Dealflow | February 18, 2021

DFC backs women’s health startup Kasha Global

Roodgally Senatus
ImpactAlpha Editor

Roodgally Senatus

ImpactAlpha, February 18 — Rwanda-based Kasha Global operates an e-commerce platform to improve low-income women’s access to menstrual care products, contraceptives, pharmaceuticals and other health and hygiene products.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. has made a $1 million equity investment in the company, following earlier $1 million investments from Swedefund and Finnfund.

DFC’s investment, which was decided in September, is part of the women-focused 2X Challenge (see,Development financiers seek to hook private investors on gender-lens investing”). It also reflects DFC’s broadened mandate to make equity investments, alongside loans and grants. 

Small-ticket dealflow

Kampala-based gnuGrid raised $250,000 to improve monitoring, analytics and payments in Uganda’s off-grid solar sector. Nairobi-based Amitruck closed an undisclosed amount of pre-seed funding for its service connecting truck drivers to cargo transport gigs.