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 11 - 19 of 19
Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings Ltd. (Injaro)
Sub-Saharan Africa

The Injaro Agricultural Capital Holdings Ltd. (Injaro) provides investments in debt, quasi-equity, and equity in small and medium-sized enterprises along the agricultural value chain. In addition, Injaro also provides business advice and technical assistance.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Lending for African Farming (LAFCo)
Sub-Saharan Africa

Lending for African Farming (LAFCo) is an investment company providing loans to African agricultural small and medium enterprises that work directly with smallholder farmers. Its primary purpose is to provide working capital financing for borrowers working in food crop value chains. All borrowers have to demonstrate that they are delivering a clear benefit to smallholder farmers. LAFCo defines smallholder farmers as those cultivating less than 10 hectares. It key targets include: - Agro-dealers or input providers - Processors - Traders, distributors, exporters - Logistics providers (e.g., warehouses) - Other agricultural businesses To qualify for a loan, an entity much have revenues of less than USD 15 million and fewer than 300 employees. It is supported by KFW, UKAid and USAID among others.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Exact Amount
Focus TypeStart-ups
Lundin Foundation
Global

The Lundin Foundation is a philanthropic organisation founded by the Lundin family. The Foundation provides risk capital, technical assistance, and strategic grants to outstanding social enterprises and organisations across the globe, with a view to contributing to sustained improvements in social and economic development. Its five focus areas are Resource Governance, Education and Skills Training, Local Supplier Development, Economic Diversification and Social and Environmental Innovation.

Type of OrganisationFoundation, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingEquity, Grants 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
Mercy Corps Social Venture Fund
Global

Mercy Corps Social Venture Fund provides early-stage financing (loans and grants) and post-investment support for social venture start-ups. Investments range from USD 50,000 to USD 300,000.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingAdvocacy, Information sharing, resources and publications, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Pearl Capital Partners (PCP)
Sub-Saharan Africa

Pearl Capital Partners (PCP) is an agriculture investment management firm investing in agricultural small and medium-sized businesses in East Africa. Investment sizes range between USD250,000 and USD2.5 million. PCP offers technical assistance via the USAID Technical Assistance Facility. At the moment, PCP manages four funds: - African Agricultural Capital - African Seed Investment Fund - African Agricultural Capital Fund - Yield Uganda Investment Fund.

Type of OrganisationGovt/Donor/State-owned enterprises, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$250,000 - 2.5 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Uberis Capital
East Asia and Pacific

Uberis Capital are impact investors, who offer equity and debt finance and advisory support with strategy, operations and financial planning to early-stage mission-driven ventures that serve poor communities in developing countries of Southeast Asia. For ventures that are too early to receive venture capital, Uberis aids them in formalising their business strategy and management to become "investment ready".

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards, Guarantees
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Ubuntu Impact Investments
Sub-Saharan Africa

Ubuntu Impact Investments is an investment company established to create economic growth and local employment in Africa, with attractive commercial returns for investors. Ubuntu Impact Investments invests in the integrated development and operation of a network of high quality tourist destinations in Africa.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Rwanda
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingTraining, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeLarge companies, Start-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
SectorTourism
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