Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Omidyar Network
Investment firm founded by Pierre and Pamela Omidyar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Omidyar Network is a self-styled "philanthropic investment firm," composed of a foundation and an impact investment firm.[2] Established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam,[3][4][5] Omidyar Network has committed over US$1.5 billion to nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies across multiple investment areas.[6]
As of 2022, the organization has offices in Silicon Valley, Bengaluru, London, Mumbai, Nairobi, and Washington, D.C.
Remove ads
History
The Omidyar Network comprises a 501(c)(3) and a Limited Liability Company (LLC), and part of The Omidyar Group.[7][8] It was established in 2004 by Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam.[5]
In 2018, Omidyar Network spun off its Governance & Citizen Engagement initiative.[9] The group now operates as Luminate, a global philanthropic organization that invests in civic empowerment, data and digital rights, financial transparency, and independent media. It is led by Stephen King.[10]
In 2019, Omidyar Network spun off its Financial Inclusion initiative.[11] The group now operates as Flourish and is led by Tilman Ehrbeck, Arjuna Costa, and Emmalyn Shaw. A year later, the organization spun off its education portfolio as Imaginable Futures.[11]
Remove ads
People
As of 2022, the CEO of Omidyar Network is Mike Kubzansky.[12] Its board of directors include the managing directors of The Omidyar Group, Jeff Alvord and Pat Christen[13] and in 2023 Michele Jawando was senior vice president for programs.[14]
Investees
Omidyar Network invested in the microfinance sector, including Unitus Inc.[15]
In 2009, the Omidyar Network donated $2 million over two years to the Wikimedia Foundation, and at the same time, Matt Halprin of Omidyar Network was appointed to Wikimedia's board of directors.[16][17]
From 2012, Omidyar Network has been a partner of Better Than Cash Alliance.[18][19]
In 2017, Omidyar Network together with AVINA Americas and Avina Foundation founded the Latin American Alliance for Civic Technology (ALTEC) to invest in and support the development in Latin America of civic technology platforms and related scalable technologies.[20]
In 2020, it invested $150,000 in the legal assistance organization Whistleblower Aid.[21]
Reporters in Residence Program
The Reporters in Residence program was launched in 2022 and is designed to give freelance reporters financial support (in the form of a monthly stipend) in an effort to increase coverage of deeper and more pressing economic issues.[22][23]
Regional arms
Summarize
Perspective
India
Omidyar Network India (established 2010; became an independent advisory firm in 2019) operated from Mumbai, investing in both for-profit and nonprofit initiatives aimed at including India’s “Next Half Billion” through a dual‑checkbook model. It supported startups and social ventures across digital society, education & employability, financial inclusion & wellbeing, property rights, emerging technologies, and urban development.[24]
The firm invested approximately US $500 million+ in India (~70% for-profit, 30% nonprofit) backing 70+ startups including 1MG, HealthKart, Bounce, Vedantu, WhiteHat Jr, ZestMoney, Doubtnut, Kiwi, DealShare, Indifi, and Otipy.[25]
Notable initiatives included supporting slum mapping via drone technology in Odisha and other states—accelerating slum titling and urban habitat upgrades—and co-investing in platforms such as Quikr, Pratilipi, Affordplan, Vedantu, Dailyhunt, Nowfloats to drive mobile-first impact.[26]
In December 2023, Omidyar Network announced that its India entity would stop making new investments and fully exit by the end of 2024, citing a matured Indian startup and philanthropic landscape with growing local capital availability.[27]
The decision follows increased scrutiny from Indian authorities, including an investigation under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and being named in Home Ministry watch‑lists in 2021–22.[24]
Remove ads
See also
- Acumen Fund
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Blue Haven Initiative
- Jasmine Social Investments
- Mulago Foundation
- Mahmud Mir-Djalali
- Peery Foundation
- Philanthrocapitalism
- Skoll Foundation
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads