pay R15, 000 professional fees in support to those they serve. Development consultants and agencies who earn money from development operations (initiation fee plus success fee) can also benefit as they have more capacity by using our services while paying only a fixed fee much less than the market fee for this professional service.
My experience is that Venture Capitalist approve at most only 2% of the applications they received and an average 10% of the ventures they financed will succeed. Being a member of The ZA Trade Project, I have access a database of more than 4000 Venture Capitalists plus Development Finance programmes from Financial Service Providers International. By processing the business plan using the Software Application plus the 3 in 1 media (planning, information and trade) provided by the ZA Trade Project, I can match the most suitable finance products to each business plan processed and auto complete the funding company's application forms where applicable. This process saves time, improve productivity and increase access to funding.

If you need more information on the ZA Trade Project please download the introduction document at the following Url: https://www.box.net/shared/9zgdr3p44s

If you have any problems accessing the document please send me a message using the facilities on this website. Also feel free to contact me with any proposal.

Comment by Mike Shraga on February 23, 2009 at 5:46pm

Good Evening

My name is Mike Shraga, I am happy to join this group and collaboreight on new projects!

Regards
Mike Shraga
Increasing Customer Service With Systems Technology
Email For More Information On Warehouse-IT

Comment by AJ McConville on April 13, 2009 at 10:07am

Hi All
I have just joined BFP and am impressed. I come from an environmental background, working for an European Environmental Policy Institute. My main out-of-work interest is to see it is possible to mainstream social enterprises as a business model, and make it easier for them to get credit from banks and venture capitalists.

Looking forward to the debate...
AJ

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