Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google Inc., has teamed up with the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF) and Omidyar Network to fund a $17 million company that will invest in small- and medium-sized business in India.
SEDF is a nonprofit private foundation created by investor and philanthropist George Soros, while Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm established by Pamela and Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay.
The Small to Medium Enterprise Investment Co. would fill the gap between loans offered by microfinance institutions and those of large commercial banks and private equity funds.
Google.org's Sonal Shah said Indian businesses of small and medium size do not have the same financing opportunities as provided in rich countries.
"Our goal is to increase the flow of capital to SMEs in India. This is an important step in helping to attract commercial capital and reduce dependency on philanthropy or soft capital to fund this industry."
There is a huge demand for loans targeted at small and medium businesses, said Neal DeLaurentis, vice president of SEDF.
"Long ignored by commercial capital markets, small and medium businesses are an attractive investment opportunity as well as an engine for economic growth for India."
The Investment Company will hire an experienced Investment Advisor and two experienced senior investment analysts based in India to recommend and build the pipeline of portfolio investments.
The Investment Advisor is planned to be located at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad to leverage the school’s SME expertise. Dr Reuben Abraham, currently ISB’s Director of the Base of Pyramid Lab and a board member of SEDF, will be Senior Advisor.
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