Tom Barry founded Zephyr Management in 1994 during the first phase of globalization when US businesses and investors were planning to invest outside of the US and in other countries. Instead of being part of the first wave of investors in Europe and Japan, Tom wanted to invest in developing countries. He believed that investing in developing countries offered the prospect of higher growth as well as social impact. There was an increasing income disparity between the developed and developing nations at the time. Tom’s vision was to help reduce the income gap and make an impactful difference in the lives of the people in developing countries by helping local businesses grow.