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.

 

Amount of financial support

Intermediary Database

Displaying 1 - 10 of 13
CREAS ECUADOR
Latin America and the Caribbean

We are an impact investment fund investing in early-stage companies in Ecuador that are resolving social and environmental issues in the country. Equity tickets range from $50K to $250K.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean
Ecuador
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount$50,000 -150,000
Exact Amount$50,000-$250,000
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeSmall and growing businesses
Focus StageEarly Stage
Vakayi SME Fund
Sub-Saharan Africa

Vakayi SME Fund provides growth capital to Zimbabwean entrepreneurs operating in the essential services sectors, which are health, housing, education and clean energy sectors. Typically, these are businesses in later stages of development, profitable, cash generative, with potential to scale operations. Vakayi Capital seeks to work alongside capable entrepreneurs who are passionate about their businesses and have a strong will to succeed. Besides seeking financial returns from its investments, Vakayi invests in businesses that deliver meaningful impact.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Zimbabwe
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Focus TypeStart-ups
DOEN Foundation
South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

The DOEN Foundation provides grants, equity investments and loans to support enterprising approaches for a more green and inclusive society in East Africa and India. Investments are made primarily in start-ups.

Type of OrganisationFoundation, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySouth Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
India
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards
Exact Amount
Focus TypeStart-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
Focus StageEarly Stage
SectorEnergy
E10
Global, Latin America and the Caribbean

E10 is a venture capital firm based in Guatemala City, and focused in energy related investments. It's target companies include triple-bottom-line clean energy and energy-related technology investment opportunities.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal, Latin America and the Caribbean
Guatemala
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Physical co-working space
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
SectorEnergy
E3 Capital
Sub-Saharan Africa

When our journey began in 2015, we focused on providing direct access to electricity to households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
However, we quickly realised that in order to truly move the needle in this regard, the investment scope had to be broadened to include productive use cases enabled by low carbon energy.
We evolved our focus and investment strategy in complete transparency and with the cooperation of our investors and entrepreneurs.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups
SectorEnergy
Engineers Without Borders Canada
Sub-Saharan Africa

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) invests in early stage, innovative, highly scalable social enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa that are focused on solving issues faced by the underserved. The EWB ventures program makes customised, long-term investments of up to USD 100,000 in first-of-kind scalable social enterprises

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund, NGO
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Grants and awards
Amount$50,000 -150,000
Exact Amountup to $100,000
Technical Support OfferingAdvocacy, Fellowship, Information sharing, resources and publications, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Ethos Private Equity
Sub-Saharan Africa

Ethos Private Equity is an investment firm that manages investments in private equity and credit strategies in South Africa and selectively in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethos targets small and mid-sized companies. ESG considerations are an important element of its investment strategy.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
South Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Industrial Promotion Services (IPS)
South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) is an arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development proving equity investment with partners from the public and private sectors. IPS provides venture capital, technical assistance and management support to encourage and expand private enterprise in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySouth Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeNot specified
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Jasmine Social Investments
East Asia and Pacific, Global, Sub-Saharan Africa

Jasmine Social Investments supports social ventures and entrepreneurs by providing grants, equity or debt finance. It looks for solutions with a well-defined and cost-effective impact that can grow to reach over 100,000 beneficiaries. It mostly provides grants but in some cases also equity and debt

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, Global, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards
Exact Amount
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
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