Asia
Climate Finance | September 8, 2022
British International Investment lends $25 million for clean energy in Nepal
ImpactAlpha, September 8 – U.K. development agency British International Investment made a $25 million loan to NMB Bank to boost the bank’s renewable energy …
Photo credit: Hoa Nang Organic
Impact Voices | August 23, 2022
Sustainable agriculture needs more investment in women at the top—not just bottom—of the pyramid
ImpactAlpha, August 23 – Agriculture is the foundation of daily life in most of the world. The food and agriculture sector provides livelihoods for …
Seedstars' founders. Photo by House of Switzerland.
Catalytic Capital | July 25, 2022
Seedstars raises $20 million for early stage impact startups in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, July 25 — Geneva-based Seedstars is targeting a $30 million final close for Seedstars International Ventures to back 100 scalable impact tech …
Image credit: Airlift
Frontier and Growth Markets | July 20, 2022
For ‘quick commerce’ startups, the pandemic giveth and taketh away
ImpactAlpha, July 20 – Airlift became a darling of Pakistan’s venture capital scene last year when it raised $85 million in Series B …
Signals | July 14, 2022
Is a green transition the cause – or the solution – in Sri Lanka’s crisis?
ImpactAlpha, July 14 – It was an irresistible meme: A crash transition to organic farming tanked Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector and sent the country …
Photo by World Future Council.
Clean Energy | June 24, 2022
ImpactAlpha Deal Spotlight: Clean energy in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, June 24 — The Covid pandemic has set back progress in providing access to clean energy in emerging markets. In Africa, 25 …
Photo by Calvert Impact Capital.
Clean Energy | June 21, 2022
Mirova acquires SunFunder to expand clean energy and climate investing in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, June 21 — Paris-based Mirova, a $27 billion unit of French global asset management firm Natixis Investment Managers, is acquiring SunFunder to …
Photo credit: SwipeRx.
Investing in Health | May 25, 2022
SwipeRx raises $27 million to digitalize pharmacies in Southeast Asia
ImpactAlpha, May 25 — Singapore-based SwipeRx (formerly mClinica) has raised $27 million to build digital tools for pharmacies in Southeast Asia. Pharmacies are …
Photo credit: Qoala.
Impact Tech | May 16, 2022
Qoala secures $65 million to make insurance affordable and accessible in Southeast Asia
ImpactAlpha, May 16 — Insurance penetration in Southeast Asia lags the global average. Jakarta, Indonesia-based Qoala is looking to make affordable home, vehicle …
Photo credit: BRAC
Frontier and Growth Markets | May 12, 2022
BRAC International Microfinance taps capital markets for $40 million for households in poverty
ImpactAlpha, May 12 – BRAC International Microfinance, the non-governmental organization’s international arm, worked with Seattle-based Global Partnerships and Proparco, the French development bank, …
Climate Finance | April 12, 2022
Nuveen and Shell Foundation to deploy $100 million for climate resilience in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, April 12 — Nuveen, the $1.3 trillion asset-management arm of TIAA, has enlisted Shell Foundation to allocate growth capital to companies helping …
Photo credit: Women's World Banking.
Gender Smart | April 5, 2022
Women’s World Banking raises $103 million to invest in financial inclusion for women
ImpactAlpha, April 5 — New York-based nonprofit Women’s World Banking has raised $103 million for its second fund to invest in providers of …
Photo credit: Opinio Juris.
SDGs | April 4, 2022
WaterEquity secures $153 million for water and sanitation impact
ImpactAlpha, April 4 — A subsidiary of Matt Damon’s Water.org, WaterEquity backs microfinance institutions along with micro-utilities, toilet manufacturers and water kiosks to …
Photo credit: LeapFrog Investments.
Signals | March 31, 2022
LeapFrog’s ‘launchpad’ helps companies serve low-income consumers in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, March 31 — The challenges of delivering essential products and services to customers in low-income and rural areas has kept many companies …
Photo credit: SWAP
Frontier and Growth Markets | March 31, 2022
New Energy Nexus makes four investments in Indonesia’s clean energy transition
ImpactAlpha, March 31 – NEX supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funding, acceleration and network building. California-based organization backed energy efficiency startup Synergy Efficiency Solutions, …
Gender Smart | March 30, 2022
Insitor’s second Impact Asia Fund secures $42 million for early-stage investments
ImpactAlpha, March 30 — Singapore-based Insitor Partners launched in 2009 to help bridge the gap in venture funding for early-stage companies in Asian …
Photo creditL Rising Junkiri.
Dealflow | March 10, 2022
Dolma Impact Fund II raises over $50 million for sustainable investments in Nepal
ImpactAlpha, March 10 — Dolma Impact Fund II has raised $50 million. The private equity fund, which is looking to raise up to …
Photo credit: 8 Rivers Capital.
Climate Finance | March 9, 2022
South Korea’s SK Group invests $100 million in 8 Rivers’ cleantech solutions
ImpactAlpha, March 9 — Seoul-based conglomerate SK Group has pledged to help reduce 200 million tons of carbon emissions in South Korea and …
Photo credit: John Martin PERRY.
Dealflow | January 27, 2022
KKR invests $45 million in GrowSari to digitalize ‘sari-saris’ in the Philippines
ImpactAlpha, January 27 — GrowSari, launched in 2016, helps more than 100,000 Filipino owners of brick-and-mortar retail convenience stores, or “sari-sari” stores, make …
Photo credit: Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia.
Climate Finance | January 13, 2022
Circulate Capital aims to build plastic waste recycling infrastructure in underserved Indonesia
ImpactAlpha, January 13 — Indonesia generates around 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually. 4.9 million tons of plastic waste is mismanaged — uncollected, …
aqua-spark | January 12, 2022
Aqua-Spark backs Lake Harvest to expand sustainable aquaculture in Africa
ImpactAlpha, January 12 — Aqua-Spark is launching a subsidiary to help build out local and regional aquaculture supply chains in Africa. The investment …
Catalytic Capital | December 14, 2021
Women’s Livelihood Bond from Impact Investment Exchange closes at $30 million
ImpactAlpha, December 14 — Proceeds from the fourth bond will support social enterprises that can impact 500,000 underserved women and girls in India, …
Photo credit: TOM TRAMBOW.
Climate Finance | November 10, 2021
European Investment Bank and Allianz Global target €500 million for climate fund
ImpactAlpha, November 10 — Allianz Global, the €633 billion ($733.9 billion) asset management arm of German financial services company Allianz, teamed up with …
Photo credit: Opportunity International.
Dealflow | November 9, 2021
Oikocredit and Opportunity International commit $100 million to back education lending in low-income countries
ImpactAlpha, November 3 — With its lending partners, Opportunity International, a Chicago-based nonprofit, has mobilized $2.3 billion to support 8,800 schools in 30 …
Photo credit: Edgar Su.
Climate Finance | November 9, 2021
Spain’s EDP Renewables acquires majority stake in Sunseap Group
ImpactAlpha, November 9 — EDP Renewables, a Madrid-based global renewable energy producer, acquired an 87.4% stake in the Singapore-based distributed solar company. Sunseap’s …
Photo credit: H3 Dynamics
Dealflow | October 25, 2021
Singapore’s H3 Dynamics closes $26 million for hydrogen-powered air cargo and logistics
ImpactAlpha, October 25 – H3 Dynamics is the latest hydrogen-fuel startup to secure investor backing in the race to green the aviation industry. …
Photo credit: Construction Review.
Dealflow | October 18, 2021
Actis’ sustainable energy infrastructure fund raises $4.7 billion
ImpactAlpha, October 18 — London-based Actis has raised $19 billion since 2004 for private equity, energy and real estate investments. The new fund, …
Smallholder Agriculture | October 7, 2021
Tazah raises $2 million to connect Pakistan’s farmers to small food retailers
ImpactAlpha, October 7 – Tazah wants to streamline Pakistan’s $60 billion food supply chain and help farmers secure better prices by cutting out …
Agents of Impact | October 1, 2021
Oraan’s Halima Iqbal and Farwah Tapal: Digitizing women’s savings circles in Pakistan
ImpactAlpha, October 1 – Halima Iqbal didn’t plan to start her own fintech company when she returned to Pakistan in 2018, after years …
PHOTO BY KEVIN FRAYER, GETTY IMAGES.
Dealflow | September 27, 2021
Ara Partners fund secures $1.1 billion to decarbonize the industrial sector
ImpactAlpha, September 27 — Ara Fund II will focus on buyouts and growth investment in companies in industrial and manufacturing, chemicals and materials, …
Photo credit: Ayoconnect.
Dealflow | September 7, 2021
Ayoconnect scores $10 million to advance financial inclusion in Indonesia
ImpactAlpha, September 7 — The fintech’s software platform helps banking and other partners collect data to offer more inclusive financial services for Indonesians. …
Photo credit: ENGIE Africa.
Catalytic Capital | September 1, 2021
Energy Access Relief Fund attracts $68 million from public and private investors
ImpactAlpha, September 1 — Off-grid solar and other energy access companies, with razor-thin margins in tough markets, face a liquidity crisis. COVID-19 has …
Photo credit: V2Food.
Climate Finance | August 10, 2021
Australia’s v2Food raises $108 million Series B funding for global expansion
ImpactAlpha, August 10 — The plant-based protein producer offers alt-meat sausages, ground beef and patties. Investors included Belgian impact investor Astanor Ventures, which …
Photo credit: NotCo.
2030 Finance | July 27, 2021
Chilean plant-based food producer NotCo raises $235 million
ImpactAlpha, July 27 — The Santiago-based company created Giuseppe, which uses artificial intelligence to identify plant-based ingredients as substitutes for animal-based products. Its …
Photo credit: National Geographic Society.
2030 Finance | July 27, 2021
Hartree Partners and Wildlife Works tap voluntary carbon markets to finance forest protection
ImpactAlpha, July 27 — The partnership is an example of how rising prices for carbon credits are making more conservation initiatives investable (see, …
Dealflow | July 22, 2021
LeapFrog leads $75 million raise for India-focused health app HealthifyMe
ImpactAlpha, July 22 – Singapore-based HealthifyMe’s AI-based wellness app provides nutrition and fitness advice, coaching and tracking. The app has 25 million downloads …
Climate Finance | July 15, 2021
Carbon markets are set to expand in Europe and China
ImpactAlpha, July 15 – Prices on Europe’s carbon trading system jumped almost 5%, to €55, after the European Commission laid out plans to …
Jiangxi, China | Photo credit: Humphery
China | July 7, 2021
Asia Green Fund’s Bo Bai: Cleantech investing opens the door to impact investing in China
ImpactAlpha, July 7 – Chinese investors are moving capital into cleantech and low carbon funds. Driving the activity: President Xi Jinping’s pledge last year …
Photo credit: EcoATM.
Climate Finance | June 17, 2021
EcoATM Gazelle secures $75 million for e-waste recycling
ImpactAlpha, June 17 — A record 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019. San Diego-based EcoATM is building …
Photo credit: Abhi
Financial Inclusion | June 8, 2021
Abhi raises $2 million to help Pakistani workers access earned wages
ImpactAlpha, June 8 – Nearly 80% of Pakistan’s 217 million people don’t have a bank account; just 1% have access to formal credit. Karachi-based …
Photo credit: VAN LY.
Dealflow | June 8, 2021
KKR Global Impact backs EQuest Education’s low-cost schools in Vietnam
ImpactAlpha, June 8 — KKR Global Impact, the impact arm of private equity giant KKR, has invested an undisclosed amount in Ho Chi …
Photo credit: Urban Company.
Dealflow | June 7, 2021
Urban Company secures $255 million for gig marketplace in India
ImpactAlpha, June 7 — Urban Company has hired and trained approximately 35,000 gig service providers since 2014 for beauty treatments, haircuts, carpentry, appliance …
Photo credit: TaniHub Group.
Agrifood Tech | May 24, 2021
TaniHub Group secures $65.5 million for its agtech platform in Indonesia
ImpactAlpha, May 24 — TaniHub Group launched in 2016 to help smallholder farmers in Indonesia reach more customers and grow their income. “There …
Photo credit: Invest2Innovate
Frontier and Growth Markets | 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 …
Photo credit: Dat Bike
Dealflow | 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. …