Impact Investing for Financial Inclusion - Q&A with Gil Crawford

GIL CRAWFORD is the CEO of MicroVest. MicroVest is an asset management firm dedicated to applying a commercial framework to investing in unbanked and under-served markets. They focus on a sustainable investment process that provides private capital to low-income financial institutions. These institutions then extend productive loans to micro, small and medium businesses. They believe a commercial approach offers the most effective, scalable and sustainable solution for generating meaningful financial and social returns to their investors.

At MicroVest, he is responsible for leading the company's investment operations and strategy since MicroVest's founding in 2003. As MicroVest's CEO, he led the launch of MicroVest I, LP, the first commercial private equity vehicle focused on microfinance in North America. Mr. Crawford has over 25 years experience with microfinance institutions and capital markets across the globe.

Before helping to found MicroVest Capital Management, Mr. Crawford worked for the Latin American Financial Markets Division at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and focused on investments in microfinance institutions. Prior to joining IFC, Mr. Crawford created and ran Seed Capital Development Fund, a US-based nonÔÇÉprofit firm, involved in creating financial instruments and attracting funds to capitalize microfinance institutions, primarily in Latin America, Asia and Africa. Prior to creating Seed Capital, Mr. Crawford was the Assistant Project Director for Africa Venture Capital Project, designed to create risk capital firms in Africa.

Mr. Crawford received his bank training at Chase Manhattan Bank after working in Africa for the Red Cross and State Department. He is a graduate of SAIS at Johns Hopkins University and Bates College.

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