Ayllu is mapping 50 social enterprises in India, including those currently experiencing the "missing middle" financing gap and others that have successfully scaled, to understand the challenges of accessing growth capital. Using a standardized survey methodology, Ayllu will investigate the financial and non-financial constraints faced by these enterprises. The results will provide funders with case studies on successful investments, a better understanding of enterprise needs, and new potential deals. Enterprises will gain strategies for overcoming financing obstacles and improving investment readiness. The sector overall will benefit from insights on scaling challenges and recommendations for developing supportive infrastructure.
1. BOP Energy Map
An Ayllu product, sponsored by The Center for Science,
Technology, and Society (CSTS) at Santa Clara University
Funders and social enterprises have requested a
The Product
Ayllu is mapping social enterprises
centralized repository of information on BOP social offering energy solutions to the global
enterprise. This project is the launch of an Energy Map, poor, and in April 2011 will produce:
seeded by CSTS, that will be updated and expanded
• Map and directory of enterprises, using
continually as the sector grows. IRIS and GIIRS metrics.
• User-driven analysis of benchmarks,
trends, best practices, and impact.
Since our 2009 launch we raised $105,000, built an • Integration with other online energy
resources. Participatory space for
incredible team, and are now delivering our first products knowledge sharing and connecting on
for clients. We are seeking partners and funders for the energy topics, such as mini-grids.
• Assessment of market opportunity, and
Energy Map who will help us create sector transparency, recommendations for sector
impact, and maturity. development.
• Customized reports for participating
enterprises including benchmarks,
trends, and recommendations.
What’s special about Ayllu? THE BENEFITS
Consistent Information Our Interactive Reporting We’re Funders: Cases of successful investment
approach is bottom up. Our IRIS- building interactive online and and execution. Landscape view of sector,
based survey method collects offline tools to share the results of including IRIS standardized data and
consistent data and qualitative the Energy Map. Everyone has trends and impact analysis. New potential
information from each enterprise. different needs, and customized investments and connections.
information means users can easily
The survey is conducted by Ayllu, find and digest what is most Enterprises: Best practices and bench-
with support from CSTS and MBA important to them. We share marking. Visibility and connections to
candidates at the University of information in a way that goes enterprises, funders, and other key
Michigan. beyond the PDF. players. Exposure to IRIS metrics, sector-
wide data, and impact analysis.
Comparative Analysis With
consistent, reliable, and updated Sector: Landscape overview of
information, we have our finger on microenergy sector, including trends,
the pulse of the sector. projections, best practices, and data
visualization.
AYLLU provides updated, centralized TEAM: Ayllu’s 4 full-time members ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
information so social enterprises, have experience in the public, • Pilot in Brazil Spring 2010
investors, and supporters can make private, and social sectors on 5 • Client Maps of India & Energy
more informed, efficient decisions. continents. Our network of • iuMAP - world’s largest BOP social
We map social enterprises across collaborators and advisers includes enterprise directory - launched with
sectors and geographies to collect Ashoka, GIIN, Acumen Fund E+Co, Next Billion
and synthesize fragmented ANDE, and Visionspring. • Finalist for Echoing Green, PopTech!
information. We believe data and World Bank DM
transparency and effective practice PARTNERS: Next Billion, CSTS at • Published microfranchising ebook,
sharing will drive better results. Santa Clara University, Artemisia book chapter, and in Beyond Profit.
International, Open Action
2. Dissecting the Missing Middle
An Ayllu Product, contracted by Artemisia International
Funders and social enterprises have requested a The Product
centralized repository of information on BOP social Ayllu is studying missing middle
enterprise. This project is the launch of Ayllu in India, and social enterprises in India, and
delivering:
our database will be updated and expanded continually as
the sector grows. • Searchable map of 50 enterprises,
using IRIS and GIIRS metrics
• Matrix of financial and non-financial
Since our 2009 launch we raised $105,000, built an constraints for SEs
• Comparison of investor and
incredible team, and are now delivering our first products enterprise perspective
for clients. We are seeking supporters and funders for the • Recommendations for sector
development, particularly non-
Missing Middle Map who will help us create sector financial service delivery
transparency, impact, and maturity. mechanisms
THE BENEFITS
A Unique Approach Funders: Case studies of successful
Ayllu is mapping 50 social enterprises in India, some who are currently in investment, understanding of the
the “missing middle” and others who have successfully crossed this nature of enterprise needs & pipeline,
hurdle, as well as impact investors. Employing Ayllu’s IRIS based survey new, potential investments
methodology (endorsed by CSTS at Santa Clara University) we are
investigating the cause of financial constraints. We hope we enable the Enterprises: Strategies to overcome
sector to learn and support each other more effectively. financing-gap, better understanding
Consistent Information Our Interactive Reporting We’re of preparing for investment
readiness, and visibility to funders
approach is bottom up. Our IRIS- building interactive online and
based survey methodology collects offline tools to share the results of
Sector: Understanding of challenges
consistent data and qualitative the Energy Map. Everyone has
for scaling enterprises, case studies of
information from each enterprise. different needs, and customized
successful and unsuccessful
information means users can easily
Comparative Analysis With investment, suggestions for sector
find and digest what is most
infrastructure, potential development
consistent, reliable, updated important to them. We share
of a new asset class, or new strategies
information, we have our finger on information in a way that goes
to lift enterprises to a viable asset
the pulse of the sector. beyond the PDF.
range, informed decision making.
THE MISSING MIDDLE financing AYLLU provides updated, centralized TEAM: Ayllu’s 4 full-time members
gap is a challenge with which both information so social enterprises, have experience in the public,
funders and social enterprises investors, and supporters can make private, and social sectors on 5
struggle when they seek to scale more informed, efficient decisions. continents. Our network of
successful local initiatives. The We map social enterprises across collaborators and advisers includes
phenomenon describes the growth sectors and geographies to collect Ashoka, GIIN, Acumen Fund E+Co,
level in which enterprises surpass a
seed-funding stage and need a and synthesize fragmented ANDE, and Visionspring.
range of financial resources-- information. We believe data
considered inefficient or costly for transparency and effective practice PARTNERS: Next Billion, CSTS at
investors--to reach scale. sharing will drive better results. Santa Clara University, Artemisia
International, Open Action