Root Capital :: Press

Root Capital Receives PRI and Grant From Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

December 10, 2009 - Press Release

Root Capital was announced today as the recipient of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s first program-related investment (PRI) from its Agricultural Development initiative. Root Capital will use the six-year, $10 million PRI as loan capital to scale its operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The $4 million operating grant will support Root Capital’s five-year growth plan to achieve a financially self-sustainable lending program by 2013.

Starbucks to Invest Additional $2 Million in Root Capital

September 1, 2009 - Press Release

The Starbucks Coffee Company announced today an additional $2 million investment in Root Capital. This commitment, announced at the Social Capital Market 2009 Conference, brings Starbucks total investment in Root Capital’s fund to $9 million and marks the five-year anniversary since their first investment in 2004.

Social Investor Aims to "Fill the Missing Middle"

July, 2009 - Coffee and Cocoa International

Coffee and Cocoa International profiles Root Capital founder William Foote, and explains the strategy behind the founding of Root Capital.

Root Capital Awarded Financial Times and IFC Sustainable Banking Award

June 4, 2009 - Press Release

The Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced Root Capital as the recipient of its Achievement in Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid Award. The award recognizes ground-breaking financial transactions and initiatives that address the Bottom or Base of the Pyramid (BoP), the more than 4 billion people who live on less than US$2 a day.

Impact Investing: Harnessing Capital Markets to Drive Development at Scale

May/June, 2009 - Beyond Profit

Beyond Profit Magazine highlights Root Capital as a place for impact investors who "seek to make for-profit investments that can also provide solutions to social and environmental challenges."

A New Style of Investing For a New Day

May 27, 2009 - Huffington Post

Kevin Jones -- founding partner of Good Capital and founder of the annual SoCap (Social Capital Markets) Conference -- applauds Root Capital as "a bank that works in rural areas where other banks don't go; like microfinance but on a much larger scale. It creates viable businesses that enable people in the developing world to earn a living in their villages, rather than migrating into squatter settlements in large overcrowded cities."

Root Capital Announces Launch of Innovative Five-year $63M Growth Capital Campaign

March 26, 2009 - Press Release

Root Capital announced today that it has launched a comprehensive Growth Capital Campaign that will significantly increase its capacity to serve rural grassroots businesses in developing countries by establishing a sustainable social enterprise and fully self-sufficient lending program by 2013.

Root Solutions: Nonprofit lender Root Capital connects rural farmers and artisans with the corporations that crave their products

Spring, 2009 - Stanford Social Innovation Review

The Stanford Social Innovation Review features Root Capital as "a well-recognized leader in the social capital field." The article highlights Root Capital's innovation, its strong corporate partnerships, and its positive impact on farmers and artisans around the world.

Social Entrepreneurs Go Mainstream

March, 2009 - Ode Magazine

ODE Magazine highlights Root Capital’s work in its March issue. This article takes a look at how social entrepreneurs are building sustainable organizations and using business solutions to solve some of the world’s most pressing social problems.

Press Release: Rockefeller Foundation Awards $2 Million Loan to Root Capital

November 24, 2008

The Rockefeller Foundation announced today that it has awarded a $2 million loan, in the form of a Program-Related Investment (PRI), to Root Capital. The Rockefeller Foundation’s investment follows a grant of $152,000 that the Foundation made to Root Capital earlier this year to allow the Nonprofit Finance Fund to help Root Capital develop a $60 million growth capital campaign.

Press Release: Social Venture Network Announces 2008 Innovation Award Winners

October 13, 2008

Social Venture Network (SVN) the country's leading network of socially responsible entrepreneurs, investors and nonprofit leaders, announces Root Capital Founder and President Willy Foote as one of six winners of the 2nd Annual SVN Innovation Awards. The Awards support the "next generation" of socially responsible business and nonprofit leaders by providing them access to the people and resources that can help support the growth and success of their enterprises.

Press Release: Clinton Global Initiative Announces Innovative Coffee Partnership

September 26, 2008

The Clinton Global Initiative announces an innovative partnership between Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Root Capital to improve the financial literacy of rural-based businesses in Latin America and Africa.

Investors Boost the 'Missing Middle'

June 24, 2008 - Financial Times

The Financial Times features Root Capital as a leader in the growing field of SME finance. FT highlights Root Capital's "innovative model" and recognizes its work to expand the industry in order to create widespread social, economic, and environmental change.

The Price of Hunger

June 23, 2008 - LA Times

The LA Times highlights the important role of agricultural credit in addressing the food crisis and singles out Root Capital for leading the way: "Innovative nonprofits such as Root Capital, which lends to sustainable agricultural projects, are showing how to fill the gap [of the missing middle]".

Root Capital Helps Grassroots Eco-ventures

April 21, 2008 - Miami Herald

The Miami Herald recently highlighted a profile of Root Capital and an interview with Founder William Foote as the cover story in its business section.

Press Release: World Economic Forum Announces Root Capital Founder and President William Foote as a 2008 Young Global Leader

March 20, 2008

The World Economic Forum announced that Root Capital Founder and President William Foote has been selected as a Young Global Leader 2008. This honour is bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum to recognize and acknowledge the top 200-300 young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

Press Release: Root Capital Selected as 2008 Social Capitalist Award Winner

December 14, 2007

Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group announced that they have awarded a 2008 Social Capitalist Award to Root Capital.

Top 15 Charities for Investors for 2007

November 26, 2007 - NuWire Investor

NuWire Investor ranks Root Capital third in its 2007 list of the Top 15 Charities for Investors. Charities were chosen based on their effectiveness and how tangibly the success of one’s donation could be measured.

Transatlantic Innovations in Affordable Capital for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

October, 2007 - The Milken Institute and the German Marshall Fund of the United States

The Milken Institute and the German Marshall Fund of the United States highlighted Root Capital for its innovative model that “catalyzes systemic change” in its recently released report on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Finance.

From Grower to Green Market: Bridging the Rural Finance Gap

September, 2007 - Microfinance Insights

Root Capital was featured in the journal Microfinance Insights for its unconventional lending approach that is demonstrating the viability of rural grassroots businesses.