Investor

Africa Assets

Kenya

Africa Assets was founded in 2011 by Rachel Keeler and Andrea Bohnstedt in recognition of the rapidly growing demand for reliable information on private equity and venture capital in sub Saharan Africa. The africa assets.com website provides news analysis commentary and data on Africa s PE/VC industry. It also serves as a platform to facilitate communication and collaboration amongst industry players.

Type: Investor Network

Geography: Africa

Impact: Access to Information

Investor

African Development Bank

Tunisia

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is a regional multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries that are the institution’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs). The AfDB was founded following an agreement signed by member states on August 14, 1963, in Khartoum, Sudan, which became effective on September 10, 1964. The AfDB comprises three entities: the African Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF).

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: Africa

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Aga Khan Foundation

Switzerland

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) focuses on health education culture rural development institution building and the promotion of economic development. It is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor without regard to their faith origin or gender.

Type: Foundation

Geography: Africa

Impact: Capacity Building

Investor

Agribusiness Incubation Trust

Zambia

Agribusiness Incubation Trust (AgBIT) Ltd is a public-private-partnership bringing together a consortium of Zambian private sector, universities and research institutions with the overall goal of commercializing the country's agribusiness sector by promoting business and technological innovation in the sector. AgBIT has established the country's first agribusiness incubator to identify and nurture growth-oriented startups and small enterprises particularly in the horticulture (fruits and vegetables) value chains. AgBIT consortium members include the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), Frontier Development Associates, University of Zambia (UNZA), Mulungushi University (MU), and the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC).

Type: Foundation

Geography: Zambia

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Ashoka

United States of America

Ashoka is the largest network of social entrepreneurs worldwide, with nearly 3,000 Ashoka Fellows in 70 countries putting their system changing ideas into practice on a global scale. Founded by Bill Drayton in 1980, Ashoka has provided start-up financing, professional support services, and connections to a global network across the business and social sectors, and a platform for people dedicated to changing the world. Ashoka launched the field of social entrepreneurship and has activated multi-sector partners across the world who increasingly look to entrepreneurial talent and new ideas to solve social problems.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: United States of America

Impact: Capacity Building

Investor

Awethu Project

South Africa

The Awethu Project has developed a globally-acclaimed model for building businesses and creating sustainable jobs in under-resourced South African communities: Awethu trains and assists entrepreneurs in these communities to start and grow businesses, selecting the most talented to be part of the high-impact Awethu Incubator.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: South Africa

Impact: Access to Information

Investor

Banco Nacional de Investimento (BNI)

Mozambique

BNI is the first and only local Investment bank focused exclusively on the development of Mozambique. A remarkable economic climate presenting an average of 5% to 7% yearly growth and an outstanding performance even for the African continent, Mozambique is today one of the best emerging opportunities worldwide. Structured on a solid base, formed by key shareholders and a high caliber management team, BNI was founded to stimulate and participate in the financing of projects contributing to the sustainable development of Mozambique and of the economic marketplace. BNI is a key partner not only for Mozambican companies and international investors but also for national and international institutions responsible for the provision and availability of financial instruments supporting development.

Type: Investment Fund Manager

Geography: Mozambique

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

BongoHive

Zambia

BongoHive, based in Lusaka, Zambia, was set up in May 2011. BongoHive is Zambia’s first Technology and Innovation hub that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to address the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow, through technology, innovation and the power of business.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: Zambia

Impact: Access to Clean Water and Sanitation

Investor

Business Partners Limited

South Africa

Business Partners Limited is a specialist risk finance company for formal small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa and selected African countries. The company structures unique individualised financing solutions. A range of financing models have been developed to offer entrepreneurs maximum flexibility to suit their needs.

Type: Corporate

Geography: South Africa

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Edgegrowth

South Africa

Edge is an enterprise and supplier development firm, committed to build the nation through poverty reduction. It believe the most powerful means of doing this is through the creation of low-skilled jobs, and that growing high potential SME’s is the most effective means of achieving this goal.

Type: Investment Fund Manager

Geography: South Africa

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Engineers Without Borders Canada

Canada

Engineers Without Borders Canada and their first mission statement was founded in 2000 by CEOs, George Roter and Parker Mitchell on a napkin in a coffee shop. With a dream of an organization that would enable engineers to contribute something other than another bridge or another electrical grid, they started off with biweekly meetings in George’s parents’ living room. By the end of 2000, over 1000 members had joined and a handful of chapters were starting. And in January 2001, EWB’s first volunteer left for a four month internship in India.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: Global

Impact: Access to Education

Investor

European Investment Bank (EIB)

Luxembourg

The European Investment Bank was created by the Treaty of Rome in 1958 as the long term lending bank of the European Union. Besides supporting projects in the Member States its main lending priorities include financing investments in future Member States of the EU and EU Partner countries. The EIB operates on a non profit maximising basis and lends at close to the cost of borrowing. The Bank's consistent AAA rating is underpinned by firm shareholder support a strong capital base exceptional asset quality conservative risk management and a sound funding strategy.

Type: Government

Geography: Europe

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Fintrac

Fintrac, a woman-owned international development company, develops agricultural solutions to end hunger and poverty. For more than 20 years, they have worked with local and global partners to increase incomes and improve livelihoods for the world’s most vulnerable farmers and communities in Africa, Asia, Latin American, and the Caribbean. By teaching farmers proven technologies and practices, they are increasing yields, improving nutrition, and strengthening food security.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: Africa

Impact: Agricultural Productivity

Investor

Global Environment Fund

Brazil

Global Environment Fund (GEF) is an international investment management firm established in 1990 to invest in and provide management support to companies that make positive contributions to environmental quality human health and the sustainable management of natural resources. The Firm's investments focus especially on companies whose business operations deliver measureable environmental improvements through deployment of improved environmental infrastructure and clean technologies. GEF's investment objective is to provide superior returns by harnessing the power of technological innovation to promote energy sources and means of production that are cleaner cheaper more efficient and more sustainable. GEF is a Katoomba Group member.

Type: Investment Fund Manager

Geography: South Africa

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Greater Good

United States of America

The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley is an interdisciplinary research center devoted to the scientific understanding of happy and compassionate individuals, strong social bonds, and altruistic behavior. While serving the traditional tasks of a UC Berkeley research center—fostering groundbreaking scientific discoveries—the GGSC is unique in its commitment to helping people apply scientific research to their lives.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: United States of America

Impact:

Investor

GroFin

Mauritius

GroFin is a pioneering SME development financier assisting entrepreneurs and business owners to access tailored finance and experienced business support to start and grow successful businesses creating jobs and driving socio economic development. Their proven SME fund management ability and viability based investment model enables them to identify mitigate and manage the risks associated with investing in the SME sector and deliver targeted financial and development returns for their fund investor partners.

Type: Investment Fund Manager

Geography: Africa

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Idea Lab

United States of America

Bill Gross started Idealab in 1996 to create and operate pioneering technology companies. The structure of Idealab has allowed us to test many ideas at once and turn the best of them into companies, attracting the human and financial capital necessary to bring them to market. Many of these companies were among the first to introduce new business ideas to the market. CitySearch, now a part of IAC, established the category of local online community directories. eToys demonstrated the tremendous potential for online consumer retail and became one of the most recognized brands during the early days of e-commerce. Overture Services, which began life as GoTo.com, was the first company to introduce the concept of paid search — the business model that powers the multi billion-dollar online search market.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: United States of America

Impact: Access to Energy

Investor

Imani Development

South Africa

Imani Development is a private economic and development consultancy firm, rooted in the developing world, facilitating the process of economic growth and poverty reduction. It's focus is on the African, Caribbean and Pacific Island states as well as SE Asia. They have offices in South Africa (Cape Town and Durban), Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Uganda and Zimbabwe as well as offices in Australia and the UK and long-standing associate relationships in most key regions.

Type: Accelerator/Incubator

Geography: Kenya

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Impacto Capital

Mozambique

Impacto Capital is an investment management and advisory firm dedicated to promoting investment in businesses and projects with a greater impact on economic social and environmental development thus contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable economy.We believe in the impact investment model and for that reason we offer impact venture capital to Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Growing Businesses.

Type: Investment Fund Manager

Geography: Mozambique

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

International Finance Corporation

United States of America

IFC a member of the World Bank Group is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. They help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment providing advisory services to businesses and governments and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets.

Type: Institutional Investor

Geography: United States of America

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Investisseurs & Partenaires

Cameroon

Investisseurs & Partenaires (I & P) is a family of investment funds created in 2002 by Patrice Hopenot and directed and 2011 by Jean Michel Severino. I & P supports the development of African SMEs (including microfinance institutions) through a strategic and financial partnership. These companies are of crucial importance to development in Africa as they produce social environmental and governance.

Type: Investment Fund Manager

Geography: Africa

Impact: Access to Financial Services

Investor

Kukula Capital

Zambia

Kukula Capital is a leading venture finance and private equity firm in Zambia. The company operates under two main business areas: Fund Management and Advisory. They act as fund manager to our two venture funds: Kukula Fund I and Kukula Seed Fund. Through the funds, Kukula Capital invests in Zambian growth companies with capital and expertise. With offices in Lusaka and Solwezi they have a strong local understanding and network which enables Kukula to identify companies with attractive long-term growth prospects, securing a strong deal flow. Their aim is to build a diversified portfolio of investments and provide exceptional financial and social returns for their investors whilst creating long-term value for the portfolio companies. Through their advisory services, they enable investors to invest alongside Kukula Fund investments and allow international companies to penetrate the Zambian market.

Type: Investment Fund Manager

Geography: Zambia

Impact: Access to Financial Services