Off to India

Will be spending the next two weeks in London, Amsterdam, and (mostly) India. Conference in London for the EU launch of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE). Interesting embership group that works to bring three groups together:

• Social investors -- such as The Gates Foundation, Lemelson Foundation, Omidyar Network, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Skoll Foundation, the Shell Foundation, and others.
• Intermediaries -- such as Acumen Fund, Agora Partners, Dahlberg, E&Co, Root Capital, SEAF, TechnoServe, WDI (of course), and a few others
  
• with small and medium size businesses in developing countries.
  

The idea is that SMEs can drive development more effectively than micro enterprises, and the group is looking to promote that.

From there, on to Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai (Bombay) and back to Delhi for some student work. We have a set of interesting MBA projects this year -- with Drishtee, Acumen Fund, and a skills development initiative by Perot Systems.

I will also be doing the song and dance routine for two Ross School alumni clubs -- in Delhi and Mumbai. Actually, these events are a lot of fun. Well connected people. Looking to engage with the school. And really excited about cutting edge work.

So, great trip coming up. The only downside is that I'll be staying in eight different hotels over the next 11 nights. Ugh!!

Blogging will continue, but will likely be at strange times (India is 9 1/2 hours ahead of the east coast). In the meatime, Lou will hold down the fort.