New Delhi, 16 November, 2016: Harjiv Singh, Founder and CEO of Gutenberg Communications is among the speakers at the first-ever Impact Investing Conclave being organized in India by the Ministry of External Affairs and Impact Investors Council in partnership with IDFC Bank, DFID and Omidyar Network. The chief guest for the event is Shri Jayant Sinha, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, who in an earlier role as India’s Minister of State for Finance was a key driver of landmark reformative initiatives such as PM Mudra Yojana, Social Security Platform, the India Aspiration Fund for entrepreneurship, National Infrastructure and Investment Fund, Long Term Irrigation Fund, Higher Education Financing Agency, and devising the Indradhanush package for public sector banks, as well as piloting key legislations including the Insurance Bill, Bankruptcy Bill and Regional Rural Banks Bill in the Parliament.
A serial entrepreneur, Harjiv has advised global clients across a diverse range of industries like technology, real estate, government, investment management, academic and the non-profit sectors. Harjiv has also founded Salwan Media Ventures, which runs a portfolio of education-focused businesses including the annual One Globe Forum which focuses on transforming India and South Asia into a 21st-century knowledge, and BrainGain Magazine, the largest online magazine for study abroad in India and South Asia. Harjiv is a Trustee of The Loomba Foundation, a UN-recognized charity supporting the cause of poor widows. He is also a member of the U.S. Advisory Council of The American India Foundation (AIF) and has served on the board of the United Nations Association of New York. He advises the Global Futures Group (GFG), an international consulting and investment services firm focusing on smart cities. Harjiv serves on the advisory board of Knowledge@Wharton, has been a guest faculty member at DukeCE and is a Charter Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).
As Founder and CEO of Gutenberg Communications, Harjiv has built teams across the U.S., U.K. and India that leverage digital, mobile, video and PR to amplify messages and catalyze impact in industries. Specifically in the social impact sector, Gutenberg has supported Catalyst, XPRIZE India, Smart India Hackathon, 1947 Partition Archive, Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Public Health Foundation of India, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Honour Our Women Foundation, Rise Above Social Issues Foundation, Indian Cancer Society, India Urban Conference and Pratham among other clients.
Harjiv began his career over two decades ago as a financial analyst in GE Capital’s Financial Management Program (FMP). He has also worked at Priceline.com in strategic planning, as a financial analyst at Adam Smith & Company, a New York City Hedge Fund, and as Director of a real estate development company in India. He also co-founded MDOffices.com, a New York City wireless software company in the healthcare industry. At Gutenberg, he has advised clients like U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), UK Trade & Investment, GE, HSBC, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Quest Diagnostics.
Harjiv received a Master’s in International Affairs in Economic Policy Management from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He also has an MBA in Marketing and Bachelor in Finance from the New York Institute of Technology.
Some of the other speakers at the Conclave include Ministry of External Affairs’ Director & HoD, ITP & ES, Dr. K. Nagaraj Naidu; IDFC Bank Founder MD & CEO, Dr. Rajiv Lall; Omidyar Network India Advisors Partner and MD Roopa Kudva; SIDBI’s CMD Dr. Kshtrapati Shivaji; Aavishkaar Founder and Managing Partner Vineet Rai, Impact Investors Council’s Founding CEO, Amit Bhatia, Elevar Equity’s Founder Sandeep Farias, TRIODOS’ President Marilou van Golstein Brouwers; Encourage Capital’s Co-Managing Partner and Board Chairman and a Trustee of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Adam Wolfensohn; OPIC’s Head of Investment funds Brooks Preston; KfW Development Bank’s Head of Division Claudia Schmerler; Netherlands Development Finance Company’s Director of Private Equity Jaap Reinking; USAID’s General Counsel John L. S. Simpkins; Rare Enterprises’ Founder and Manager Rakesh Jhunjhunwala; Arghyam’s Chairperson Rohini Nilekani; Hinduja Bank Switzerland’s Vice Chairperson Shanu SP Hinduja; Michael & Susan Dell Foundation’s Country Director Debasish Mitter; Dia Vikas Capital’s Chairman & CEO, Robert Dunn; German Embassy’s Head of Economic Cooperation and Development Division, Susanne Dorasil; Asha Impact’s Founder Vikram Gandhi; and Kiran Karnik, a Director in RBI’s Central Board of Directors. The Conclave is also supported by Caspian, MacArthur Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, GIZ, SIDBI and others.
As one of the largest impact investment destinations in the world, India has attracted a cumulative investment of $7.5 billion from over 50 active impact investors till date benefiting more than 350 enterprises and funds in financial services, agriculture, health, education and cleantech, livelihoods, water and sanitation.