Asia
Photo by BII.
Asia | December 5, 2023
British International Investment backs trio of climate tech funds in South Asia
ImpactAlpha, December 5 — British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has made a $25 million allocation to GEF …
Photo by LeapFrog.
Dealflow | October 10, 2023
LeapFrog’s emerging consumer fund secures $100 million commitment from IFC
ImpactAlpha, October 10 — LeapFrog Investments has secured a $100 million commitment from the International Finance Corp. for its emerging consumer fund, the …
Frontier and Growth Markets | September 25, 2023
LeapFrog joins insurance tech venture Bolttech’s $246 million equity round
ImpactAlpha, September 25 – Singapore-based Bolttech’s insurance exchange connects businesses to more than 6,000 insurance products from 230 companies in North America, Europe …
Photo by Wecyclers.
Catalytic Capital | July 24, 2023
BII anchors SDG Outcomes Fund with $10 million for development impact bonds
ImpactAlpha, July 24 — SDG Outcomes Fund is seeking $100 million to provide upfront capital for approximately 15 to 20 “development impact bonds” …
Dealflow | July 10, 2023
eFishery rakes in $200 million for sustainable seafood in Indonesia
ImpactAlpha, July 10 — Indonesian aquaculture tech venture eFishery has raised $200 million from ResponsAbility, Malaysian public pension fund Kumpulan Wang Persaraan, Abu …
Asia | June 9, 2023
Deal spotlight: LeapFrog Investments highlights Asia’s appetite for impact
ImpactAlpha, June 9 – Impact investing strategies in emerging markets are seeing increased interest from global investors on the hunt for yield, impact …
Climate Finance | May 30, 2023
Packard and Ford foundations back Nusantara Fund to bolster climate resilience for Indonesia’s Indigenous communities
ImpactAlpha, May 30 – Indonesia is among the world’s small number of “mega bio-diverse” countries – and has one of the world’s highest …
Climate and Clean Tech | May 10, 2023
UK-based Actis launches $500 million Japan-focused clean energy arm
ImpactAlpha, May 10 – London-based global sustainable infrastructure investor Actis launched a Japan-focused clean energy unit out of its fifth energy infrastructure fund, …
Agrifood Tech | April 20, 2023
Aqua-Spark invests in sustainable aquaculture startups in Vietnam and Finland
ImpactAlpha, April 20 – Aqua-Spark was one of the earliest investors in the “blue economy,” focusing on an agrifood niche at a time …
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 …
Image credit: Trukkr
Financial Inclusion | March 16, 2023
Accion Venture Lab bets on ‘embedded finance’ in India, Pakistan and Indonesia
ImpactAlpha, March 16 – Lack of access to finance is a critical barrier to small business growth – and thus, to economic growth …
Photo by IFC.
Dealflow | March 14, 2023
Jordan’s first green bond secures $50 million from IFC
ImpactAlpha, March 14 — Jordan Kuwait Bank issued Jordan’s first green bond to finance clean energy projects, low-carbon transportation, energy efficient real estate …
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, …
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 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 …
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 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 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 …
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. …