GrayMatters Capital (GMC) is an impact investing enterprise founded by Bob Patillo. GMC as an enterprise invests in businesses with sustainable and replicable business models that are directly beneficial to people who are underserved in developing countries. It also takes the interests of the community at heart by bringing sustainable improvements to firms that benefit its people. We will be going into a quick review of the investment focus on GMC and what funding opportunity announcement is.
GMC invests in “for-profit’ enterprises in the field of education with an eye on improving learning outcomes, preparing the workforce of the future, and bridging gender gaps.
The company also invests that are sector agnostic in ‘for-profit’ enterprises whose products make a tangible difference to the lives of by establishing platforms where they can attain gainful livelihoods.
As a supportive group, the operation rate of GMC can be trusted due to their wide range and versatility of operation, with branches scattered over target areas. Due to this, the profit margin of beneficiaries and investors alike is kept afloat while societal maintenance objectives are kept as a priority.
Portfolio
Through direct investments and co-investing with funds as well as other meaningful initiatives, (such as edLABS in India and coLABS, globally), the portfolio of GMC has grown to an amazing 70 companies across the United States and developing countries like India (as earlier mentioned), Latin America, and Africa, of course.
Some facts about GMC include:
- GrayMatters Capital invests in profit-Oriented start-up firms and still maintains the interest of the host community in mind.
- The investments made in the educational sector by GMC have both the present and future in mind, by mindfully investing in the affairs of young minds. This way maintains profit and sustainable development in host communities.
- There are also flexible risks capital available to investees, entrepreneurs, and social ventures; readily made possible for those in developing countries.
- The support given to start-up ventures through seed-stage investment vehicles has an investment range of $50,000 to $250,000.
- The support given to ventures through venture capital stage investments has an investment range of $250,000 to $2 million.
Quick Review of the Investment Focus of GMC
- GMC has a focus on businesses that have a great role in the alleviation of poverty, especially in those developing countries of choice.
- Also, Firms with the capacity to improve the general standard of living through extensive services delivered at considerable cost are a primary interest.
- Interest in Ventures that promote the dignity of Human rights by stressing the basic needs in their operation tactics.
- Interest in Educationally minded organizations that secure the future by impacting young minds so that sustainable community development can be in accomplishment.
Other investment interests include:
- Human Capital development in low-income communities.
- Ecosystem development of developing countries.
- GMC collaborates with investees and other internal and external stakeholders which brings about mutual work interests promoting social order in a working environment.
- Such collaborations are practically geared toward research purposes, to come up with methods that support game-changing business concepts – the evolution capabilities of the businesses involved.
The Gray Matter stands out as an initiative set out to bring about societal change.
Initiatives Covering Africa
Some of their initiatives that cover Africa include:
- coLABS: is a sector-agnostic, global investment portfolio launched by Gray Matters Capital in early 2017 to invest in innovative and scalable enterprises that are tackling critical issues facing women and girls around the world.
In line with Gray Matters Capital’s mission of improving the lives of 100 million women around the world, coLABS will be committing $5 million over the next 3 years to help early-stage entrepreneurs with seed capital and strategic advisory support to scale their enterprises.
coLABS will be looking to make 6 new investments across the world every six months
For more information, visit https://gmccolabs.com/
- IDEX Accelerator: is a six-month fellowship program launched by Gray Matters Capital in 2010. It runs two fellowship cycles, one in January and the other in July every year.
The program is tailored for aspiring social enterprise practitioners from around the world to become changemakers, supporting; and leading the development of scalable solutions in fields as disparate as health, education, renewable energy, and the environment. For more information about the fellowship program visit http://www.idexaccelerator.com
Funding Opportunity Announcement
A Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is the document used by all federal agencies to inform the public about the availability of grant funds.
All Funding Opportunity Announcements must include the following critical information, as required by federal regulation:
- Purpose, objectives, and evaluation of the program
- Number assigned to the grant program by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).
- The nature of the award (e.g., discretionary grant or cooperative agreement)
- Grant applications are due on this date.
- Number of funding opportunities
- Obligations of reporting
- Text of the announcement in its entirety
- Instructions for use
How Do I Find Funding Opportunities?
The National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and 26 other U.S. government agencies are just a few of the organizations that are represented on Grants.gov’s list of all current discretionary funding opportunities.
Where Can I Find Funding Sources?
Check local foundations, federal, state, and municipal grant-making organizations, and these sources for potential funding. A list of all grants offered by federal agencies can be found at http://grants.gov.
What is The Best Source of Funding?
The most popular form of financing for small and medium-sized businesses is bank loans. Take into account the fact that every bank provides a different set of benefits, whether it’s individualized service or tailored repayment. Searching around will help you choose the bank that best suits your needs.
What Are Funding Sources?
Credit, venture capital, gifts, grants, savings, subsidies, and taxes are a few examples of financial sources. Soft funding or “crowdfunding” refers to sources of funding like donations, subsidies, and grants that do not directly require a return on investment.
What is the Most Common Grant?
The most typical kind of grant is this one. Program/project awards clearly state that money can only be utilized to further the initiatives you’ve mentioned in your request.
Why is Funding Important?
Having adequate funding enables your firm to seize any possibilities that present themselves, such as investing in new goods and services that can advance your company. Working capital can act as a safety net when your company requires additional funding.
What AAre Funding Strategies?
What exactly is a finance plan? A financing strategy is a documented, mutually agreed-upon plan that establishes the long-term financial needs of an organization or group. A finance strategy typically outlines the plans for the next three to five years and spans that timeframe.
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What is a funding opportunity?
A Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is the document used by all federal agencies to inform the public about the availability of grant funds
How do you identify funding opportunities?
All Funding Opportunity Announcement must include the following critical information, as required by federal regulation:
- Purpose, objectives, and evaluation of the program
- Number assigned to the grant program by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).
- The nature of the award (e.g., discretionary grant or cooperative agreement)
- Grant applications are due on this date.
- Number of funding opportunities
- Obligations of reporting
- Text of the announcement in its entirety
