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 254
African–EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP)
Sub-Saharan Africa

The African–EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP) supports the development of markets for renewable energy in Africa by facilitating African and European business cooperation for co-investment, exchange of expertise and technology and promote investment in Africa’s renewable energy markets. RECP provides advisory services and an online database of funding instruments including debt, equity and grant facilities.

Type of OrganisationChallenge Fund/Programme/Facility
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
SectorEnergy
AfricInvest
Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa

AfricInvest manages 16 private equity funds focused on North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa and provides strategic, financial, technical and commercial advice. AfricInvest targets growth-capital investments in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountryMiddle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation 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 StageGrowth Companies
AgDevCo
Sub-Saharan Africa

AgDevCo provides long-term risk capital to help early-stage businesses reach profitability and scale. Investments range from USD 250,000 to USD 10 million. In addition to risk capital, AgDevCo provides management support and expert agronomy advice, and can provide grants to help establish smallholder farmer outgrower schemes.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
Finance OfferingEquity, Debt finance, Grants and awards
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$1 - 10 million
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageEarly Stage
Agri-Vie
Sub-Saharan Africa

Agri-Vie is a private equity investment fund focused on the food and agribusiness value chain. Agri-Vie supports the involvement of in-country entrepreneurs and shareholders in the ownership and management of investee companies. It has an average transaction amount of USD 6 million.

Type of OrganisationPrivate equity fund/ Private equity fund manager/ venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa
Finance OfferingEquity
Amount> $2M
Exact Amount$6 million
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified
Agripreneurs Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa

Agripreneurs Africa provides several services for enterprises. It provides training and support services to smallholder farmers and agribusiness enterprises in the sector. It also offers a customised in-house and field-based training for individuals, staff of NGOs, companies and cooperatives across a range of topics in the agricultural industry. It holds an Agribusiness Model Competition that aims to stimulate agribusiness growth as a means to stem growing unemployment in the country. The main prize to be won is GHS 25,000.

Type of OrganisationConsultancy
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Ghana
Finance OfferingGrants and awards
Amount$0 - 20,000
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeNot specified
AHL Venture Partners
Sub-Saharan Africa

AHL Venture Partners is an impact-focused venture capital firm in Africa. In addition to equity and debt financing, AHL provides services such as training on business model and strategy, impact monitoring and measurement, and links portfolio companies to partners and business opportunities.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
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, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups
Focus StageGrowth Companies
Akirachix
Sub-Saharan Africa

AkiraChix is a not for profit organisation that runs a one-year technical training programme, targeting young women from Nairobi, Kenya. Each year, AkiraChix selects 30 Kenyan women to take part in an intensive course on programming, design and entrepreneurship, delivered by a team of trainers from the technology industry. Throughout the programme, students receive mentorship from leading women in the tech industry, who guide them toward becoming leaders in business and in their communities.

Type of OrganisationAccelerator/Incubator, NGO
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Kenya
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 TypeNot specified
Focus StageEarly Stage
Akvo Foundation
Global

We believe in equal access to public services, reliable infrastructure and a safer environment for everyone. We are convinced that this will happen faster if governments and non-governmental organisations become more effective, accountable and collaborative.

Since 2008, we’ve worked with over 20 governments and 200 organisations in more than 70 countries to improve the way they implement development projects and make decisions using data. We call them partners.

With our combination of tools, services, local expertise and sector knowledge, our partners improve the management of water, sanitation and agriculture, with a strong commitment to accelerating the progress of the sustainable development goals.

Having the right knowledge and resources to effectively collaborate can be a challenge. Good data is critical for contributing to impact, and the right skills and tools are essential for data-driven decision making.

So how do you ensure success, from designing and implementing your programme to creating sustainable change?

We provide a series of services to ensure you succeed at every step of your programme. We support these services with our open source data platform to help you capture, clean, visualise and share your data in the best way possible.

Type of OrganisationFoundation
Region/CountryGlobal
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingInformation sharing, resources and publications, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Alitheia Capital
Sub-Saharan Africa

Alitheia Capital offers financial and non-financial support to businesses contributing to the economic and social development of West Africa, mainly Nigeria.

Type of OrganisationImpact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Nigeria
Finance OfferingEquity
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeNot specified
Focus StageEarly Stage
IB TopicsInnovation
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Sub-Saharan Africa

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is an independent organisation that develops and delivers uniquely African solutions to smallholder farmers. AGRA's collaborators include farmer organisations, community leaders, agricultural researchers, national and local governments, businesses, civil society groups, philanthropists, international organisations, and donor countries. AGRA is supported by private foundations, international development agencies, and African governments.

Type of OrganisationChallenge Fund/Programme/Facility, NGO
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Finance OfferingDebt finance
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingOne-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services, Training, and other classroom based support (online/offline)
Focus TypeStart-ups
IB TopicsGender