Frontier & Growth Markets
Photo credit: Daystar Power
Africa | January 14, 2021
Daystar Power raises $38 million to expand commercial solar power in West Africa
ImpactAlpha, January 14 – Mauritius-based Daystar Power installs and manages commercial and industrial solar installations in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire. The …
Photo credit: Medical Credit Fund
Africa | January 13, 2021
Medical Credit Fund blends $19.2 million to finance Africa’s frontline health clinics
ImpactAlpha, January 13 – Small, privately-run clinics are often the only providers of essential health services in remote and low-income parts of Africa. …
Photo credit: CropIn
Agrifood Tech | January 11, 2021
Indian agtech venture CropIn raises $20 million
ImpactAlpha, January 11 – Bangalore-based CropIn helps farmers analyze crop yields and risks with satellites, sensors and weather data. The 10-year-old company says it …
Asia | January 7, 2021
Investors back small business inventory financing in Pakistan and Egypt
ImpactAlpha, January 4 – Emerging market tech startups that are supporting the digitization of micro and small businesses are helping lead the COVID recovery. …
Tangus street food | Photo credit: wanacorp.fr/
Africa | December 23, 2020
Aiming high by pricing low: How entrepreneurs can tap the mass market for impact at scale
ImpactAlpha, Dec 23 – Emerging market entrepreneurs have to thread the needle when pricing their products and services: too low, and they won’t generate …
Asia | December 23, 2020
Northern Arc Capital scores debt financing to serve India’s underbanked
ImpactAlpha, December 23 — Northern Arc Capital, an East India-based non-banking finance company that provides access to debt for underbanked individual borrowers and …
Africa | December 22, 2020
DFC approves $500 million financing for Safaricom-led Ethiopian telecom project
ImpactAlpha, December 22 — The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. approved a $500 million loan for companies seeking a telecommunication license in Ethiopia, …
Photo credit: SunCulture
Africa | December 18, 2020
Solar irrigation subsidies aim to boost livelihoods for Togo’s smallholder farmers
ImpactAlpha, December 18 – New energy infrastructure and technologies often require subsidies to gain traction. That’s true for rural electrification, solar technology, and …
Photo credit: Ilara Health
Africa | December 17, 2020
Global Ventures tightens focuse on global health with investment in Ilara Health
ImpactAlpha, December 17 – Global Ventures hit the market two years ago with an investment thesis focused on leveraging technology to address basic …
Photo credit: Horn Products Uganda
Frontier & Growth Markets | December 14, 2020
Looking ahead: Helping small businesses in emerging markets survive and thrive in 2021
ImpactAlpha, December 14 – The stabilization and revival of the micro, small and medium-sized businesses sector has been the emerging markets story of …
Climate and Clean Tech | December 10, 2020
Circulate Capital invests $19 million in four companies reducing plastic waste in India
ImpactAlpha, December 10 — The 150 million tons of plastic in the ocean is growing by approximately eight million tons a year. Singapore-based …
Asia | December 10, 2020
IIX raises $27.7 million for third Women’s Livelihood Bond
ImpactAlpha, December 10 – If “three’s a trend,” the publicly traded bonds designed to support women’s livelihoods from Singapore-based Impact Investment Exchange, or …
Dealflow | December 9, 2020
Spanish development bank launches $145 million fund for emerging market farmers
ImpactAlpha, December 9 — Compañia Española de Financiación del Desarrollo, or COFIDES, has launched a $145 million fund that will invest in microfinance …
Photo credit: Habitat for Humanity
Asia | December 3, 2020
Habitat for Humanity aims to accelerate affordable housing startups in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, December 3 — Habitat for Humanity’s will host two ShelterTech programs to help 20 companies in Southeast Asia and Latin America advance …
ESG | November 30, 2020
Updating investment ‘exclusion lists’ for deeper social and environmental impact
ImpactAlpha, Nov. 30 – Cluster bombs and hazardous chemicals. Tobacco and firearms. Child labor and corruption. “Exclusion” lists have for decades helped investors keep …