Ground Squirrel Ventures

Operator of a loan comparison platform intended to make financial decisions by creating transparency and equal access to financial and insurance product information. The company's platform aggregates and reviews financial products from established financial institutions, enabling customers to get a simple, fast and transparent way for users in Kenya to search and compare financial and insurance products.

Twende connect people traveling in the same direction - drivers offer the empty seats in their car to other travelers going the same way.

OZÉ, Inc. is a Ghana-based company founded in 2016 that provides an Android application designed for small businesses to manage their finances effectively. The OZÉ app allows users to track sales, expenses, and customer information, offering tailored recommendations and reports based on the analyzed data. It also provides business education and access to support through OZÉ Coaches. By leveraging machine learning, OZÉ can assess credit risk and connect businesses with affordable capital from banking partners. With over 20,000 registered users, OZÉ has established itself as the largest online community of small and medium enterprises in Ghana. The platform has demonstrated significant success, with 97% of businesses using OZÉ for at least nine months reporting growth or profitability.

4G Capital is a financial services provider based in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on delivering credit and financial literacy training to micro-enterprises in Africa. Established in 2013, the company specializes in offering unsecured loans to self-employed traders in low-income informal markets, including agriculture and household goods. By utilizing proprietary machine learning technology, 4G Capital generates insights from traditionally underrepresented sectors, enabling the design of tailored credit products that align with clients' business needs and financial capabilities. Clients benefit from both micro-loans and a customized training program aimed at maximizing their earnings. With loans accessible via mobile money within minutes, 4G Capital addresses the significant finance gap affecting micro and small enterprises, which contribute over 30% to Kenya's GDP. The company has achieved impressive metrics, including a collection rate exceeding 94% and a substantial impact on client revenues, particularly among women and rural entrepreneurs. With operations expanding in Uganda and plans for further growth across Africa, 4G Capital aims to enhance financial inclusion and support sustainable business development in the region.

Carry1st is a prominent mobile games publisher based in New York, focused on the African market. Founded in 2018, the company develops and distributes interactive mobile applications tailored to the preferences of African consumers, particularly the youth. Its portfolio includes popular titles such as Carry1st Trivia and Hyper! games. By bridging the gap between global gaming trends and local demands, Carry1st aims to enhance the gaming experience in Africa while also introducing African games to a broader audience.

Sigora Home is a prominent solar company that specializes in providing advanced solar technology and energy efficiency solutions. The company designs and manufactures solar panels that facilitate access to clean and reliable energy at competitive prices. These panels are capable of generating electricity and providing heat and hot water for both residential and commercial applications. In addition to manufacturing, Sigora Home engages in the installation of solar panels for homes, businesses, and communities, empowering users to harness solar energy effectively.

Bluefield Technologies Inc. specializes in developing microsatellite sensors that monitor methane emissions globally. The company utilizes a combination of backpack-sized satellites and artificial intelligence imaging to detect and analyze methane leaks, providing real-time data to various industries, including oil and gas, environmental regulation, and intelligence. Its platform offers subscription-based access to alerts and analytics, assisting clients in tracking climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Founded in 2017 and based in Palo Alto, California, Bluefield aims to enhance emissions monitoring and contribute to environmental sustainability.

10Power provides renewable energy internationally to communities that lack access to electricity through project development and finance.

Community Investment Management LLC is a principal investment firm based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in providing responsible financing to small businesses in the United States. Established in 2012, the firm focuses on the fintech sector, particularly within marketplace lending. It partners with a select group of technology-driven lenders to offer bankruptcy-remote debt financing, aimed at benefiting small businesses and underserved borrowers. Community Investment Management emphasizes innovation and values in its operations, striving to align the interests of small business borrowers with those of investors. The firm aims to create a diversified short-duration portfolio of marketplace loans, contributing to the growth and sustainability of the small business ecosystem.

Etho Capital is an investment strategy management firm established by Conor Platt and Ian Monroe. The company focuses on helping investors align their portfolios with their values while minimizing risks and improving financial returns. Etho Capital employs strategies based on a public equity index, emphasizing efficient investment management that prioritizes innovation, diversification, and strong environmental, social, and governance sustainability. By offering these services, Etho Capital enables investors to achieve both their financial goals and their commitment to responsible investing.

Operator of a worker-owned cooperative brewery and pub intended to make beers. The company's brewery operates a traditional public house with the atmosphere and camaraderie of a local neighborhood pub mixed with an old-world beer hall, enabling customers to access quality beers, food, live music, and movie screenings at affordable rates.

Distributor and wholesaler of Madagascar vanilla and spices intended to offer organic products through sustainable agricultural practices. The company supports local farmer cooperatives by selling their products through a variety of market channels and training them on business skills and environmental conservation strategies, enabling retail and industry customers to make positive impacts through their purchasing decisions by supporting direct-trade practices with small producers in rural Madagascar.

DO4Africa operates a collaborative platform focused on identifying and listing digital projects across Africa. The company specializes in the aggregation and dissemination of up-to-date data on technical and social innovations. By promoting open datasets, DO4Africa aims to facilitate the sharing of information, thereby enabling businesses to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. Through its platform, it seeks to enhance visibility and collaboration among stakeholders involved in digital development, ultimately contributing to the growth of the digital economy in the region.

Versara is a provider of small loans and advances to individuals and small businesses. Using mobile technology and a wide distribution network, Versara promises a fast and convenient process for accessing loans and cash advances. Versara gives you a peace of mind, knowing that you can get cash anytime you need it for Emergencies, Unplanned and Unexpected events, or for taking advantage of an opportunity that comes your way.

CleanCapital is a financial technology company based in New York that facilitates investments in clean energy. It provides a platform for accredited investors, including institutional investors and family offices, to invest in secure and diversified renewable energy projects. The company manages infrastructure funds that focus on impact investments in energy and infrastructure. Investors can track their investments in real-time through CleanCapital's online platform, enhancing transparency and engagement in the clean energy sector.

Developer of business management technology system designed to offer point-of-sale software. The company's system includes the development of inventory management software, keeping track of credit customers, offering discounts, adding new stock, saving transactions to process late, and also offers IT-related consulting services for promotion of optimum performance, enabling SME-owners and NGOs to operate efficiently and profitably.

Outsource Now helps businesses and NGOs manage their technology needs by providing business management software and IT support.

Musanga is a logistics company based in Lusaka, Zambia, that addresses the significant transport challenges in Africa, estimated to be worth $140 billion. By utilizing an on-demand delivery application, Musanga connects shippers with local couriers in real time, facilitating the swift movement of goods throughout the city. This platform serves both small retail stores and larger businesses, enabling efficient deliveries of various products, including fast-moving consumer goods and essential medicines. Through its innovative approach, Musanga is enhancing logistics efficiency across different industries and contributing to the improvement of supply chain operations in the region.

ConnectDER LLC specializes in designing and manufacturing solutions that facilitate the connection of grid-ready distributed energy resources, particularly solar photovoltaic systems. The company creates a connection point that installs between residential electric meters and meter sockets, enhancing the integration of renewable energy. Additionally, ConnectDER offers a cloud-based platform that allows fleet operators to access metering and operational data, as well as manage the commissioning and decommissioning of ConnectDER units, including firmware updates. Founded in 2011 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ConnectDER was previously known as Infinite Invention LLC before rebranding in 2015. The company aims to provide effective solutions to complex challenges in the power and water sectors.

Sigora is a provider of utility-management systems engineered for frontier markets. For established urban grid utilities and rural micro-grid developers, Sigora’s platform transforms energy access into bankable business. Leveraging specialized hardware, web-managed software, and simple payment solutions, the company's platform streamlines bill collection, reduces revenue losses, deters energy theft, and increases operational efficiency for energy providers operating in emerging markets. It’s easy to oversimplify the capabilities of a simple electric meter, but in reality Sigora’s meter is offering the “operating system” for financeable micro-utility business models. Sigora was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

OffGridBox is a company that delivers renewable energy and clean water solutions in remote and underserved regions. The OffGridBox™ is a compact, all-in-one system housed within a shipping container measuring 6x6x6 feet, designed to produce electricity and purify water using solar energy. This innovative technology aims to address the needs of over 2 billion people globally who lack access to reliable energy and safe drinking water. Each unit can significantly impact local communities; for example, a single unit operated by a women’s cooperative in Rwanda can serve up to 300 families, providing essential electricity and sterilized water. OffGridBox has deployed 38 units across nine countries, including Italy, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, the Philippines, Madagascar, the United States, and Colombia, catering to various sectors such as humanitarian aid, household retail, and industry services. These units have collectively operated for over 400,000 hours, promoting sustainable living and improving the quality of life in the areas they serve.