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 17
Social Nest Foundation
Global

Social Nest Foundation is a global platform supporting entrepreneurs, enterprises, governments, and investors with needed resources, opportunities, and tailored guidance so that they can create solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

Type of OrganisationFoundation
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeSmall and growing businesses, Start-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
Focus StageEarly Stage
Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH
Global

The Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH is one of the main German foundations associated with a private company in Europe. It works in the fields of health, education, and global issues. With its charitable activities, it contributes to the development of viable solutions for social challenges. For that purpose, the Foundation executes its own projects, forges alliances with partners, and supports third-party initiatives.The area that supports global issues focuses on peace, inequality, climate change, democracy, migration, and the immigration society. As for education, the Foundation focuses on individual and organizational learning, while with its support to health, it commits to guaranteeing a sustainable health system that is more people-driven.

Type of OrganisationFoundation
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Focus TypeNGOs/Non-profits
Ashden Awards
Global

<p>The Ashden Awards recognise and award the most promising energy enterprises that are contributing to a low-carbon future. It also mentors and provides customised business development support to all awardees. To be eligible for an award, organisations must have an innovation that has been proven on the market for atleast a year. Awards can be given for a specific renewable energy or energy efficiency programme, enterprise or building, or for a specific product or service.</p>

Type of OrganisationChallenge Fund/Programme/Facility, Foundation
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingGrants and awards
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
SectorEnergy
Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
Global

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women cooperates with non-profits, private and public-sector organisations to develop programmes to support women's micro, small and medium enterprises. The foundation provides an enterprise development programme, mentoring, and a mobile technology programme.

Type of OrganisationFoundation
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups
IB TopicsGender
Cordes Foundation
Global

The Cordes Foundation is a family foundation focused on social entrepreneurship, impact investing and creating economic opportunities for women. In addition to financing, the foundation also provides technical support such as connecting social entrepreneurs to potential investors and other support actors; and organises events on social entrepreneurship and impact investing. It also runs a fellowship programme targeted at emerging social entrepreneurs.

Type of OrganisationFoundation, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards, Guarantees
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingFellowship, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
Focus StageEarly Stage
IB TopicsGender
EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women
Global

The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women programme identifies high-potential women entrepreneurs whose businesses show potential to scale and provides them with support to help accelerate their growth. EY gives the women founders ongoing access to resources, networks and know-how, helping to strengthen their abilities to become market leaders. At the same time, the programme creates a global community of successful women entrepreneurs and inspiring peer role models.

Type of OrganisationNetwork/ Business association/ membership organisation/ knowledge platform
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation 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
IB TopicsGender
Global CAD
Global

The GlobalCAD Network is a knowledge platform where professionals from different disciplines work towards development and sustainability. The network consists of a strategic advisory centre for development, a social documentary producer, a centre that promotes inclusive business and a foundation that promotes culture and entrepreneurship.

Type of OrganisationNetwork/ Business association/ membership organisation/ knowledge platform
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified
Grameen Foundation
Global

The Grameen Foundation connects individuals to financial, health, and agricultural services and information. The foundation works with banks, microfinance institutions, mobile network operators, and agribusinesses to provide access to financial services. Combining the use of digital technology, networks in local communities, and other partners the organisation runs agriculture and health programmes.

Type of OrganisationFoundation
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
IB TopicsGender, Innovation
IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative
Global

The IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative convenes public-private partnerships focusing on smallholder farmer inclusion, mitigation of deforestation and forest degradation, living wages and improved working conditions, responsible agrochemical management, and gender equality. IDH aims to create joint design, co-funding and prototyping of new approaches.

Type of OrganisationGovt/Donor/State-owned enterprises, Network/ Business association/ membership organisation/ knowledge platform
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified
Kiva
Global

Kiva is an international non-profit crowdfunding platform connecting lenders and borrowers. Borrowers get access to capital of up to USD 10,000 at zero percent interest.

Type of OrganisationNetwork/ Business association/ membership organisation/ knowledge platform
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Amount$0 - 20,000
Exact Amountup to $10,000
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
IB TopicsGender