Africa
Photo credit: Sun King
Clean Energy | May 31, 2023
Sun King raises $130 million through securitization of off-grid solar payments
ImpactAlpha, May 31 – Public agencies and private companies from California to Cote d’Ivoire are leveraging cash flows to finance climate adaptation and …
Photo credit: Kofa
Dealflow | May 30, 2023
Ghana’s Kofa raises seed round for multi-purpose EV batteries
ImpactAlpha, May 30 – The action in Africa’s electric vehicle market is in electric motorbikes. Much of the early activity is concentrated in East …
Photo credit: Odyssey
Dealflow | May 19, 2023
Odyssey raises $15 million to cut obstacles to renewables in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, May 19 – Commercial and industrial solar for business facilities, factories and shopping centers is growing in markets without reliable grid connections. …
Photo credit: M-KOPA
Frontier and Growth Markets | May 16, 2023
M-KOPA lands $255 million in equity and impact-linked debt for financial and gender inclusion
ImpactAlpha, May 16 – M-KOPA helped build Africa’s off-grid, pay-as-you-go solar market. Now the The Nairobi-based company brands itself as a fintech company, …
Impact Voices | May 10, 2023
How carbon credits are driving down the costs of climate-friendly goods in Africa
Despite the valid criticisms that have surfaced about the voluntary carbon market, carbon finance is playing a critical role in catalyzing a just …
Photo credit: NicNax, an SME.NG portfolio company
Catalytic Capital | May 10, 2023
Visa provides catalytic ‘working capital’ grant to three women-led funds in Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 10 – Female fund managers control just a sliver of private equity and venture capital assets globally, much less in Africa. …
Photo by Nithio.
Clean Energy | May 8, 2023
Schmidt Family Foundation backs Nithio for clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 8 — A $3 million investment by the former Google executive’s foundation will support off-grid solar lending to borrowers in “the …
Smallholder Agriculture | April 20, 2023
AgDevCo invests $8 million in avocado farming venture in Kenya
ImpactAlpha, April 20 – Africa-focused agriculture investment group Agris is teaming up with a major Israeli avocado producer, Granot, to build a nearly …
Africa | April 17, 2023
Secha Capital’s investment in South Africa’s FarmTrace will support growth and employee ownership
ImpactAlpha, April 17 – Private equity firm Secha Capital made its name as an early investor in South Africa’s bread and butter businesses. …
Photo credit: Wazi Vision
Africa | April 5, 2023
Renew Capital expands in Uganda with investments in Xente and Wazi Vision
ImpactAlpha, April 5 – Ethiopia-based Renew Capital has invested in two companies in Uganda, underscoring the investment firm’s growing pan-African investment strategy. The …
Photo by Lion's Head Global Partners.
Climate and Clean Tech | April 4, 2023
Decentral Energy Managers scores $12.1 million for clean energy in South Africa
ImpactAlpha, April 4 — Johannesburg-based independent power producer Decentral Energy Managers has raised $12.1 million of equity from Flyt Property Investments and Anuva …
Smallholder Agriculture | April 3, 2023
Agri-Business Capital Fund invests in four African food processing businesses
ImpactAlpha, April 3 – The Agri-Business Capital Fund, which is managed by Bamboo Capital and Injaro Investments, has inked loans totaling €2.3 million …
Photo credit: Delta40
Frontier and Growth Markets | March 28, 2023
Factor[e] Ventures’ Delta40 scores early funding to build tech sectors in Africa
ImpactAlpha, March 28 – Investment is growing in tech sectors critical for Africa’s sustainable—and climate-resilient—development. But clean tech, agtech and mobility tech together …
Photo credit: Aqua for All
Dealflow | March 24, 2023
Dealflow spotlight: Catalyzing capital for Africa’s water and sanitation infrastructure
Providing access to clean water and sanitation has long been a public-sector responsibility. But lower-income countries struggle to fund and implement critical water …
Photo credit: Moove
Frontier and Growth Markets | March 22, 2023
Verod-Kepple Africa Partners secures $43 million to invest in tech businesses in Africa
ImpactAlpha, March 22 – Verod-Kepple Africa Partners is a partnership between Nigerian private equity firm Verod Capital and Kepple Africa Ventures, a Japan …
Frontier and Growth Markets | March 21, 2023
Eco.business Fund stakes $10 million to Absa Bank to boost agribusinesses’ climate resilience in Kenya
ImpactAlpha, March 21 – Eco.business Fund blends finance to support sustainable economic development in emerging markets. The Finance in Motion-managed fund inked an …
Photo credit: Aqua for All
Water | March 20, 2023
Incofin secures €36 million to invest in access to safe drinking water
ImpactAlpha, March 20 – Belgian impact investment firm Incofin has launched the Water Access Acceleration Fund with €36 million ($38.4 million) from development …
Catalytic Capital | March 15, 2023
Caisse Régionale de Refinancement Hypothécaire raises $274 million for affordable housing in West Africa
ImpactAlpha, March 15 – Caisse Régionale de Refinancement Hypothécaire in Togo raised $274 million via a long-term bond issuance to invest in affordable …
Kampala, Uganda
Frontier and Growth Markets | March 15, 2023
Inua Capital secures $8 million to offer flexible capital for small businesses in Uganda
ImpactAlpha, March 15 – Kim Kamarebe founded Inua Capital to provide growth equity and mentorship to Uganda’s small businesses that are creating jobs …
Photo by Metito Utilities.
Water | March 14, 2023
British International Investment and Metito Utilities to invest in water infrastructure in Africa
ImpactAlpha, March 14 — One-third of Africans lack access to clean drinking water; two-thirds lack access to basic sanitation services. Urbanization and climate …
Frontier and Growth Markets | February 16, 2023
BuuPass raises $1.3 million to improve Kenya’s mass transit system
ImpactAlpha, February 16 – Kenya’s long-distance bus services, which are privately operated, haven’t kept pace with the online trends of its passengers. Bus …
Climate Finance | February 15, 2023
Seven blue economy startups secure seed funding to enhance climate resilience in Africa
ImpactAlpha, February 15 – Community-powered mangrove restoration. Restocking local fish supplies. A marketplace for seaweed farmers. Triggering Exponential Climate Action, or TECA, invested …
Frontier and Growth Markets | February 1, 2023
MNT-Halan raises $200 million to expand access to financial services in Egypt
ImpactAlpha, February 1 – MNT-Halan’s evolution into an Egyptian “super-app” is long and complex. The quick version: In 2019, founder Mounir Nakhla merged …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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: 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 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 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: 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 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 …
Financial Inclusion | November 2, 2022
Bamboo Capital Partners exits Honduran microfinance institution Banco Popular
ImpactAlpha, November 2 — Luxembourg-based emerging and frontier markets investor Bamboo Capital Partners is exiting its investment in Banco Popular a decade after …
Satgana's founding team | Photo by Satgana.
Women Rising | November 1, 2022
Satgana raises funds for climate tech startups in Africa and Europe
ImpactAlpha, November 2 — Luxembourg-based Satgana, which means “a good company” in Sanskrit, has raised an undisclosed amount in a first close from …
Photo credit: Flourish Ventures
Return on Inclusion | October 26, 2022
Flourish Ventures to invest $12 million in tech startups ‘Made in Africa’
ImpactAlpha, October 26 — U.S.-based venture capital firm Flourish Ventures has launched Madica, short for ‘Made In Africa’, to invest in and provide …