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 10
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
Ceniarth, LLC
East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

Ceniarth provides capital to market-based solutions that benefit underserved communities through direct and fund investments. Though mostly it provides debt and equity capital, in some cases it also provides grants when there are non-financial issues preventing the development of its target areas.

Type of OrganisationImpact 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, Grants and awards
Exact Amount
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
D3Jubilee
East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa

D3Jubilee identifies and invests in ICT-based start-ups with socio-economic importance across various sectors. In addition to providing direct investements, the company supports start-ups with mentorship, linkages to impact investors and specialised experts and advisors, and access to a network of successful peer entrepreneurs. It also works on ecosystem building for impact investments.

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 OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
IB TopicsInnovation
Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT)
Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa

The Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) is a non-profit corporation supporting youth and cooperating with the private sector, governments, and community-based organisations. DOT provides entrepreneurs aged 18 to 29 with tools, knowledge, networks, seed funding and support to launch sustainable social initiatives.

Type of OrganisationNetwork/ Business association/ membership organisation/ knowledge platform, NGO
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
Finance OfferingGrants and awards
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingFellowship, 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
Focus StageEarly Stage
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
EcoEnterprises Fund
Latin America and the Caribbean

EcoEnterprises Fund provides growth capital and strategic guidance to community-based sustainable companies that help address environmental and social challenges. It investments through mezzanine, quasi-equity, and long-term debt.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Girl Rising
Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

The Global Education Fund (GEF), now working under Girl Rising, provides seed funding for early stage ventures operating in education. The funding period is between 3-5 years and grants are complemented with non-financial support.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund, NGO
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingGrants and awards
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
SectorEducation
Global Partnerships
Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa

Global Partnerships (GP) funds early-stage social enterprises. Its main focus areas are women empowerment and rural poverty. GP provides grants for pilot phase enterprises and debt financing to support growth of proven enterprises.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingDebt finance, Grants and awards
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
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
ACDI /VOCA
Europe and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

ACDI/VOCA has proven expertise in agriculture, economic growth, resilience, finance, and equity and inclusion.
Their reputation for impact is rooted in an award-winning system of monitoring, impact evaluation, and learning. They deliver expert technical assistance and create locally driven market solutions through three lines of business and a diverse set of funding sources.
Together, they bridge diverse stakeholders in shared development efforts, sharing technical resources and on-the-ground presence to achieve the objectives of our diverse partners. They leverage investments from private-sector partners and provide value through their volunteer programs.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEurope and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies