Lifepoint’s story

LifePoint’s owner and director is social entrepreneur Ashley Tuttle, who firmly believes that business can serve a greater purpose than merely generating a profit to enrich its owners.

In 2002, at the age of 22, Ashley spent 7 months living in Lusaka, Zambia. During that time he says he realised that Africa had the wealth needed to deal with poverty, “It just needed to be harnessed,” Ashley. He returned to Australia to gain business skills and training with the aim of returning to Africa to start social enterprises.

Ashley made good on his promise to himself, and returned to Africa in the beginning of 2009. He manages LifePoint’s operations from Cape Town, South Africa. He wanted to live on the continent where he is involved in various business based community development initiatives. “I remember walking through Lusaka, and where everyone else saw poverty and decay, I couldn't help but see business opportunities!” he said. “I am grateful to now able to pursue these opportunities to tackle poverty”. For the last 2 years i have been personally working with a few people developing their small scale farming, and trading businesses, now it is time to upscale and formalise things.

This young Australian has developed an innovative business model where LifePoint home Loans has become a platform for funding social enterprises that tackle poverty. “LifePoint was created to generate funds that can be invested into sustainable social enterprises, not with grants or charity but through loans & business support” says Ashley.

Innovative technology makes it possible for Ashley to offer and excellent personal service to LifePoint’s Australian client base while working directly with entrepreneurs on the ground.