The Unitus family is partnering with a growing list of exciting, innovative young companies that share the common goal of creating opportunity for millions of people living at the bottom of the economic pyramid (BoP). As you will see from this semi-annual update, we’ve got some very compelling work happening across the Unitus family! As… Read more >
Category: Update
Unitus 2012 Mid-Year Update
August 18, 2012 – Unitus Capital, Unitus Equity Fund, Unitus Impact, Unitus Labs, Unitus Seed Fund, Update
Unitus Seed Fund is Expanding!
July 8, 2012 – Unitus Labs, Unitus Seed Fund, Update
We’re expanding our seed investment program Since we launched Unitus Seed Fund in late 2011, we have researched, learned, connected, and completed enough investments to be confident of the potential for delivering opportunity to millions of lower-income people via seed investing in innovative startups that serve them. There is no question as to the need… Read more >
Surprising results with homeless pilot in Chennai
March 26, 2012 – Unitus Labs, Update
Unitus Labs has published the fifth and final case study from the Sorenson-Unitus Ultra Poor Initiative, a report that explores how the Equitas Bird’s Nest pilot was able to successfully stabilize housing for extremely poor homeless families in Chennai, India. Equitas Development Initiatives Trust (EDIT) launched the program in 2009 with a simple premise –… Read more >
Updated India BOP statistics
March 18, 2012 – Unitus Seed Fund, Update
Last year, Omidyar Network presented a very helpful report called Inclusive Innovation which referenced some recent statistics on the size of the BOP (the base of the economic pyramid) population in India. India’s BOP represents 835 million people and $360 billion in disposable income SOURCE: McKinsey Global Institute; Global Insight; EIU Read More > Tags: base… Read more >
Why social entrepreneurs need to think about exits
March 13, 2012 – Unitus Seed Fund, Update
As a startup entrepreneur, you are mostly thinking about how to survive and getting to the next milestone next week or next month. And then an investor inevitably asks you, “what are your most likely exit opportunities?” Your first thought is “why the heck is that even close to a relevant question for me to… Read more >
2011 Unitus family update
February 13, 2012 – Unitus Capital, Unitus Equity Fund, Unitus Impact, Unitus Labs, Unitus Seed Fund, Update
Update from Unitus family on activities and progress in 2011 towards our poverty impact mission 2011 has been an exciting year for the Unitus family. Thanks to your help over the years we have been able to continue our tradition of high impact innovation. A few highlights from 2011: Birthed two new initiatives: Unitus Impact… Read more >
Unitus Labs: Self-reliance realized for isolated tribal villagers in India
January 23, 2012 – Unitus Labs, Update
Unitus Labs publishes new in-depth case study report on SKS NGO ultra poor program in Orissa, India. Report describes new tools developed to overcome physical, cultural obstacles of working with isolated ultra poor communities. Looking beyond progress made during an ultra poor intervention, the success of an ultra poor program must also be judged by… Read more >
Great video intro to Unitus Capital
October 24, 2011 – Unitus Capital, Update
Watch more about what Unitus Capital is focused on, the progress they’ve made in raising more than $600,000,000 of capital for social enterprises in Asia and testimonials from clients on how they have benefited from Unitus Capital’s services. Tags: video More
New Unitus Labs case study challenges current approach to helping ultra poor
October 15, 2011 – Unitus Labs, Update
Early Introduction of Livelihoods Found to be Critical Factor In Moving Large Numbers Out of Extreme Poverty For years, ultra poor interventions built around subsidies and skill-building activities have helped to move households living below the extreme poverty line toward some productive activity or eligibility for microfinance schemes. For all their individual successes, these interventions… Read more >
New Kriti ultra poor case study offers insights on livelihood development
September 9, 2011 – Unitus Labs, Update
With higher cost of living and little access to arable land, ultra poor households in urban areas face very different obstacles than their rural counterparts. To respond to these needs, in 2009 Hyderabad-based Kriti Social Initiatives joined the Sorenson-Unitus Ultra Poor Initiative to pilot a program that paired livelihood development with cost-effective provision of basic… Read more >
Unitus Labs releases first Ultra Poor pilot case study
August 12, 2011 – Unitus Labs, Update
UPna sapna case study finds new strategies for selecting and enrolling ultra poor households in programs to promote self-reliance Unitus Labs today released its first Sorenson-Unitus Ultra Poor Initiative case study which explores the Jharkhand, India-based UPna sapna project experience researching more scalable ways to provide opportunities for families to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. The case… Read more >
Unitus Labs announces new strategic focus to improve incomes of millions battling poverty
June 13, 2011 – Unitus Impact, Unitus Labs, Update
Unitus Labs (formerly Unitus, Inc.) announces a new strategic alliance with Unitus Impact to catalyze new markets for livelihood ventures in Asia and Africa, creating significant income-generating opportunities for millions battling poverty. Seattle and Bangalore (June 13, 2011) – Unitus Labs announced today that it is supporting a new initiative to build income-generating opportunities for millions… Read more >