Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm dedicated to harnessing the power of markets to create opportunity for people to improve their lives. Established in 2004, the organization invests in and helps scale innovative organizations to catalyze economic and social change. To date, Omidyar Network has committed more than $330 million to for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations that foster economic advancement and encourage individual participation across multiple investment areas, including microfinance, property rights, government transparency, and social media.
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Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty.
“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with d.light. From the beginning, we’ve shared their goal of bringing light to the poor. But more than that, we’ve been impressed by the way that the d.light team has taken the time to understand the needs of the poor in rural India, and to then design world class lighting solutions that meet those needs -- an approach that is perfectly aligned with Acumen Fund’s philosophy. We look forward to working with d.light to reach millions across India.”
Raj Kundra, Director, Capital Markets and Energy Portfolio, Acumen Fund
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Nexus Venture Partners is a leading venture capital firm in India, focused on working with innovative early to early-growth stage companies. With funds of $320 million under management, Nexus has an active portfolio of over 20 companies. Nexus has recently been named as one of only two firms from India in the Red Herring Top 100 Global Venture Capital firms and voted India’s Best VC firm 2009 by Venture Intelligence APEX.
“The d.light team really understands the lighting needs in developing economies and has been focused on launching a series of products at affordable price points that is well suited to meet these needs. The passion and focus with which this company operates is admirable. The opportunity for d.light is limitless.”
Suvir Sujan, Nexus Venture Partners
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Draper Fisher Jurvetson is the only venture capital firm with global presence through a network of partner funds, with offices in more than 33 cities around the world and approximately $5.5 billion in capital commitments. DFJ’s mission is to identify, serve, and provide capital for extraordinary entrepreneurs anywhere who are determined to change the world.
“DFJ Frontier invests in top-flight teams pursuing big markets with category-leading technology and products. We’re excited to work with the d.light team as they expand globally and enhance their product portfolio. This company’s leadership in the affordable energy marketplace has the potential to change the world.”
Oleg Kaganovich, DFJ Frontier, Startup Venture Capital
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With a preference towards poverty alleviation in emerging markets, Gray Matters Capital serves entrepreneurs and enterprises that reach clientele in these markets with innovative, sustainable, scalable and replicable business models.
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Garage Technology Ventures is a seed-stage and early-stage venture capital fund based in Silicon Valley. Garage is looking to invest in entrepreneurial teams with big ideas and a need for seed capital to turn their ideas into great companies.
“The brilliance of d.light lies in the commitment of the entire team, management and investors, to build a large, successful enterprise that will have a major economic impact as well as a major social impact.”
Bill Reichert, Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures
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The US $6 billion Mahindra Group is among the top 10 industrial houses in India. The Group has a leading presence in key sectors of the Indian economy, including the financial services, trade and logistics, automotive components, information technology, and infrastructure development.
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Calvert Foundation is a nonprofit organization and a pioneer and leader in impact investing. It raises funds through its Community Investment Note, and then invests those funds in organizations around the world that empower people living in low-income communities.
“We have invested in d.light because we recognize its potential to have a catalytic impact on the renewable energy space. They have been an early pioneer in the provision of reliable, affordable, off-grid, renewable energy solutions to people living at the base of the economic pyramid. We believe the team at d.light has the ability to improve millions of lives.“ Anthony Randazzo, Senior Investment Officer.
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Shell Foundation is an independent charity established by the Shell Group in 2000. It catalyzes enterprise-based solutions to global poverty and environmental challenges. The foundation helps to develop sustainable business models that can be scaled up to improve the lives and livelihoods of billions of people across the developing world. By treating the poor as consumers and not victims, Shell Foundation and its partners tackle social and environmental problems whilst driving equitable economic growth: the key to beating global poverty.
“d.light is leading the world in portable lighting solutions for the under-served. Shell Foundation is proud to support the team break into new markets and establish new route-to-market channels.” Simon Desjardins, Head of Shell Foundation’s Access to Energy Programme.
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