The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) supports small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets. By mobilizing resources, fostering knowledge, and connecting key stakeholders, ANDE drives entrepreneurship to advance sustainable development worldwide. Founded in 2009 as a program of the Aspen Institute, ANDE operates with nearly 300 member organizations that work in over 150 countries, supporting nearly 200,000 SGBs annually.
ANDE’s members include a range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, such as investment funds, capacity-building providers, research institutions, development finance institutions, and global corporations. Together, they target the “missing middle” SGBs essential to economic growth but often lack adequate resources. This network believes that SGBs have the power to create jobs, foster economic development, and generate social and environmental impact, making them a critical component in addressing poverty and other global challenges.
Operating from its U.S. base in Washington, DC, and with eight regional chapters across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, ANDE develops initiatives that tackle systemic challenges and seize opportunities in the SGB sector. Through collaborative projects, ANDE strengthens entrepreneurial ecosystems and enables collective action to support small business entrepreneurs in building inclusive prosperity in the developing world.
