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 - 20 of 33
Flint Atlantic
Sub-Saharan Africa

Flint Atlantic is an impact investment firm that uses patient capital in the form of grants, debt and equity. The preferred investee is focused on improving the access to and quality of healthcare services, particularly for underserved populations. Investments range between USD 3 million to USD 5 million.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$3 - 5 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
SectorHealth
Gray Ghost Ventures (GGV)
Global

Gray Ghost Ventures is a venture capital firm specialising in fund of fund investments and direct investments in the fintech sector. For direct investments, the firm invests in incubation, early stage, seed/start-up, and growth capital. The firm’s focus areas include: microfinance, social venture investment, and affordable private schools in low-income communities of emerging markets. It also invests in early-stage enterprises providing catalytic innovation and technologies which includes information, communication and technology (ICT). It makes investments between USD 1 million and USD 5 million.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryGlobal
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$1 - 5 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage, Growth Companies
IB TopicsInnovation
Knife Capital
Sub-Saharan Africa

Knife Capital is a South African venture capital investment and scale-up advisory firm investing in innovation-driven ventures. Knife Capital manages HBD Venture Capital's portfolio of investments, invests via KNF Ventures in small and medium-sized enterprises and provides an entrepreneurship development programme. It typically makes investments of up to USD 5 million. It also runs an accelerator called Grindstone to provide business advisory services.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
South Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$5 million
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 TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
IB TopicsInnovation
Lafise Investment Management
Latin America and the Caribbean

Lafise Investment Management manages several private equity funds in Latin America and invests in small and medium-sized companies. The minimum investment size amounts to USD 2 million. Eligible companies have to be operating for at least a year with revenues of more than USD 3 million.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean
Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact AmountMinimum $2 million
Focus TypeLarge companies
Focus StageGrowth Companies
LeapFrog
East Asia and Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa

LeapFrog supports financial services businesses with investments ranging between USD 10 million and USD 50 million and aims to exit the investment via IPO, trade sale, a sale back to a partner, or a management buyout. LeapFrog also provides technical support in strategy and governance, product, pricing and revenue, sales and distribution, core operations, human resources and talent management, technology and data, and measurement.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountryEast Asia and Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$10 - 50 million
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeNot specified
Focus StageGrowth Companies
IB TopicsGender
Lok Capital
South Asia

Lok Capital partners with entrepreneurs and companies across different sectors in India and provides finance, technical assistance and fellowships. Lok's main focus is on financial inclusion but it also supports microfinance institutions, affordable housing, small and medium enterprise financing and growth stage companies in financial services, healthcare, agriculture and livelihood. It seeks to invest between USD1 million and USD7 million.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySouth Asia
India
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$1 - 7 million
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeStart-ups
IB TopicsInnovation
ManoCap
Sub-Saharan Africa

ManoCap is a private investment firm that makes debt and equity investments in small and medium-sized enterprises in West Africa. Investment size ranges between USD 500,000 and USD 5 million and is provided to high-growth companies that provide goods and services to the poorest people. ESG considerations are an important part of its investment criteria.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$500,000 - 5 million
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Metier
Sub-Saharan Africa

Metier is a private equity firm specializing in investments in middle market, emerging growth and growth capital investments. The firm does not invest in seed, start-up, and early stage. It seeks to make an equity investment between USD3 million and USD100 million in its companies. The firm seeks to acquire controlling or significant minority positions in its portfolio companies. It takes substantial equity positions between 20 percent and 60 percent.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
South Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$3 - 100,000 million
Focus TypeLarge companies, Start-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
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
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