Featuring: Alternative Finance
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Feature of the Month: Alternative Finance

As technology further connects the business world, new forms of finance are taking shape. These new avenues are collectively referred to as “alternative finance”, which composes of any funding raised outside the traditional financial market. Examples include peer to peer lending, crowdfunding, and invoice trading. These forms of finance rose to prominence when businesses found it harder to raise funds through banks, an effect of the worldwide financial crisis of 2008.

For new businesses, alternative finance has been the key to growth following the global recession. The alternative finance industry had over $140 billion worth of transactions in 2015 and exhibited incredible growth in many regions. In China, the industry went from $5 billion worth of transactions to $100 billion over a two-year period. In the Americas, 2015 saw more than a 200% increase in financing volume.

Alternative finance is becoming more popular with small and medium-sized businesses, who find the speed and flexibility of the funding superior to that of traditional loans from banks. Many also see hope for increased business opportunities in developing nations, where traditional loans are hard to come by. With new sources of funding, business people in these countries can see economic growth that is not beholden to the banking industry.

Featured Resources

Deutsche Bank Research

The website of Deutsche Bank Research provides the user with useful market information, quality macro-economical analysis, international news and headlines, as well as an extensive financial glossary.

Categories: Finance

International Finance Corporation

The International Finance Corporation, an arm of the World Bank, provides very useful information for the international business person interested in private sector investments in developing countries. Information is well laid-out and easy to understand. Several reports are available describing initiatives, progress, and research relating to IFC efforts.

Categories: Finance

Featured Academy

An Introduction to Microfinance

An Introduction to Microfinance discusses the basics and beginnings of the microfinance industry and provides those looking to invest in microfinance with some basic information for commencing such endeavors. The module will address: The beginnings of micro-credit; investing in microfinance; the ideal client and money practices of the poor; microfinance worldwide: agents of social change; and a case study on the microfinance institution, BRAC, is also included.

Microfinance Institutions and Recent Debates

Microfinance Institutions and Recent Debates looks at four microfinance institutions (MFIs), their lending practices, programs, clients, and overall organizational profile. This module will also address some of the recent debates surrounding the commercialization of microfinance institutions. In this module, we will cover: FINCA International; The Grameen Foundation; FONDEP Micro-Credit; Controversy at Compartamos; and a case study on the transition from non-profit, to for-profit MFIs by Paulette Stenzel.

globalEDGE Business Beat

Building The Infrastructure In Lansing

Hosted by Tomas Hult, this interview segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat focuses on Ray Tadgerson’s involvement for several decades in building the infrastructure in the Greater Lansing area. Ray Tadgerson is President and CEO of Tadgerson Consulting, and former President and CEO of C2AE, known then as Capital Consultants. Ray provides a brief history of his involvement in infrastructure for the Lansing region as an engineer and later as CEO of Capital Consultants - now known as C2AE. Ray talks about his most significant infrastructure projects in the region, and what keeps him busy these days.

Vector Marketing And Cutco Knives

Hosted by Tomas Hult, this interview segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat focuses on Vector Marketing Corporation and their leading product Cutco knives. Cutco is the largest manufacturer of kitchen cutlery in North America, and Vector Marketing is the primary seller of Cutco knives. The guest is Helen Brown, Academic Outreach Manager of Vector Marketing. Helen and Tomas discuss Vector Marketing Corporation and what they do. They also talk about students contracting with Vector Marketing and how a student can get involved.

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Fact of the Month

In 2015, the largest online alternative finance markets in Latin America were Chile and Brazil, with $47.57 million and $24.15 million respectively in transaction volume.

Source: University of Cambridge, Judge Business School

From the gE Blog

The alternative finance industry is growing at high rates in the United Kingdom. Check out our new gE blog post on the industry in the U.K. and some of the possible risks to investors.

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