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 21
Africa Agriculture Trade and Investment Fund (AATIF)
Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa

AATIF provides investments for the agricultural sector. It targets small, medium and large scale agricultural farms as well as agricultural businesses along the entire agricultural value chain. Investment size usually ranges between USD 5 to 30 million. Investment instruments include debt and mezzanine financing, with a maturity of up to 12 years for debt investments.

Type of OrganisationChallenge Fund/Programme/Facility, Govt/Donor/State-owned enterprises
Region/CountryMiddle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$5 - 30 million
Focus TypeLarge companies
Focus StageGrowth Companies
AgDevCo
Sub-Saharan Africa

AgDevCo provides long-term risk capital to help early-stage businesses reach profitability and scale. Investments range from USD 250,000 to USD 10 million. In addition to risk capital, AgDevCo provides management support and expert agronomy advice, and can provide grants to help establish smallholder farmer outgrower schemes.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$1 - 10 million
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Agri-Vie
Sub-Saharan Africa

Agri-Vie is a private equity investment fund focused on the food and agribusiness value chain. Agri-Vie supports the involvement of in-country entrepreneurs and shareholders in the ownership and management of investee companies. It has an average transaction amount of USD 6 million.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$6 million
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified
Zebu Investment Partners (ZIP)
Sub-Saharan Africa

Zebu Investment Partners (ZIP) is a private equity fund manager established to invest across the food value chain throughout Africa. Investment size range between USD 2 million to USD 8 million. Investments are complemented by Technical Assistance Facility through strategic, operational and technical expertise for up to USD 500,000 per investee.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Ghana
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$2 million - 8 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Earth Capital
Global

Earth Capital Partners focuses on growth companies with patented, substantially proven technology, but also considers investments in earlier stage technology development. Earth Capital's focus areas are sustainable technology dealing with resource or energy constraints, sustainable agriculture and timberland, and renewable energy (generation assets, energy efficiency and storage). It usually makes investments to the tune of USD5 million to USD 15 million.

Type of OrganisationAccelerator/Incubator, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$5 - 15 million
Focus TypeLarge companies
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Lok Capital
South Asia

Lok Capital partners with entrepreneurs and companies across different sectors in India and provides finance, technical assistance and fellowships. Lok's main focus is on financial inclusion but it also supports microfinance institutions, affordable housing, small and medium enterprise financing and growth stage companies in financial services, healthcare, agriculture and livelihood. It seeks to invest between USD1 million and USD7 million.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySouth Asia
India
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$1 - 7 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeStart-ups
IB TopicsInnovation
Metier
Sub-Saharan Africa

Metier is a private equity firm specializing in investments in middle market, emerging growth and growth capital investments. The firm does not invest in seed, start-up, and early stage. It seeks to make an equity investment between USD3 million and USD100 million in its companies. The firm seeks to acquire controlling or significant minority positions in its portfolio companies. It takes substantial equity positions between 20 percent and 60 percent.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
South Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$3 - 100,000 million
Focus TypeLarge companies, Start-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Moringa Fund
Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa

Moringa is an investment fund which targets profitable large scale agro-forestry projects with high environmental and social impact, located in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The fund makes equity investments of EUR 4-10 million and adds value via its technical skills, environmental and social know-how and global network. Some of its selection criteria for investments include: - Clear national and/or international market demand for products; - Yield-performing agroforestry farming model for diversified crops and/or timber; - Potential to achieve significant scale, including through outgrowers partners; - Profitable business ambition and perspective; - Commitment to environmental and social performance; - Business inclusive – alignment of interest of all stakeholders; - Jointly designed and anticipated exit for financial investors.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$4.7 - 12 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
Norfund
East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

Norfund - The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries - is a strategic minority investor, owned and funded by the Norwegian Government. The fund invests in clean energy, financial institutions, food and agribusiness, private equity and venture capital funds that target small and medium-sized enterprises. It mostly provides equity investments starting from USD 4 million and acquires a maximum 35% ownership share. In some cases, it also provides debt funding. Its investment horizon is 5-10 years.

Type of OrganisationGovt/Donor/State-owned enterprises, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$4 million and up
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeLarge companies, Start-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Novastar Ventures
Sub-Saharan Africa

Novastar Ventures aims to invest in early stage businesses led by entrepreneurs with the ambition to transform low-income consumer markets and alleviate severe social issues, by deploying innovative business models with the potential of growing rapidly, notably by widening access, improving quality and/or lowering costs of basic services or goods in East Africa. It typically provides investments in the range of USD 100,000 to USD 5m.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$100,000 - 5 million
Focus TypeStart-ups
IB TopicsInnovation