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

Amount of financial support

Stage of org. Focus

Intermediary Database

Displaying 1 - 9 of 9
@iBizAfrica Strathmore
Sub-Saharan Africa

@iBizAfrica 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
BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt
Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt promotes responsible leadership and inspires leaders from around the world to work for a peaceful, fair, sustainable future. Guided by the key concepts of governance, innovation, and intersectoral associations, they focus on Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 10 (Reducing Inequality), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda constitute the reference framework of their venture philanthropy and impact investments.

Type of OrganisationFoundation
Region/CountryLatin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Tunisia
Finance OfferingNot specified
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingFellowship, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support
Focus TypeNot specified
IB TopicsSDGs
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
Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT)
Sub-Saharan Africa

The Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT) provides loans, guarantees and grants to financial service providers. FSDT seeks to facilitate financial services focussing on agricultural and rural finance, digital finance, small and medium-sized enterprise finance and insurance.

Type of OrganisationGovt/Donor/State-owned enterprises, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund, NGO
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
Tanzania
Finance OfferingDebt finance, Grants and awards, Guarantees
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingAdvocacy, Information sharing, resources and publications, Mentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeNot specified
IB TopicsInnovation
Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP)
Sub-Saharan Africa

Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) is a government agency providing financial and non-financial support to small, medium and micro enterprises and co-operatives. It's mandate is to focus on the region of Guateng. In case of financial support, it runs various programmes such as start-up finance, contract finance, franchise finance, and growth and expansion finance among others.

Type of OrganisationGovt/Donor/State-owned enterprises, Impact investment fund/ impact investment fund manager/ impact focused venture capital fund
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
South Africa
Finance OfferingDebt finance, Guarantees
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
IB TopicsInnovation
Media Development Investment Fund
Global

Media Development Investment Fund provides subsidised loans, equity investments, loan guarantees and technical assistance grants to independent media enterprises. It invests in independent media companies in a range of countries where access to free and independent media is under threat. Clients are selected based on three broad criteria: mission impact in relation to investment; potential for long-term viability; editorial integrity.

Type of OrganisationImpact 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 OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Oikocredit International
Sub-Saharan Africa

Oikocredit invests in and provides technical assistance to microfinance institutions, social cooperatives, non-banking financial institutions and small and medium sized enterprises, especially in the agriculture and renewable energy sector. It's core investment criteria includes: - Projects and enterprises that create jobs and income for disadvantaged, financially-excluded people.- Projects where women are influential in management and/or implementation.- Projects that are responsible in terms of their environmental impact.- Projects that are financially sustainable, or can soon become so, and have suitable management in place.

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, Guarantees
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, Partnership brokering, investment facilitation, networking
Focus TypeStart-ups
Thundafund
Sub-Saharan Africa

Thundafund is a South African online crowdfunding platform for creatives and innovators and provides business and mentorship support services. Through the platform, entrepreneurs can raise capital and get support through the process of crowdfunding.

Type of OrganisationNetwork/ Business association/ membership organisation/ knowledge platform
Region/CountrySub-Saharan Africa
South Africa
Finance OfferingNot specified
Exact Amount
Technical Support OfferingMentoring, Talent Placement, Network-based support, One-to-one advisory support, Consulting Services
Focus TypeStart-ups, NGOs/Non-profits
Focus StageEarly Stage
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