The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), is a global network of organizations that promote entrepreneurship in emerging markets. Members of ANDE provide financial, educational, and business support services to small and growing businesses (SGBs). ANDE believes SGBs will help lift countries out of poverty by creating more jobs, stimulating long-term economic growth, and producing environmental and social benefits.
In 2009, ANDE launched with 34 members, but today it has grown to more than 280 members collectively operating in more than 150 countries, with 7 regional chapters. Its members support “the missing middle” — the small and growing businesses that are the engines of growth in emerging markets, with the potential to address critical social and environmental challenges.
We are proud to say that Markaaz has joined the ranks of Mastercard, PayPal, FUNDES and several others, as a new member of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs. This is a big step forward for Markaaz in our mission to connect every small business on the planet and to provide them with equal access to resources that support and create economic growth.
Members of ANDE include both for-profit and not-profit investment funds, capacity development providers, research and academic institutions, development finance institutions, foundations and corporations from around the world.
Based in Washington, D.C. with several offices in emerging markets, ANDE works hard to support members globally and locally, while building strong ecosystems for entrepreneurial growth.
Markaaz will work with its strategic partners including; FUNDES, TECHO, a nonprofit organization transforming slums into thriving communities across Latin America, to help small and growing businesses succeed, and other ANDE members to support the ANDE mission. We are working with these partners on a pilot project in Latin America to introduce digital resources into communities while measuring the economic and social impact of this.
As a new member of ANDE, Markaaz has a full agenda. The 2-year old scale-up is looking to provide SGBs with access to digital tools and resources including it’s proprietary Directory, and education through the Markaaz Foundation with the hope that these tools can help these SGBs find their voice and thrive.
