Geographies
Community Finance | May 5, 2021
Boston’s Ujima Fund demonstrates the (investment) power of neighborhood democracy
Every Wednesday evening for the past few years—at least, before the pandemic—a group of Boston residents from the working class neighborhoods of Dorchester, …
Photo credit: Catalyst Fund.
Dealflow | May 5, 2021
Mexico’s Graviti raises $2.5 million to help unbanked Latin Americans pay for appliances
ImpactAlpha, May 5 — Graviti, a Mexico City-based “buy now, pay later” company, launched in 2019 to help low-income and unbanked families in …
Dealflow | May 3, 2021
Two Sigma Impact and Avance acquire Wholesale Supplies to supply artisans with quality products
ImpactAlpha, May 3 — Hedge fund Two Sigma in January launched Two Sigma Impact, a nine-figure impact investing business from its own balance …
Photo credit: Brand Spur.
Africa | May 3, 2021
Goodwell targets €50 million fund for small businesses and agriculture in Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 3 — Goodwell Investments is launching an impact fund to invest in African small businesses. The Dutch impact investment firm aims …
2030 Finance | April 29, 2021
Paris-based Tikehau Capital launches private equity decarbonization fund for North America
ImpactAlpha, April 29 – Tikehau Capital has raised $300 million for its first North America-focused fund to invest in businesses supporting the transition to …
Dealflow | April 29, 2021
Brazil’s Positive Ventures secures $10 million for early-stage impact fund
ImpactAlpha, April 29 – Positive Ventures has raised $10 million with an eye to cutting checks of up to $1.5 million in startups tackling …
Africa | April 28, 2021
Off-Grid Market Development Fund offers results-based financing for solar access in Madagascar
Off-Grid Market Development Fund is providing subsidies to a dozen companies to deliver solar power in Madagascar. Only 14% of Madagascar’s 25.7 million …
Photo credit: Elevar Equity.
Dealflow | April 27, 2021
India’s LEAD School secures $30 million to scale edtech platform
ImpactAlpha, April 27 — Mumbai-based LEAD School launched in 2012 to provide management services to schools serving low-income students. Its mobile app, which …
Photo credit: Universal Hydrogen
2030 Finance | April 26, 2021
Universal Hydrogen scores $20.5 million to green commercial aircraft
ImpactAlpha, April 26 – Universal Hydrogen is developing hydrogen-based powertrains to retrofit commercial aircraft. “Hydrogen is today the only viable fuel for getting …
Photo credit: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge
Conservation | April 22, 2021
Fifteen startups with solutions for land restoration in Latin America
ImpactAlpha, April 22 – Latin America a testing ground for innovative environmental financing and business solutions: Lending incentives supporting smallholder farmers; partnerships with Indigenous …
Photo credit: Invest2Innovate
Asia | April 21, 2021
In Pakistan, investing with a gender lens gives i2i Ventures an early-stage edge
ImpactAlpha, April 21 – If overlooked markets and underserved entrepreneurs represent untapped opportunities, Pakistan presents i2i Ventures with a rich bounty of possibilities. The …
Dealflow | April 21, 2021
Software venture Classy scores $118 million to help nonprofits raise funds
ImpactAlpha, April 21 – San Diego-based Classy develops software to help nonprofits meet financial goals through traditional donations, peer-to-peer fundraising, events and crowdfunding. The …
Photo credit: AdvancedAg, an Indigenous-owned water and agtech company in Alberta
Canada | April 20, 2021
Indigenous Growth Fund raises $150 million to back Native lenders in Canada
ImpactAlpha, April 20 – A new fund in Canada is aiming to impact marginalized Indigenous communities by channelling capital to Indigenous-owned financial institutions. The …
Photo credit: Dat Bike
Asia | April 20, 2021
Vietnamese e-motorbike venture Dat Bike secures $2.6 million
ImpactAlpha, April 20 – Motorcycles and scooters are the main form of transport in Vietnam’s cities, and the main source of toxic air pollution. …
Africa | April 19, 2021
FINCA Ventures makes three investments in financial and economic inclusion
ImpactAlpha, April 19 – The impact investing arm of microfinance organization FINCA International added three companies to its portfolio of early-stage tech companies targeting …