IDG is a much needed platform designed to overcome the barriers currently limiting flow of capital into social enterprise. Specific tools have been built which focus both on empowering entrepreneurs to translate their ideas into investor understanding as well as enable investors to source and complete exciting deals.

IDG provides new and much sought after opportunities for investors. The growing interest in multiple-bottom-line investments has highlighted the need for a service to facilitate these deals. Currently the disproportionate transaction costs incurred and lack of much needed reassurance restricts the investors' capacity to complete a deal without assistance. IDG has been built out of this awareness.

IDG has enabled a new breed of multiple-bottom-line investors. By collapsing the investment process into an online interaction, the high percentage transaction costs of small-scale investments is reduced. This means it is no longer only institutions that can afford to take on the risks involved but individual investors too. Investors have the ability to source relevant plans, manage pipelines, find co-investors, negotiate and complete deals in the most time and cost effective way.

The asymmetry in knowledge and trust between investor and entrepreneur is the second cause limiting investments in this area. IDG has focused on reassuring investors using a host of communication and informative tools. These are especially important for international investors to develop the required confidence. An example of this knowledge asymmetry is the debilitating communication barrier between the investor and entrepreneur, resolved by IDG with a tool which automatically translates the plan of the entrepreneur into investor understanding. The trust asymmetry is resolved by helping to create strong relationships through a range of communication and mentoring tools between investor and entrepreneur as well as collaborative opportunities.

On the other side of the platform, equity strapped entrepreneurs are empowered to secure long term capital support to scale their enterprises.

IDG provides the framework through which to create and present their business plans. Tackling the often restrictive skill gap, IDG's toolkit helps entrepreneurs improve their potential. Strategic thought, sound management and marketing methods are just three of the issues resolved through online support, guidance and templates. Once a business plan is submitted using our online upload tool, IDG communicates the entrepreneur's thoughts to investors by translating it directly into investor requirements.

With a strong business plan behind them, entrepreneurs are well equipped to start seeking capital. IDG provides the perfect marketplace to do so. Realising this is just beginning for the entrepreneur, IDG continues to provide its support and tailor-made tools throughout the investment process and beyond.

Addressing these otherwise negated needs, IDG has provided specific tools and services that can benefit additional user groups too, such as incubator organizations and social enterprise programmes.

Incubator organizations are able to capitalize on the opportunity to commercialize their member incubations. IDG offers the tools to mentor, manage and monitor prototype development all the while recording information invaluable to later investor interest. Once ready, incubators are hand-held through the business plan creation stages and supported from then onwards. [For more information on this please contact us at info@indiadevelopmentgateway.org]

IDG has addressed the issues of social investments in a unique way, but there are many other social enterprise programmes working to strengthen social enterprise in India. Here, IDG is able to customize its services to help streamline their processes and to benefit from the online support and strengthening tools. Providing services from initial upload to exit of an investor, these programmes are also able to offer their members access to funding through IDG’s active investor network. [For more information on this please contact us at info@indiadevelopmentgateway.org]

With the success of business plan competitions, IDG has developed a comprehensive competition management package. Competitions not only identify the best in a field but provide a sure channel through which to promote specific sectors and generate new innovative ideas. Based on these values, IDG not only runs its own competitions but offers the efficiency and effectiveness of using the platform to others. [For more information on this please contact us at info@indiadevelopmentgateway.org]