TC-I FundWatch

Editor’s note: In order to more quickly provide our readers with pertinent information, ThinkChange India has created TC-I FundWatch, a regular post that summarizes important investments made by social and traditional venture capital firms that directly affect the lives of India’s poor. This way, on Tuesdays, our readers will be able to get a regular update on the financial activity in this fast moving space.

Social

• Unitus, a nonprofit focused on accelerating access to microfinance that operates in India in addition to other countries, has received a USD 9 million grant from the Omidyar Network. This is the largest grant to date. [Source: Microcapital.org]
• Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA) has sold USD 5.9 million of its agricultural assets, otherwise known as agri assets to private banks — another example of the growing trend of MFIs securitizing their loans for capital infusions. Grameen Capital India (GCI) was responsible for securing the deal. [Source: Microcapital.org]

Traditional

• Rabobank, a Dutch financial institution, will establish a $100 million private equity fund in India focused on small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture value chain. [Source: VC Circle]
• Lighthouse Funds is launching their 2020 Opportunity Fund — a $100 million that will focus on investing in fast growing small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). [Source: VC Cirlce].