Ep. 282 Jim Chu on alternative financing opportunities in frontier markets through Untapped Global

Jim is the creator of Untapped, with the mission to bridge the investment gap in frontier markets by creating alternative financing opportunities for entrepreneurs and empowering the next billion to scale to their full potential. Untapped creates opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in frontier markets to scale while providing strong returns and liquidity for investors around the world. Jim is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist dedicated creating opportunity in emerging markets. Jim spent decades in tech in the US and Europe and in the last ten years has been focused on pioneering new ways apply innovations in technology and finance to drive equitable economic development in frontier markets worldwide.   He founded a social enterprise in Haiti that today sustainably provides clean water to over 200,000 people in underserved regions of the country through hundreds of local entrepreneurs.   Untapped Global spun out of dloHaiti to bridge the financing gap in emerging markets with Smart Asset FinancingTM, a technology-backed financing solution for SMEs.   Jim is also the founder of The Nest, an international investment network connecting investors with emerging-market startups from around the world.   Jim is on multiple non-profit boards including Watering Minds, a US public charity supporting youth in emerging markets and MCE Social Capital, a non-profit impact investment firm.   Jim has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and in his spare time, enjoys paragliding, running, and occasionally flying planes.