ShaulaBlog - clear-eyed capitalism

Links

Money Marketplace ;Standards Systems

The online Money Marketplace

Prosper: a network for making loans to individuals. You offer an amount and an interest rate and the site collates lowest offers into a whole loan.
Kiva: similar idea but now global microlending
Virgin Money: loan administration for friend and family loans. Formerly called Circle Lending.
Zopa: a credit-union backed directed CD that lets you participate in credit union loans.
Calvert Community Investment Note: a CD where you select an interest rate of 0-3%, a term and a target impact area and they lend the money to support social & economic development.

Over The Counter Bulletin Board : the online marketplace for public but otherwise unlisted securities. Many companies fall below a size which kicks in SEC reporting requirments and so lack of transparency makes this open equity market a bit hazardous. The better known exchanges also enforce some corporate governance standards as part of listing requirements, part of ensuring quality in their security goods.
Active Capital : an online database for businesses to sell securities to accredited investors. Somewhat of a crossover between a marketplace and a plain ‘ole angel group.
Go Big Network - working to build a community of entrepreneurs, investors and actors (consultants, partners, employees). The activity level on the site is perhaps driven by a published book called “Go Big or Go Home”.

Investors Circle: based out of San Francisco and Boston Investors Circle is an angel group focused on companies who prioritize making the world a better place.
Seraph Capital: a female-led angel group funding companies in the Puget Sound region.

DIY: raise money via direct public offerings
Drew Field Direct Public Offerings: a lawyer who advises companies on doing direct public offerings under Regulation D 504 and SCOR.
Reg D Resources: another company offering fixed-fee setup for helping your company fundraise under the SEC Regulation D exemptions.
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JAK Bank - a much vaunted interest-free bank in Sweden. Google it to learn more.

Standards Systems

B-Corporation: a developing system of rating and certification for socially responsible companies.
The IFC Environmental & Social Standards: The framework the IFC uses to manage environmental and social issues in project financing.
The Equator Principles: a voluntary framework for other financial institutions to manage environmental and social issues in project financing, based on the IFC standards
ShoreBank Pacific Mission Assessment: a loan scoring tool they have developed based on The Natural Step
AA1000 a framework for stakeholder engagement created by AcountAbility
Ecological Footprint: a model for measuring the impact on the planet of your community or organization
GRI High 5!: a Corporate Responsibility reporting tool designed for small and medium-sized companies by the Global Reporting Initative
Principles for Responsible Investment A UN supported initative to define principles for responsible investing. Become a signatory!
SA80000 from Social Accountability International: “our comprehensive and flexible system for managing ethical workplace conditions throughout global supply chains. ”
The Global Sullivan Principles. “The Global Sullivan Principles advance a development framework that enables businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to pursue their business objectives while being mindful and respectful of employees and the communities in which
they operate. ”

closer to home
Good Jobs First “seeking to make economic development subsidies more accountable and effective.”return to top