Geographies
Photo credit: ICA Growth Fund
Return on Inclusion | January 31, 2023
ICA Growth Fund backs four Black and Latinx businesses with ‘impact notes’
ImpactAlpha, January 31 – ICA Growth Fund supports small businesses while encouraging owners to prioritize social impact objectives. The Bay Area-based nonprofit accelerator …
Climate Finance | January 31, 2023
Obvious Ventures backs Senken to finance reforestation through ‘carbon forwards’
ImpactAlpha, January 31 – Berlin and Cape Town-based Senken is a blockchain-based carbon credit trading platform. Its next offering is a form of …
Photo credit: Tado
Dealflow | January 26, 2023
Tado raises €43 million for energy-efficient thermostats
ImpactAlpha, January 26 – Europe’s energy crisis, ignited by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has led to skyrocketing home energy costs. Many consumers …
Frontier and Growth Markets | January 26, 2023
Climate tech venture Ecozen raises $25 million, giving early investors a partial exit
ImpactAlpha, January 26 – Ecozen, in Pune, India, launched a decade ago to provide affordable, clean energy-fueled products for India’s smallholder farmers. The …
Photo by Breathe Well-being.
Investing in Health | January 25, 2023
Breathe Well-being raises 500 million rupees for diabetes care and prevention
ImpactAlpha, January 25 — Gurgaon-based health tech startup Breathe Well-being offers digital coaching in behavioral and lifestyle changes that are helping more than …
Photo by Cassa.
Dealflow | January 24, 2023
Acceso Impact Fund raises $4.5 million for impact businesses in Central America and the Caribbean
ImpactAlpha, January 24 — Acceso Impact Fund has raised $4.5 million to invest in impact businesses in Central America and the Caribbean. The …
Impact Tech | January 24, 2023
BioElements secures $30 million for bioplastics in Latin America
ImpactAlpha, January 24 – Chile is one of a small number of countries in Latin America that ban or restrict certain single-use plastics. …
Smallholder Agriculture | January 23, 2023
BlueOrchard invests $5.29 million in Brazilian insurer Newe for climate resilience
ImpactAlpha. Jan. 23 – Climate-driven floods, droughts and extreme weather around the world caused more than $268 billion in costs last year. Most …
Photo by GMAC.
Dealflow | January 23, 2023
Bamboo Capital’s Build Fund backs Green Mountain Arabica Coffee in Rwanda
ImpactAlpha, January 23 — In Rwanda’s Karenge region, women-owned Green Mountain Arabica Coffee exports green unroasted coffee beans that it sources from 1,200 …
Photo Triodos Investment Management.
Clean Energy | January 19, 2023
WeLight raises €19 million to bring solar mini-grids to rural Madagascar
ImpactAlpha, January 19 — The majority of Madagascar’s population lacks access to electricity. Triodos Investment Management, the European Investment Bank and EDFI ElectriFI …
Photo by Komunal.
Financial Inclusion | January 18, 2023
Komunal raises $8.5 million to digitalize financial services in rural Indonesia
ImpactAlpha, January 18 — Surabaya-based fintech startup Komunal has raised $8.5 million from investors including East Ventures Growth Fund, AlphaTrio Sustainable Technology Fund, …
Photo by Terra Global.
Dealflow | January 17, 2023
Anew Climate commits $640 million to Terra Global for nature-based carbon offsets in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, January 17 — Oakland-based Anew is the product of TPG Rise’s rollup last year of Element Markets and Bluesource (for background, see …
Photo by Amplifica.
Women Entrepreneurs | January 17, 2023
Amplifica Capital raises $11 million to invest in women tech founders in Latin America
ImpactAlpha, January 17 — Mexico City-based Amplifica Capital has raised $11 million for its first venture capital fund. The fund will make early-stage …
Africa | January 11, 2023
Pakam raises pre-seed funding to improve waste recycling in Nigeria
ImpactAlpha, January 11 – Africa has an outsized waste problem. Less than 5% of the continent’s waste gets recycled, far short of the …
Image credit: VilCart
Frontier and Growth Markets | January 10, 2023
VilCart raises $13 million to digitalize India’s mom and pop shops
ImpactAlpha, January 10 – Bangalore-based VilCart helps India’s kiranas, or mom and pop shops, digitalize their business operations and source inventory. The company, …
Photo by Commerz Real.
Dealflow | January 10, 2023
Commerz Real’s Klimavest real assets impact fund crosses the billion-euro mark
ImpactAlpha, January 10 — Germany is one of several European nations that backslid on fossil fuels in order to generate power as Russia’s …
Conservation | January 4, 2023
Conservation fund Terratai launches to invest in biodiversity startups in Indonesia
ImpactAlpha, January 4 – Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. Deforestation, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change and other …
Photo by Akulaku.
Financial Inclusion | January 4, 2023
MUFG Bank bets $200 million on Indonesia’s Akulaku to gain access to underbanked consumers
ImpactAlpha, January 4 — Tokyo-based MUFG Bank, the megabank created by the 2005 merger of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group and UFJ Holdings, is …
Photo credit: SarvaGram
Frontier and Growth Markets | January 4, 2023
Elevar Equity re-ups investment in SarvaGram to speed financial inclusion in rural India
ImpactAlpha, January 4 – SarvaGram provides consumer and business loans to rural and peri-urban households in India that otherwise have difficulty accessing affordable …
Photo by Dolma Impact Fund.
Dealflow | January 3, 2023
Dolma Impact Fund II raises nearly $72 million for sustainable development in Nepal
ImpactAlpha, January 3 — Dolma Fund Management has raised nearly $72 million for its second Dolma Impact Fund. The private equity fund received …
Image credit: NotCo
Dealflow | December 15, 2022
NotCo lands $70 million for its line of plant-based foods as it readies an IPO
ImpactAlpha, December 15 – Chilean food company NotCo launched in 2015 with an animal-free mayonnaise designed by artificial intelligence software and has since …
Francistown, Botswana
Frontier and Growth Markets | December 15, 2022
TLG Capital partners with two investors in Africa to lend to startups and growing businesses
ImpactAlpha, December 15 – There’s a $330 billion financing gap for small and mid-sized businesses in Africa. TLG Capital is teaming up with …
Gender Smart | December 14, 2022
IIX raises $50 million for fifth Women’s Livelihood Bond
ImpactAlpha, December 14 – Singapore-based IIX has raised $50 million for the fifth bond in its Women’s Livelihood Bond series. The bond will …
Photo credit: PharmAccess Group
Investing in Health | December 14, 2022
Transform Health Fund scores $50 million from investors for healthcare in Africa
ImpactAlpha, December 14 – Impact investor AfricInvest and internationally-backed Health Finance Coalition are partnering on a planned $100 million fund to improve access, …
Climate Finance | December 14, 2022
HSBC-backed Climate Asset Management raises $650 million for natural capital funds.
ImpactAlpha, December 14 – U.K.-based Climate Asset Management launched in 2020 to prove that protection and restoration of natural resources can be attractive …
Climate Finance | December 13, 2022
Avarni clinches funding to help companies track Scope 3 emissions
ImpactAlpha, December 13 – As regulators and investors push companies to report their emissions, startups are coming to market with carbon accounting and …
Photo credit: Calinounou
Dealflow | December 12, 2022
WIC Capital backs Calinounou’s home services in Senegal
ImpactAlpha, December 12 – Senegal-based Calinounou offers an online recruitment and booking service for home cleaning, care and cooking services aims to professionalize …
Photo by Maitheli Maitra on Unsplash
Dealflow | December 12, 2022
Varaha scores $4 million to help smallholder farmers create nature-based carbon credits
ImpactAlpha, December 12 — Gurugram-based Varaha has raised $4 million in a seed financing round backed by Omnivore, RTP Global, Better Capital and …
Photo by MEDA.
Dealflow | December 9, 2022
ImpactAlpha Deal spotlight: Financing women-led small businesses in Africa
ImpactAlpha, December 9 — Small businesses are drivers of jobs and inclusive economic growth. In Africa, where more than half of small businesses …
Photo by African Guarantee Fund.
Catalytic Capital | December 8, 2022
British International Investment provides $75 million guarantee for small business lending in Africa
ImpactAlpha, December 8 — British International Investment is investing $75 million in Nairobi-based African Guarantee Fund to guarantee loans from partner financial institutions …
Photo by Sun King.
Clean Energy | December 7, 2022
Sun King gets $10 million to finance off-grid solar in Africa
ImpactAlpha, December 7 — In Africa, millions of off-grid low-income and rural households still use dirty and expensive kerosene lamps. Solar companies, like …
Photo by MEDA.
Women Rising | December 6, 2022
How Mastercard Foundation’s $200 million Africa Growth Fund invests at the intersection of gender lens and good jobs
ImpactAlpha, December 6 — An African consortium led by Mennonite Economic Development Associates, the international development organization known as MEDA, will manage Mastercard …
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.
Return on Inclusion | December 5, 2022
Investors must make noise so BIPOC entrepreneurs don’t have to make do
This post is part of a partnership between ImpactAlpha and Mission Investors Exchange to present new ideas and perspectives in impact investing. Join …
AVLA's team | Photo by AVLA.
Financial Inclusion | December 5, 2022
Creation Investments closes $270 million fund for financial inclusion in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, December 5 — Creation Investments Capital Management has raised $270 million for its fifth fund to invest in eight to 10 companies …
Photo credit: Baltimore Public Markets Corp.
Place-Based Investing | December 1, 2022
Real estate developers in Baltimore test strategies for inclusive growth and community wealth
ImpactAlpha, December 1 – On the west side of downtown Baltimore, a $45 million rehabilitation of Lexington Market is turning the once-languishing food …
Photo by Ahamove.
Good Jobs | November 30, 2022
Igloo raises $46 million to provide insurance for gig economy workers in Southeast Asia
ImpactAlpha, November 30 — In Southeast Asia, insurance coverage as a benefit for employees is a luxury most small and even medium-sized businesses …
Photo by Pivo.
Financial Inclusion | November 29, 2022
Pivo scores $2 million to provide financing and tools for Nigeria’s vendors
ImpactAlpha, November 29 — Pivo provides financial services and digital tools to 300 small- and medium-sized vendors in Nigeria’s manufacturing supply chains. Launched …
Photo by Goodwell Investments.
Dealflow | November 23, 2022
Goodwell Investments raises €50 million to drive inclusive growth in Africa
ImpactAlpha, November 23 — Dutch impact investor Goodwell Investments is looking to raise €150 million for its second uMunthu fund to invest in …
Photo by BasiGo.
Impact Tech | November 22, 2022
Kenyan electric bus maker BasiGo scores $6.6 million to electrify mass transit
ImpactAlpha, November 22 — Kenya has emerged as Africa’s early leader in e-mobility, primarily for two- and three-wheelers. EV leaders in the country, …
Photo credit: Tamul Plates
Good Jobs | November 17, 2022
Upaya Social Ventures exits India-based maker of sustainable tableware
ImpactAlpha, November 17 – Upaya Social Ventures made a $27,000 equity investment in Tamul Plates in 2015, helping the all-natural disposable plate and …
Photo credit: IFAD
Frontier and Growth Markets | November 16, 2022
Katapult’s Africa accelerator zeros in on food security
ImpactAlpha, November 16 – Insect farming in Ghana. Aquaculture in Kenya. Land restoration in Morocco. Seven of the nine startups in the Norway-based impact …
Photo by Flickr.
Clean Energy | November 15, 2022
KKR bets $400 million on Serentica Renewable for clean energy in India
ImpactAlpha, November 15 — KKR, through its $3.9 billion Asia Pacific Infrastructure fund, is investing $400 million in New Delhi-based clean energy producer …
Photo by Eco Ltd.
Climate Finance | November 14, 2022
Philanthropic organizations commit $500 million for energy transition in developing countries
ImpactAlpha, November 14 — A three-year commitment by nine philanthropies will support energy transition projects by low- and middle-income countries and their partners …
Photo credit: Akintune Babatunde
Climate Finance | November 10, 2022
At COP27, ‘loss and damages’ inches from discussion to action
ImpactAlpha, Nov. 10 – Scotland kicked off the race with $7 million. Then came $13.5 million from Denmark, $10 million from Ireland, $50 …
Photo credit: Quona Capital
Dealflow | November 9, 2022
Quona Capital raises $332 million for its third financial inclusion fund
ImpactAlpha, November 9 — Washington, D.C.-based Quona Capital exceeded its $250 million target for its latest fund, raising $332 million to back ventures expanding access …