With the aim of eradicating poverty through business, C4-World is setting up a global investment platform that allows individuals to invest directly in African businesses. Last year, we featured something similar: Kiva, a peer-to-peer microlending organisation that connects private lenders to entrepreneurs in the developing world.
Unlike Kiva, C4-World's 'MyC4' investors can expect to receive a return on their investment. The premise is to treat entrepreneurs in Africa as business partners, with return on investment being the most solid foundation for keeping the model moving forward. Another important difference is that MyC4 is focusing on knowledge as well as capital. The Danish start-up is building an online community to share knowledge and best practices from the global community to serve businesses in emerging markets, starting with the African continent.
A closed beta is kicking off in May 2007. Interested investors can currently sign up as MyC4-builders to test the platform and create an active community that's up and running before MyC4 opens to the general public in Q4 of this year. 2,015 builders are expected to invest at least USD 200, with a payback period of 6-12 months for the first projects.
We like the idea of using an online community to create a platform for virtual entrepreneurship, to transfer not just funds, but energy and knowledge, too. Harnessing the wisdom of the crowds and letting them put their money where their mouths are. Worth looking into or partnering with!
Website: www.c4-world.com
Contact: info@c4-world.com
I would like to see initiatives like these aimed at South America.
Wayman, our global strategy is to one day bring this concept to South America (and the rest of the world!)... we are in the phase of shaping and proving C4 and have thus focused on doing this in Uganda/Africa.
Please feel free to use our blog: www.c4-world.com and remember to sign up as a MyC4-builder.
You don't have to invest outside the US to gain a portion of not only a company with innovative technology but, a piece of the gross profits paid out semi-annually.
HealthWISECoffee.com is offering that deal. Can we get any press?
Let all Africans brace up for the seed by C4. i can smell a lift for better living and direct changes in our part.
Bravo C4 crew
Adedeji, REALLY a pleasure to read your words... I have just shared it with the entire team! Thanks...
Hi C4 team. Good to see people doing a great work in Africa. Thank you for your efforts. I'm leading a development project for tha Maasai in Kenya (LORIKA Foundation). I really like your thoughts on actually giving the investers a return. This results in a cross cultural exchange in stead of just "giving to Africa". One of our projects in Maasai land is our Micro Finance program. We are very new and only in dialogue with our first potentila clients. I'm wondering: How can you promise a return on investment? I have thought about doing the same, since I think it's a wonderful idea - I just don't see how we will ever get money enough to do that, since we also need to pay salaries to our Micro Finance team etc. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
We've been working on a similar platform over the past 18 months, but an enterprise-based, for profit marketplace to drive investment funding, expertise and networking to the local levels using MFIs and other loan agents globally as the distribution model.
www.globefunder.com is the beta site but the new platform will launch Sept. 2, 2007.