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 1 - 10 of 26
Impact Latam
Latin America and the Caribbean

Impact Latam promotes ventures and companies with an economic, social and ecological impact. They accompany companies, investors and organizations in their transition to economic, social and environmental impact.

Type of OrganisationAcademia
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeSmall and growing businesses, Start-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
MOSS Consultants & Capital
East Asia and Pacific, South Asia

MOSS maximizes the socio-ecological impact of social enterprises in emerging markets by making cutting-edge scientific knowledge accessible through practical tools, workshops, and mentorship programs that help tackle the root causes of societal problems.

Type of OrganisationConsultancy
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, South Asia
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeSmall and growing businesses, Start-ups, NGOs/Non-profits, Investment funds
Focus StageStart-up, Early Stage, Growth Companies, Mature

Asper is a market systems and inclusive business development consultancy providing bespoke research, design and delivery services to private companies, NGOs and Governments in Myanmar. Asper has been operating in Myanmar since 2014. Asper’s vision is to unlock the potential of poor workers, producers and consumers, as well as businesses and governments, to bring about positive and sustainable changes in their behaviors, and to transform market systems. Our mission is to provide client-oriented solutions to shape their strategic plans using innovative, inclusive and evidence based approaches to generate social, financial and environmental return on their investment.

Type of OrganisationConsultancy
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingEquity, Not specified
Amount$0 - 20,000
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeLarge companies, Small and growing businesses, Start-ups, NGOs/Non-profits, Investment funds
Focus StageStart-up, Early Stage, Growth Companies, Mature
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
Ashoka
Global

<p>Ashoka is a network of social entrepreneurs with more than 3,000 fellows in 93 countries. Ashoka provides start-up financing, professional support services, and connections to its global network across business and social sectors.</p>

Type of OrganisationNetwork/ Business association/ membership organisation/ knowledge platform, NGO
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingGrants and awards
Exact Amount
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, NGOs/Non-profits
IB TopicsInnovation, Youth
Atma
South Asia

<p>Atma is an accelerator for NGOs and social enterprises working in the education sector in India, with the vision to make quality education accessible to all children. Through its Accelerator Programme, Atma builds the capacity of NGOs and social enterprises with 1,200 hours of support, a partnership manager and three skilled volunteers per year. Organisations selected for the Accelerator Programme receive three years of consultancy support in 10 organisational development areas, including administration, finance, fundraising, monitoring &amp; evaluation, human resources, governance, leadership, strategy, development, programmes and marketing, as well as linkages to potential funders. To further enhance their operational capabilities Atma also conducts one-off trainings and workshops in various areas.</p>

Type of OrganisationAccelerator/Incubator
Region/CountrySouth Asia
India
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeNGOs/Non-profits
SectorEducation
IB TopicsYouth
Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)
Sub-Saharan Africa

The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi) supports Uganda's agribusiness development in the private sector by providing financing and technical support. The aBi Trust supports Farmer Organisations, NGOs, small and medium-sized enterprises in interventions that promote agribusiness development. aBi Finance provides lines of credit, agribusiness loan guarantees and a construction guarantee fund to agricultural based small and medium-sized enterprises.

Type of OrganisationChallenge Fund/Programme/Facility, Govt/Donor/State-owned enterprises
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Uganda
Finance OfferingDebt finance, Grants and awards, Guarantees
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingPartnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
IB TopicsGender
@iBizAfrica Strathmore
Sub-Saharan Africa

@iBizAfrica&nbsp;is a business incubator operating within @iLabAfrica, a Centre of Excellence in ICT innovation and Development at Kenya's Strathmore University. @iBizAfrica provides early stage digital startups with one-on-one mentoring, seed capital, legal advice, financial expertise, relevant training and physical resources. Tech entrepreneurs and startups at @iBizAfrica receive work space, linkages to similar international programmes, access to networking events and opportunities to pitch to investors, including venture capitalists, angel investors, private equity groups and banks.

Type of OrganisationAcademia, Accelerator/Incubator
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Kenya
Finance OfferingNot specified
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingAdvocacy, 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, NGOs/Non-profits
IB TopicsYouth
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
Dasra Social Fund
South Asia

Dasra is a social impact investor in India which builds the institutional capacity of its grantees in areas such as fundraising, communications, leadership, talent management and sustainability. Support is provided in a range of formats, such as sector-specific workshops, workshops in functional areas, leadership programmes (in partnership with Harvard Business Publishing) and hands-on consulting.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySouth Asia
India
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
IB TopicsGender