Swedfund

Swedfund International AB is a government-owned investment firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1979. The firm specializes in direct and fund of fund investments, focusing on emerging markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Swedfund does not invest in Swedish businesses or in sectors such as weapons, tobacco, or alcohol. It seeks to provide risk capital through various financial instruments, typically investing between SEK 5 million and SEK 100 million. The firm targets seed, start-ups, and mid to late-stage ventures, often taking a minority stake in its portfolio companies while ensuring its investments do not exceed one-third of the total investment. Swedfund aims for an exit within five to ten years and actively participates in the governance of its investments by taking a Board seat and engaging in investment committees. With an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Swedfund is dedicated to fostering sustainable development through responsible investment.

Staffan Ahl

Director, Swedpartnership

Björn Areskog

Investment Manager

Jonas Armtoft

Senior Investment Manager of Financial Institutions and Funds

Erik Bratsberg

Investment Manager

Anders Craft

Senior Investment Manager

Sunay Gupta

Investment Manager

Peter Hallbom

Investment Manager

Sandra Heidmann

Investment Manager

Maria Håkansson

Managing Director

Lotta Jarleryd

Chief Financial Officer

Jonas Kolijn

Investment Manager

Karin Kronhöffer

Director Strategy and Communication

Jakob Larsson

Investment Manager

Fredrik Linton

Director of Investment Operations and ESG

Helene Lundkvist

Director of Finance and Administration

Jane Niedra

Head of Financial Inclusion

Gunilla Nilsson

Senior Investment Manager

Audrey Obara

Senior Investment Manager

Johan Selander

CFO

Martin Stenlund

Investment Manager

Gerth Svensson

Acting CEO

Elin Thesleff

Investment Manager

Gustav Thorén

Investment Manager

Esther Wachira

Investment Manager

Tomas Wadström

Senior Investment Manager

Fredrik Wijkander

Director of Investment Operations

Markus Wilkens

Senior Investment Manager

9 past transactions

d.light

Venture Round in 2021
d.light is a company that designs, manufactures, and distributes solar lighting and power products, primarily aimed at households and small businesses lacking reliable electricity. Founded in 2007 as a for-profit social enterprise, d.light has developed a range of products, including solar lanterns, home systems, and various appliances, to serve over 2 billion people globally. With distribution hubs in East and West Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and the United States, the company has reached over 65 million individuals, providing affordable and accessible solar solutions. d.light is committed to transforming energy usage and payment methods, enhancing the quality of life for users in rural and semi-urban areas through its innovative solar-powered products. The company operates from its headquarters in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in key locations such as Shenzhen, China; Gurgaon, India; Nairobi, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; and Lagos, Nigeria.

CreditAccess Grameen

Debt Financing in 2021
CreditAccess Grameen provides micro financial products and services for women from rural poor and low income households in India. It offers microcredit loans for income generation, family welfare, emergency, and home improvement, as well as micro insurance services covering life insurance, health insurance, and national pension scheme. CreditAccess Grameen also provides non-financial services, such as enterprise development, financial literacy promotion, basic health/nutrition education, basic medical services, special medical services for women and children, and training for women and women's rights/gender issues education. Vinatha M. Reddy founded Grameen Koota Financial Services in 1999. It became CreditAccess Grameen in January 2018, with its headquarters in Bengaluru in India.

Kasha

Venture Round in 2020
Kasha is a platform for women’s health products and information serving women across all socioeconomic levels in urban and rural areas.

d.light

Series E in 2018
d.light is a company that designs, manufactures, and distributes solar lighting and power products, primarily aimed at households and small businesses lacking reliable electricity. Founded in 2007 as a for-profit social enterprise, d.light has developed a range of products, including solar lanterns, home systems, and various appliances, to serve over 2 billion people globally. With distribution hubs in East and West Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and the United States, the company has reached over 65 million individuals, providing affordable and accessible solar solutions. d.light is committed to transforming energy usage and payment methods, enhancing the quality of life for users in rural and semi-urban areas through its innovative solar-powered products. The company operates from its headquarters in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in key locations such as Shenzhen, China; Gurgaon, India; Nairobi, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; and Lagos, Nigeria.

Snapper Hill Clinic

Private Equity Round in 2018
Snapper Hill Clinic is a prominent healthcare provider located in Monrovia, Liberia, and operates the largest private outpatient facility in the capital. It has a historical significance as the only private clinic that remained operational during Liberia’s civil wars, continuing to serve the local population amidst challenging healthcare conditions. The clinic offers a range of services, including general physician diagnoses, referrals, minor surgical procedures, prescriptions, and access to an internal pharmacy and laboratory. By providing these essential clinical services, Snapper Hill Clinic enables patients to receive effective and affordable healthcare within a resource-limited environment.

Husk Power Systems

Series C in 2018
Husk Power Systems Pvt. Ltd. is a renewable energy company based in Patna, India, that focuses on generating and distributing electricity to households, community services, small businesses, and factories. Founded in 2007, the company utilizes biomass waste—such as rice husks and other agricultural residues—to produce electricity through its proprietary technology. Husk Power Systems designs and operates mini-power plants and micro-grids, offering electricity as a pay-for-use service primarily to rural areas. This approach not only provides reliable lighting, reducing reliance on kerosene, but also fosters economic development by enabling microenterprises and the use of electricity-operated machinery. By creating a sustainable energy ecosystem at each power plant, Husk Power Systems aims to deliver shared value to its stakeholders and stimulate local economies.

Ecobank

Debt Financing in 2015
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, established in 1985 and headquartered in Lomé, Togo, is a banking institution that provides a comprehensive range of retail, corporate, and investment banking services across Africa and internationally. The bank operates through three main segments: Corporate & Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Consumer Banking. Its offerings include various account types, personal and asset acquisition loans, mortgages, and payment cards, along with internet and mobile banking services. Additionally, Ecobank provides bancassurance, remittances, foreign exchange, trade finance, and cash management services. The bank serves a diverse clientele, including individuals, multinationals, government agencies, and small to medium-sized enterprises. With a network of 888 branches and over 2,460 ATMs, Ecobank has positioned itself as a key player in the West African banking sector, addressing the needs of a region previously dominated by foreign and state-owned banks.

UAP Group

Venture Round in 2012
UAP Group is a pan-African financial services group with interests in insurance, investment management, property development and investments, securities brokerage and financial advisory. The history of the Group can be traced back by over 90 years while recent expansion and growth in the East African market have made UAP one of the key players in the financial services sector in the region. Currently, the group has businesses operating in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, DRC and Tanzania.