Investor & Technical Assistance Database

This database targets companies looking for financial and/or technical support. The database lists organisations and initiatives providing different kinds of support, such as capital in the form of grants, loans and equity, or technical support in the form of advice, partnership brokering or networking support. To learn more about the database, click the info button on the right. 

For current training opportunities, networking events, and calls for application, access our opportunities page

Use the search filters below to narrow down your search for financial and/or technical support providers.

ABOUT THE DATABASE

Who is this database for?

This database aims to serve inclusive businesses that are looking for sources of support to help them grow, ranging from capital to technical support.

 

What does the database cover?

This database lists organizations that provide technical and financial support to inclusive businesses. The database will continue growing as support organizations are registered. Inclusive businesses are diverse, and so too are the range of organizations that provide support and the types of support they offer. The resources listed cover a continuum of financing solutions, from grants and concessional financing to commercial finance and private equity. They also include organizations and initiatives providing technical assistance (TA), advice, partnership brokering, information, advocacy, and networking. The database is easy to navigate and provides useful filters such as the range of financial support provided and the stage of enterprise supported (if such information is available). 

More organizations will be added over time and suggestions are welcome. Other database that we recommend include:

► GET.invest: focused on renewable energy in Africa
► Nexus for Development: focused on Southeast Asia
 The Mix: Database on microfinance services

Why and how was the database developed?

Inclusive business entrepreneurs often face difficulties identifying partners that could provide crucial financial and technical support. Even though such support is available, information about it is often fragmented and hard to find. The database addresses this challenge, making information on financial and technical support easy to identify and navigate by providing easily searchable categories and filters.

The entries and information provided in the database are compiled by the research team using information publicly available on organization websites or provided directly by the organizations themselves. 

 

Who developed the database?

The Practitioner Hub for Inclusive Business (now inclusivebusiness.net) and the Asian Development Bank set up this database to help overcome this challenge. The Connect to Grow programme supported further development of this database in 2016, specifically to include intermediaries in its target countries. In late 2017 and 2018, the DFID Impact Programme funded the most comprehensive review and update of the database yet, which was implemented by Endeva. The Endeva team reviewed the categories and all existing entries, and also added hundreds of entries with the support of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) and other partners.

ANDE has just launched a new site of their own that provides data about financial and non-financial support available for small and growing businesses in a specific city or country. ANDE’s Ecosystem Snapshots aim to help those supporting entrepreneurs to foster conditions in which businesses can thrive. 

 

USING THE DATABASE

What can users search for on the database?

You can keep your search for organizations broad by just selecting the finance and/or technical support offering you are looking for or you can narrow down your search by selecting further filters such as type of organization, sector, region/country etc. If you are looking for a specific topic that is not included in the current category list, use the keywords search bar to search the entire database. This will return results on that topic from the whole database.

 

If users want all entries from Asia, does one need to select all Asian countries, too (or ditto for other continents)?

No. If you would like to see all the material for one continent, for example South Asia, select ‘South Asia’ under the ‘Region/Country’ filter and click on the ‘Apply’ button. This will bring up all intermediaries that provide support in South Asia.

 

Country

Intermediary Database

Displaying 1 - 10 of 12
The Yield Lab
Latin America and the Caribbean

The AgriFoodTech Venture Capital firm with the largest presence and experience across Latin America.
Founded in 2017 and with offices in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, our team is investing in companies based in Latin America in the whole food and agriculture innovation spectrum, from farm to fork.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru
Amount$150,000 - 500,000, $500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount
Focus TypeSmall and growing businesses, Start-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Common Fund for Commodities - CFC
Global

The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is an autonomous intergovernmental financial institution, established in 1989 within the framework of the United Nations. The CFC provides support to projects investing in commodity value chains to deliver sustainable development impact from “field to the fork”. The support is offered mainly through loans to finance equipment, working capital or trade finance needs. The CFC seeks applications of projects that have reached a state of economic, social and environmental sustainability. These applications should clearly show operational and financial viability, with a proven track record.

CFC solicits proposals through the Open Call which is made public every 6 months with deadlines in April and October each year.

Type of OrganisationDevelopment Finance Institution, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact AmountUSD 300,000 - USD 1,500,00
Focus TypeSmall and growing businesses
Focus StageGrowth Companies, Mature
Acumen
East Asia and Pacific, Global, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa

Acumen is a non-profit that raises charitable donations to invest in companies, leaders, and ideas that tackle poverty. The organisation provides long-term debt or equity investments ranging from USD 250,000 to USD 3,000,000 in early-stage companies with payback or exit in seven to ten years. Acumen also offers fellowships that include leadership training and working with one of Acumen's portfolio companies.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, Global, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$250,000 - 3 million
Technical Support OfferingFellowship, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Calvert Impact Capital
Global

Calvert Impact Capital is a non-profit investment firm that provides loans to mission-driven organisations with a social and/or environmental focus. Loan sizes start at USD 1 million. Most of Calvert's investments have been in North America, followed by Latin America and Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$1 million
Focus TypeStart-ups
Gray Matters Capital (GMC)
Global

Gray Matters Capital (GMC), is an impact investing foundation, which provides risk capital to entrepreneurs and social ventures. Funds are deployed through seed-stage investment vehicles with investments ranging from USD 50,000 to USD250,000 and venture capital stage investments ranging from USD 250,000 to USD 2 million. It a sister concern of Gray Ghost Ventures.

Type of OrganisationFoundation, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingEquity, Grants and awards
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$250,000 - 2 million
Technical Support OfferingFellowship, Information sharing, resources and publications, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
IB TopicsInnovation
Impact Finance Fund
Global

The Impact Finance Fund specialises in value chain financing with a positive impact at the base of the pyramid. It provides debt financing between USD 150,000 to USD 5 million with interest rates at 8-12%, and, from 6months to 6 years.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$500,000 - 5 million
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified
Investisseurs & Partenaires
Sub-Saharan Africa

Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is an impact investing group providing financing ranging from EUR 30,000 to EUR 1.5 million to start-ups and small and medium enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa. I&P also provides strategic and managerial mentoring as well as technical assistance, including capacity building and training on management information systems, marketing & sales and human resources.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$35,000 - 3.5 million
Technical Support OfferingAdvocacy, Fellowship, Information sharing, resources and publications, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Karandaaz Pakistan
South Asia

Karandaaz Pakistan runs an innovation challenge fund and an investment fund. The challenge fund focuses on the challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises, women and youth in accessing financial services. Karandaaz Capital is the SME investment platform of Karandaaz Pakistan. Eligible companies have to earn between USD 1 and 15 million; ticket sizes range between USD 500,000 and USD 2.5 million (without co-investors).

Type of OrganisationChallenge Fund/Programme/Facility, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySouth Asia
Pakistan
Finance OfferingEquity, Grants and awards
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$500,000 - 2.5 million
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
Patamar Capital
East Asia and Pacific, South Asia

Patamar Capital (earlier known as Unitus Impact) provides venture capital investments in high-growth companies aiming to engage the working poor, address market inefficiencies, and maximise social and financial return. The firm typically invests between USD 1 million and USD 2 million.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, South Asia
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$1 million - 2 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified
Root Capital
East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa

Root Capital is a non-profit social investment fund that provides capital and financial training, and strengthens market connections for small and growing agricultural businesses in Africa and Latin America. Loan sizes range from USD 50,000 to USD 2 million.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$50,000 - 2 million
Technical Support OfferingPartnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups
IB TopicsGender