<article>The US government’s development agency, <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=opic" target="_blank">Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)</a>, today announced financing of up to $5 million to support Unreasonable Capital Fund I.</article>

The US government’s development agency, <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=opic" target="_blank">Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)</a>, today announced financing of up to $5 million to support Unreasonable Capital Fund I.
The fund will focus on energy access, financial technology, and mobile phone innovations in agriculture and artisan-driven fashion, connecting small, local goods to global markets. It is aimed to ultimately improve the lives of people living in communities across Latin America, India, Asia, and Africa.
“Unreasonable Capital is committed to supporting the greatest entrepreneurs of our time, those who are addressing the underpinnings of endemic poverty with profitable businesses. These companies provide the needed products and services that will facilitate large populations of people to rise into the global middle class,” said Ashok Reddy, Co-founder and Partner with Unreasonable Capital.
As an early-stage investment fund supporting entrepreneurs in developing markets, Unreasonable Capital works closely with Unreasonable Group, a global network of business accelerator programs that provides mentorship to entrepreneurs solving society’s toughest social and environmental challenges.
The company makes investments and provides operating support to early-stage firms that connect bottom-of-the-pyramid populations to products and services that improve their lives.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC’s president and CEO, expressed the agency’s enthusiasm in working with Unreasonable Capital, in their efforts to help entrepreneurs tackle issues to end poverty. She said that the fund’s approach of investing in early stage companies will have a “long-lasting” impact on the underserved communities.
“OPIC is delighted to support Unreasonable Capital as the fund invests across several regions and in a variety of sectors, from energy access to financial technology, that will have a positive development impact,” Littlefield said.
“We are committed to helping the private sector enter into emerging markets and pursue opportunities in some of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies that are often overlooked by private investors,” she added.
OPIC’s investment to Unreasonable Capital is given through the institution’s Innovative Financial Intermediaries Program (IFIP), which supports small financial vehicles investing with a specific focus on impact and innovation.
The agency mobilises private capital to help address critical development challenges. In doing so, it advances US foreign policy and national security priorities. Because OPIC works with the US private sector, it helps US businesses gain footholds in emerging markets, catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad, the agency claims.
OPIC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds, when commercial funding cannot be obtained elsewhere. It was established as an agency of the US government in 1971.
Also Read:
<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/india-yunus-social-business-global-launches-fund-to-invest-in-social-enterprises-58747/" target="_blank">Yunus Social Business launches India-focussed impact fund</a>
<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/cdc-groups-dfid-impact-fund-debuts-investment-in-south-asia-at-10m-44057/" target="_blank">CDC-managed DFID Impact Fund makes first investment in South Asia</a>
<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/impact-analytics-talentnext-raise-funding-gmr-to-develop-airport-in-greece-56811/" target="_blank">India Digest: Impact Analytics, TalentNext raise funding; GMR to develop airport in Greece</a>
<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/why-tpgs-rise-fund-could-redefine-impact-investing-53474/" target="_blank">Why TPG’s Rise Fund could redefine impact investing</a>

US agency OPIC puts $5m into Unreasonable Capital Fund

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief

US agency OPIC puts $5m into Unreasonable Capital Fund

Start your deal-making journey now!

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief