Walnut St. Labs has invited Dr. Alan Wright, founder and president of SosteNica, the Sustainable Development Fund of Nicaragua, to speak during their next Weekly Startup Meetup from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Dr. Wright has worked for social and economic justice in Nicaragua for the past 30 years. He lived and worked in Nicaragua from 1990 through 1995 and is currently collaborating with a team of Nicaraguan professionals to deliver micro-credit and bio-intensive agriculture to rural Nicaraguan communities.

Dr. Wright, who has a doctorate in philosophy from Yale University, also works to promote agro-ecology and food forestry. A goal of West Chester based SosteNica, Inc. is to link social investors in the U.S. and Europe with the micro-lending expertise of the Center for the Promotion of Local Development in Nicaragua.

SosteNica makes micro, small, and medium loans available at rates below or comparable to those available from commercial lending institutions. It operates from within the non-governmental organization sector to strengthen local economies and cultures.  SosteNica directs credit to sectors of the Nicaraguan economy that will not pollute, do not increase dependency on imported goods, will strengthen local food sovereignty, and can respond to local needs.

Walnut St. Labs is an early stage startup incubator and innovation consultancy working with startups to build products and bring them quickly to market. The lab also offers affordable co-working space and weekly events for startups and entrepreneurs.

Walnut St. Labs is located at 23 N. Walnut St., West Chester.