Ashoka Fellow Vineet Rai will be taking your questions this coming Monday today at 3:30PM EST!
To ask Vineet a question, respond in the comments section below, send us a message on Facebook, or tweet it to @changemakers. Follow the hashtag #Vineet to track the interview live.
Vineet Rai is a founder and CEO of Aavishkaar Venture Management Services which manages two early stage equity funds – Aavishkaar India Micro equity fund and Aavishkaar Goodwell India Microfinance Fund.
Aavishkaar provides very early stage risk capital to scalable businesses being managed by skilled entrepreneurs focused at creating real value in Rural India. Aavishkaar believes that economic participation of traditionally excluded regions has the potential to not only spur growth of Indian GDP, but also make significant differences to the economic status of underprivileged Indians.
"We believe we are creating the basis for others to invest in Rural India by discovering and investing in business that create both commercial and social impact. These are emerging economy companies, not social businesses alone."
>> Background
Vineet has over 15 years of experience in leading innovative interventions in development finance sector including venture capital, microfinance, SME banking and micro- and small-scale businesses.
As a serial social entrepreneur, Vineet has founded Aavishkaar Venture Management Services, the fund advisory company managing Aavishkaar, a unique micro-equity fund; as well as Aavishkaar-Goodwell Microfinance Development Co., a fund focused on making investments in MFIs and the managing Partner with BYST Growth Fund.
Vineet is the Co-founder and Chairman of Intellecap, a leading social investment advisory firm leveraging knowledge to channel social capital to deserving social or rural entrepreneurs. He serves as Director with Villgro, a Chennai-based Non Profit company, serves on the Advisory Board of Lemelson Recognition and Mentoring Program at IIT.
Vineet has been awarded Ashoka Fellowship in recognition of his contribution to the field of Social Entrepreneurship and Life Membership of XLRI Alumni. Vineet has also received numerous awards and citations including the World Business Award sponsored by the UNDP on behalf of Aavishkaar, Best Social Venture Capital Fund in India from Honorary Ex President Shri A P J Abdul Kalam, Ford Foundation Award for SME Initiative for alleviating Poverty.
Vineet is a post graduate from IIFM in Management, and has been a guest speakers at management institutions worldwide.
Photo courtesy of business.outlookindia.com
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