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.

 

Intermediary Database

Displaying 1 - 10 of 12
Alterfin
East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa

Alterfin is financing microfinance institutions and fair trade producers in Latin America, Africa and Asia. It provides loans to fair trade producer groups and associations. Loan size ranges between USD 150,000 and USD 1,500,000 with possible leverage from other funds up to three times the specified amount

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 OfferingDebt finance
Amount$150,000 - 500,000
Exact Amount$150,000 - 1.5 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeStart-ups
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
Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)
East Asia and Pacific, South Asia

Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) manages a fund called IIX Growth Fund which invests between USD250,000 to USD 5 million. In addition, it offers impact advisory and research, a private placement platform connecting impact investors with innovative impact enterprises, the Women's Livelihood Bond, a trading platform, accelerator programmes, the IIX Growth Fund and training courses for corporates, non-profits, foundations and other industry professionals.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, South Asia
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount$150,000 - 500,000
Exact Amount$250,000 - 5 million
Technical Support OfferingInformation 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
IB TopicsGender
Incluvest
East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa

Incluvest is an impact investment company with a focus on agribusinesses. It provides grants, debt and equity finance, with a minimum of USD 120,000. It provides different types of investments: - Donation directly labelled via Incluvest towards a specific investment opportunity - Co-investment with Incluvest - Providing a loan to Incluvest where the lender is taking the risk.

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, Debt finance, Grants and awards
Amount$150,000 - 500,000
Exact AmountMinimum $120,000
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Insitor Impact Fund
East Asia and Pacific, South Asia

Insitor Impact Fund finances early-stage enterprises in Southeast Asia with a mix of equity and debt funding. The fund works closely with each investee, guiding the business model and development and providing technical support on governance, strategy, operations and financial planning. In most cases, Insitor takes an active role as board members of the investee's businesses and has supported investees in securing co-investments and further rounds of funding.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, South Asia
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Physical co-working space
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Kickstart
East Asia and Pacific

Kickstart is a Philippine venture capital firm that invests in digital start-ups and provides access to business networks. Early-stage investments range between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000; growth-stage investments are up to USD5 million.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific
Philippines
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount$150,000 - 500,000
Exact Amount$100,000 - 500,000; up to 2.5m
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Physical co-working space
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
Lotus Fund
East Asia and Pacific

Lotus Impact (formerly Global Impact Fund for Today) is a social impact fund targeting small and medium-sized enterprises to further socio-economic and environmental value to communities worldwide. It provides both seed stage and follow on investments. Financial support is backed by technical assistance. Lotus Impact acts also acts as an ecosystem actor and facilitates shared learning on business investment and practice, especially in developing economies, to spur a diverse and robust network of impact investors, businesses and government policymakers.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific
Vietnam
Finance OfferingEquity
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, Growth Companies
IB TopicsGender
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
Osiris Group
East Asia and Pacific, South Asia

The Osiris Group is a boutique private equity firm scaling innovation in frontier Asian markets. Apart from making equity investments in impact enterprises , the firm also seeds and incubates innovation driven by local entrepreneurs as part of its 'Innovation Lab'.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, South Asia
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeLarge companies, Start-ups
Patamar Capital
East Asia and Pacific, South Asia

Patamar Capital (earlier known as Unitus Impact) provides venture capital investments in high-growth companies aiming to engage the working poor, address market inefficiencies, and maximise social and financial return. The firm typically invests between USD 1 million and USD 2 million.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, South Asia
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount$500,000 - 2M
Exact Amount$1 million - 2 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified