CIAO DATE: 11/2013
September 2013
Much has been written about the importance of high - impact entrepreneurs and the small and growing businesses (SGBs) they lead, from their role as engines of prosperity to the various challenges they face. Much less is understood about the challenges that confront the intermediaries (e.g., investors, accelerators, donors, capacity - development providers, researchers, consultants, e tc.) that are trying to support these SGBs. ( Hereafter , we refer to this group as the SGB Sector). This paper intends to begin filling that gap, which is important because the number and variety of investors and capacity development providers and developme nt organizations, i.e., SGB intermediaries, has grown considerably over the last several years. The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) commissioned a consulting firm to complete this study as part of its own strategic planning process. The study map s the landscape of the SGB sector, and in so doing, determine s both the challenges facing SGB intermediaries and how ANDE and other organizations should support the field in addressing these challenges. In d eveloping this paper, we conducted almost sixty interviews with thought leaders and active practitioners from a variety of organizations: investors, capacity development providers, corporations, researchers, network leaders, development finance institution s. In addition, we canvassed the growing body of literature in the field and leveraged our own experience in the sector.
Resource link: Growth and Opportunity: The Landscape of Organizations that Support Small and Growing Businesses in the Developing World [PDF] - 1.1M