In the early 1990's, Jim Rogers popularized the term Adventure Capitalist through his book of the same name: a travelogue combined with investment advice, globetrotting, world economic and political commentary -- all focused on the idea of investing in opportunities around the world for personal gain and ROI.
At about the same time, a bit more quietly, Doug Mann of Global Business Assist began developing the concept of adventure capitalist with a decidedly different approach. For Mann, who was involved first-hand in the humanitarian relief efforts in the Balkans during that period of ethnic cleansing and political-economic chaos, adventure capitalism meant something quite different.
Mann observed that humanitarian efforts that appropriately distributed physical aid in times of crises, were not the right types of efforts for development: people need more than a hand out, they need a hand up.
The gba model is to connect western entrepreneurs and business professionals with entrepreneurs in developing areas of the world -- in ways that empower these emerging entrepreneurs to create sustainable businesses that will not only feed their families, but also contribute to the economic development of their communities, and ultimately their regions & countries. Western business professionals participate in this vital connection not only through donations to specific empowering projects, including microfinancing and business grants, but also more directly through business training seminars.
In these seminars, western professionals instruct and coach entrepreneurs in everything from bookkeeping to sales, promotion, leadership, and principles of becoming benevolent stewards of economic success.
My journey as an adventure capitalist begins with this kind of seminar -- taught in Sunyani, Ghana.
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