Investment

http://www.catalyst-microfinance.com/
Catalyst Microfinance Investors (CMI) is a private equity fund that invests in emerging, high potential microfinance institutions, selected and managed by a team of globally renowned microfinance practitioners and corporate finance specialists. The Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund (grayghostfund.com) is one of CMI's cornerstone investors.

http://kiva.org
Kiva lets you connect and loan money to unique entrepreneurs in developing countries. By choosing a loan on Kiva, one can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor strive 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 investments back. Kiva partners with existing microfinance institutions to upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site.

https://www.microplace.com
MicroPlace is an e-bay owned website that provides everyday investors with the ability to make investments in the microfinance industry. An individual purchases investment on MicroPlace from security issuers, who are responsible for making the principal payments and interests. Security issuers use these funds to support loans to lending organizations, which then loans it to microfinance clients. As loans are repaid, security issuers are able to provide investors with a financial return.

http://www.unitus.com/
The Unitus Equity Fund makes strategic equity investments in highly scalable microfinance institutions, primarily focusing on those with operations in India. With capital commitments, the UEF works to create social impact while generating a financial return.

Information and Research

http://www.microfinancefocus.com
Microfinance Focus is a global knowledge and news portal for Microfinance, focused on serving the international microfinance sector. It publishes e-magazines, daily news stories, articles and write-ups written by experts in the sector. It also provides interactive, participatory journalism and discussions to engage all types of web users.

http://www.mixmarket.org
The MIX Market; is a global, web-based, microfinance information platform. It provides information on more than 1900 microfinance institutions (MFIs) worldwide, public and private funds that invest in microfinance, MFI networks, raters/external evaluators, advisory firms, governmental and regulatory agencies. The MIX Market seeks to develop a transparent information market to link MFIs worldwide with Investors and Donors so as to promote greater investment and information flows.

http://www.microfinancegateway.org
The Microfinance Gateway (the Gateway) is the most comprehensive online resource for the global microfinance community. It includes research and publications, discussion groups, featured articles, organization and consultant profiles, and the latest news, events, and job opportunities in microfinance.

http://www.seepnetwork.org/Pages/ResourcesList.aspx
A comprehensive portal with resources in various languages. The Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network connects microenterprise practitioners from around the world to develop practical guidance and tools, build capacity, and help set standards to advance a common vision of creating a sustainable income in every household.

http://ifmr.ac.in/cmf/index.html
Centre for Microfinance is located in the Institute of Financial Management and Research (IFMR). The centre offers short courses in MF as well as undertake qualitative and quantitative research on the sector. It evaluates the impact of financial services (credit, savings, insurance etc) and impact of competition. It also looks into microfinance “plus” (how to effectively combine microfinance with other development interventions and non-financial services) and sector wide policies and regulations.

http://www.omidyar.net/index.php
Omidyar Network was established by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife, Pam. Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm that is committed to creating and fostering opportunity for people around the world. It makes grants and investments in microfinance among other things, as part of its Access to Finance effort.

http://www.microvestfund.com/
MicroVest Capital Management is a global microfinance intermediary that provides financial capital to established microfinance institutions (MFIs) in emerging markets. MicroVest’s goal is to link capital markets to the entrepreneurial poor. The Council of Microfinance Equity Funds (CMEF) is the first membership organization bringing together leading private entities that make equity investments in MFIs. Partners include Calvert Foundation, Oiko Credit, CitiGroup, Deutsche Bank, FINCA International and Triodos Bank among others.

Rating and Consultancy

http://www.m-cril.com
M-CRIL is one of the leading rating agencies for microfinance institutions (MFIs). It provides rating, monitoring, research and advisory services to MFIs.

http://www.microrate.com
MicroRate is a rating agency specializing in the evaluation of microfinance institutions (MFIs). The services include analysis of financial condition, portfolio analysis, MIS and management and governance of MFIs, sector study of a region and country and monitoring etc.