Investment Opportunities
Explore investment opportunities to connect with global refugee entrepreneurs and refugee-supporting enterprises.
Chatterbox
Founded by Mursal Hedayat, a refugee from Afghanistan living in the UK, and Guillemette Dejean, a Y Combinator alum, Chatterbox is an online language learning platform designed and delivered by refugees. Language skills and cultural knowledge are increasingly necessary for professionals in the globalized economy. The Chatterbox digital platform uniquely combines AI-powered self-study courses alongside algorithmically matched native language coaches from the refugee community. Coaches are paired with students based on shared professional backgrounds and interests, achieving industry topping completion rates and unbeatable relevance in learning. On the app, engineers are learning Arabic from fellow engineers and aid workers are learning French from medical doctors. And while Chatterbox clients learn, their refugee coaches earn a living, improve their employability, and reclaim their professional identities. Classes can be offered one-on-one, in small groups, to whole classrooms, or for organizations who purchase lessons on behalf of their members.
Kiva Refugee Investment Fund
At SOCAP 2018, Kiva announced the creation of Kiva Capital, an impact-first asset manager, and with it the launch of their first fund, focused on raising $30M for refugee financial inclusion. The fund is expected to catalyze almost $100M in loans over its projected 5-year term, with direct impact to over 200,000 borrowers. The vehicle will offer a range of sub-commercial return streams for institutional investors.
Leaf Global Fintech
Leaf offers integrated financial services to refugees and internally displaced persons, using blockchain to create a safe and secure system for individuals to store assets, receive payments, and make cross-border transfers. This suite of products works on any mobile phone (no smartphone required), providing easier access to particularly vulnerable populations. By using blockchain to facilitate digital payments, customers avoid unnecessarily high transaction costs charged by traditional money transfer companies. They can access Leaf’s digital wallet wherever they go and receive deposits from friends and family abroad straight to their mobile device. Refugees and other displaced persons are often at risk of criminal activity as a result of carrying cash, and physical currency is especially difficult to safely store and transport across borders. Leaf provides individuals with an opportunity to create a secure economic identity while also lowering the barrier to accessing key financial services.
Epimonia
Founded by Mohamed Malim, a Somali-American entrepreneur and former refugee, Epimonia is a fashion company dedicated to raising awareness around refugee issues in the United States. Epimonia sells fashion accessories, including a bracelet made out of recycled life-vests previously worn by refugees. Epimonia sources its life-vests in partnership with the non-profit organization, Refugees4Refugees, which sends its volunteers to Lesbos, a Greek Island where many refugees arrive. The final “embracelets” are then made in the Netherlands by refugees employed by the Dream Factory, owned by Mr. Malim’s uncle Omar Munie, a Dutch-Somali fashion designer.
Refugee Investment Resources
Browse knowledge, tools, and resources geared towards investors and entrepreneurs interested in refugee investing.
Investment Resource
Refugee Investment Training Curriculum
The RIN’s training curriculum helps current and prospective investors gain in-depth understanding of the refugee investment field.
Research
Paradigm Shift: How investment can unlock the potential of refugees
RIN’s flagship report offers impact investors, grant-makers, and development finance professionals the first overview on how to invest in and with forcibly displaced people.
Investment Resource
Abaca Investment Readiness Tool for Refugee Enterprises
The RIN has partnered with Village Capital to provide refugee enterprises access to the Abaca investment matchmaking platform where enterprises can calculate their Venture Investment Level.
Investment Resource
Refugee Lens
The Refugee Lens is a framework to define and qualify refugee investments. The framework helps investors and entrepreneurs respond to the question: “What is a refugee investment?”
The RIN Experience
Grant Gordon, Director of Innovation, International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Wafaa Arbash, CEO, Work Around
Natasha Freidus, Founder, Needslist
How Does the RIN Work?
We connect investors and refugee entrepreneurs, among other efforts.
Learn More
