FLOSS Business Network

How to get involved:

=Events=
 * Create a free account on WikiEducator (link on top right).
 * Add your name and/or organisation to the Parties links below.
 * Browse the site and add comments, learning resources, etc.
 * Check out the FLOSS Business Regional links below and add something about your region.
 * Find out more about using WikiEducator and go wild :-).


 * Ict@innovation - training on African FOSS business models (Dakar, 21 March 2008) - where we started.

=Parties=


 * /People/
 * /Organisations/

=Initiatives=


 * ict@innovation - training on African FOSS business models


 * it@inwent - supporting ICT Networks in the South


 * FOSSFA


 * OpenTTT

=Networking Ideas and Channels=

FLOSS Professionals Collaborating to Support Government

 * See IOSN's Orgnizations related to FOSS and Government
 * Government Open Source Software Resource Center (GOV-OSS-RC)

MasterMind Groups
Creation of Local (maximum 10 Member cells) for the purpose of self-support to establish and support local business development

Features


 * Common shared values
 * Help each other develop sustainable businesses.
 * Profile best practices
 * Showcase the top Ten businesses
 * Creation of How to Checklists
 * Exchange ideas, collaborate, brainstorm, ... towards common goals.
 * Standing on the shoulders of giants


 * Local, Provincial, National, Global groups

Required
 * Facilitator's Guide
 * Creation of Train the Trainer sessions
 * African Network of MasterMind Coordinators

User Needs
This area is for users to express needs - looking for help from FLOSS businesses.

Africa

 * FLOSSBusiness West Africa
 * FLOSSBusiness East Africa
 * FLOSSBusiness southern Africa
 * FLOSSBusiness Central Africa

=Funders=

Investors in FLOSS businesses Links to Community Loan funds or called Peer to Peer  Lending

Details on CLF


 * Examples Prospers and ZOPA

An interesting alternative model is called KIVA

Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. By choosing a loan on Kiva, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the entrepreneur you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.

The main problem is the size of the micro-loans.