Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs

What Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs does

Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is a nonprofit membership network organization operating as a program under The Aspen Institute, headquartered in Washington, DC, with regional chapters in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Founded in 2009, ANDE convenes the full spectrum of the entrepreneurial ecosystem — funders, investors, capacity-building organizations, governments, and research institutions — to support small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets. The organization pursues three thematic pillars: Gender Equality (via the AGEI initiative launched in 2019), Climate and Environmental Action (launched in 2020, including the IKEA Foundation-backed Access to Green Finance initiative), and Decent Work and Economic Growth. Member services include regional chapters, training programs such as Investment Manager Training and SCALE 360, an online Knowledge Hub, Learning Labs and Action Labs, an Annual Conference, and regional convenings including the Pan-Africa Conference, Pan-Asia Convening, and Metrics Conference.

ANDE does not operate a proprietary technology platform for its core services. Its underlying infrastructure consists of a public website, a member login portal, regional newsletter distribution to thousands of subscribers in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French), and active social media channels. The organization distributes a monthly global newsletter alongside regional newsletters and maintains interview-based content such as the Member Spotlight series. In 2026, ANDE began productizing its first technology-enabled offering — the Momentum platform — developed with ETK Group and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), targeting organizational capacity, climate risk, and impact management.

Commercially, ANDE is structured as a membership-based nonprofit. Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues paid by hundreds of member organizations, complemented by restricted grants from funders such as the IKEA Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and FCDO. GTM is community-led: applications are reviewed by staff and an Executive Committee, and value is delivered through convening, training, knowledge products, and selective catalytic funding — not through transactional software or advertising.

Name

Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs

Legal name

Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs

Website

https://andeglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ANDE is a nonprofit membership network under The Aspen Institute that convenes funders, investors, capacity builders, governments, and researchers to support small and growing businesses across emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Entrepreneurship Network

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Technical Assistance, Policy Lending & Capacity Building Programs (BPADACAN), Infrastructure, Networking & Systems Administration Training (BPAEANAJ), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship ecosystem development
• Small business support
• Development finance network
• Capacity building services
• Membership convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ANDE operates as a membership-based organization with hundreds of member organizations that pay dues to join the network. Membership provides access to events, networking opportunities, and resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ANDE operates a global membership-based network that convenes funders, investors, capacity-building organizations, governments, and research institutions to support small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets. It delivers value through research, training programs, regional convenings, advocacy, thematic initiatives (gender equality, climate action, decent work), and a knowledge hub of resources for its member organizations.

Product overview

ANDE is a global membership network organization (not a software product company) that convenes the full spectrum of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to support small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets. Rather than a unified software product, ANDE offers a portfolio of programs and initiatives including the Gender Equality Initiative, Climate and Environmental Action Initiative, and Decent Work Initiative. The organization provides member services such as Investment Manager Training and SCALE 360 training programs, maintains a Knowledge Hub with research publications, operates Regional Chapters across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and distributes a Global Newsletter. ANDE facilitates collective action through Learning Labs and Action Labs focused on specific themes including access and opportunity, climate and environment, and gender equality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ANDE Membership Network A global membership network of hundreds of organizations that support small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets; members gain access to events, networking, training, regional chapters, and shared resources.
• Investment Manager Training A comprehensive training course providing an overview of investing in small and growing businesses, offered globally to investment professionals.
• SCALE 360

Quantifiable outcome

• Ethiopia entrepreneurial ecosystem mapping identified 140 organizations supporting entrepreneurs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• ETK GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026ETK, a UK-based international trade and economic development advisory firm, partnered with ANDE and FCDO to launch Momentum, a technology-enabled platform for organizational capacity, climate risk, and impact management. Lagos, Nigeria was the first market in the phased international rollout.
• SAPflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026SAP backed the launch of Alianza por las Compras con Impacto en México (Alliance for Impact Procurement in Mexico), ANDE's initiative to integrate small and growing businesses into corporate value chains through sustainable procurement.
• CIFAR AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CIFAR Alliance is joining ANDE, combining climate finance expertise with ANDE's global network to help capital reach businesses focused on resilience.
• The Aspen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANDE is part of The Aspen Institute, sharing the same headquarters location and organizational umbrella. The Aspen Institute provides institutional support and brand credibility.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SEAF (Small Enterprise Assistance Funds): SEAF is a global impact investment management firm focused on growth capital for SGBs in emerging markets. It is comparable to ANDE in targeting the same SGB segment with capacity building, capital, and ecosystem support services.
• Acumen: Acumen is a non-profit impact investment fund and ecosystem builder that invests in early-stage enterprises serving low-income customers. It is comparable to ANDE in combining patient capital, capacity building, and ecosystem convening for SGBs in emerging markets.
• Endeavor: Endeavor is a global high-impact entrepreneurship network that selects and supports founders of high-growth companies in emerging markets. It is comparable to ANDE in operating a curated membership-based model for entrepreneur ecosystem development across multiple geographies.
• TechnoServe: TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. It is comparable to ANDE in providing capacity building, training, and market linkages to SGBs across emerging markets, with a focus on poverty alleviation.
• Village Capital: Village Capital supports early-stage entrepreneurs through investment readiness programs and peer-support networks. As an ANDE member organization, it is a direct peer in the SGB ecosystem support space, operating similar cohort-based capacity building models in emerging markets.

Others

• Shell Foundation: Shell Foundation is a corporate foundation that supports access to energy and SGB development in emerging markets. It is comparable to ANDE as an adjacent funder and ecosystem partner in the SGB and climate entrepreneurship space, though with a narrower sector focus on energy access.

Broad incumbents

• Omidyar Network: Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm that supports SGBs and impact-driven organizations across emerging markets. It is comparable to ANDE as a funder and thought leader in the SGB ecosystem, though operating at significantly larger scale with both for-profit and non-profit structures.

Emerging players

• B Lab Global: B Lab Global operates the B Corp certification and movement for businesses meeting social and environmental performance standards. It is comparable to ANDE as a membership-based network organization that convenes and certifies mission-driven businesses globally.
• Root Capital: Root Capital invests in the growth of agricultural SGBs across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. It is comparable to ANDE as a fellow ecosystem player serving rural SGBs in emerging markets, though focused specifically on agricultural value chains.
• Yunus Social Business: Yunus Social Business provides funding and support to social businesses addressing social problems in developing countries. It is comparable to ANDE in supporting SGBs with poverty alleviation missions across multiple emerging markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aspenande
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJIK4o_8QIaK3P5B9JuvlUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AspenANDE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aspenande

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs