ImpactAlpha’s deal news coverage for the week:
Agrifood investing. Blue Earth Capital led a growth equity round for Delhi-based Arya, which provides post-harvest storage and financing to India’s small producers. … Brazilian agtech startup Genica raised 68 million reais ($12 million) to make biological crop treatments that also improve soil health… Pakistani e-commerce startup DealCart raised $3 million to expand affordable food options… Wangara Green Ventures backed Sommalife to expand market access to shea farmers in Ghana.
AI for impact. Alcemy, a German AI-powered green cement venture, snagged $10 million… Altrove, a French climate tech startup, clinched €3.7 million to use AI to design and build alternatives to rare earth elements and other materials critical for the net-zero transition… TPG Rise Fund led a $90 million investment in AI for ‘smart cities’… UK-based Water Unite Impact led a seed financing round for Seabex, a French agtech startup using AI and satellites to optimize water usage.
Circular economy. Inside Capital Partners secured $55 million for its second Inside Equity Fund to invest in waste recycling, renewable energy, packaging and building material companies in Africa…
Climate finance. Amsterdam-based Carbon Equity raised €60 million ($65 million) for its third climate tech fund, just months after closing its €100 million second climate fund… Nuveen Private Equity Impact secured $147 million to tackle climate change and inequality… UK-based Natcap scored $10 million in Series A financing, backed by Pelican Ag and Oxford Science Enterprises, to help businesses screen for nature-related risks… The European Investment Fund committed €350 million ($379 million) to Spanish venture capital firm Kembara, which invests in climate and hard science-based startups in Europe.
Financial inclusion. Accion and Chile Ventures led a $2.1 million round for Moffin’s alt-credit ratings in Mexico… British International Investment loaned $20 million to London-based TerraPay to reduce the cost and time of sending remittances across borders in Africa… Tanzania-based Nala raised $40 million in an equity round to enable people in the US, UK and Europe to send payments to friends and family in 11 African countries.
Fund news. Rockefeller’s Zero Gap Fund helped mobilize $1 billion-plus while realizing multiple exits… Global Social Impact Investments secured €15 million ($16.2 million) from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation to invest in companies driving social and environmental impact in Africa.
Green buildings. Dutch startup Scaler inked $10 million to streamline ESG reporting and guide sustainability-related business decision-making for European real estate companies.
Low-carbon transition. Circular cement and solar steam startups snagged funding for industrial decarbonization… Electric cookstove maker ATEC raised $3.8 million to expand in Asia and Africa… Germany’s epilot raised €10 million for software that helps utilities automate renewable energy sales and integration, and helps grid operators connect more people to green energy sources… The US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office approved a $1.2 billion loan to ENTEK Lithium Separators to finance a manufacturing plant for lithium-ion battery separators in Terre Haute, Ind.
Returns on inclustion. Mission Driven Bank Fund secured $177 million to support minority depository institutions and community development financial institutions addressing the racial wealth gap in the US.
