Finnfund

Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Ltd. (Finnfund) is a development finance company based in Helsinki, Finland, that specializes in providing long-term risk capital for private projects primarily in developing countries and transition economies. Established in 1980, Finnfund focuses on direct investments in small and medium enterprises, offering equity capital, mezzanine financing, and investment loans, typically ranging from EUR 1 million to EUR 10 million. The firm actively seeks to co-invest with Finnish companies and supports ventures utilizing Finnish technology, while also prioritizing projects that generate significant environmental or social benefits. Finnfund strategically avoids investments in sectors such as weapons production, gambling, and activities involving forced or child labor, adhering to strict ethical guidelines. Its investment areas include agribusiness, cleantech, renewable energy, health services, and infrastructure, with a particular interest in countries such as China, Bangladesh, and various African nations. Finnfund aims to contribute to sustainable development by financing projects that align with Finland’s development cooperation objectives.

Jussi Ahonen

Senior Investment Manager

Helena Arlander

Deputy CEO

Arnaud Defrance

Investment Manager

Jaakko Kangasniemi

Managing Director, CEO

Kuutti Kilpeläinen

Investment Manager

Mikko Kuuskoski

Associate Director

Noah Law

Investment Manager

Minnamari Marttila

Director of Administration

Jari Matero

Associate Director

Ari Nironen

Senior Investment Manager

Ilkka Norjamäki

Senior Investment Manager

Markus Pentikäinen

Investment Manager

Markus Pietikäinen

CIO

Johanna Raehalme

Investment Manager

Pasi Rajala

Director of Communications

Ulla-Maija Rantapuska

Investment Manager

Paula Saarinen

Senior Investment Manager

Niklas Simola

Investment Associate

Olli Sinnemaa

CFO

Tuomas Suurpää

Senior Investment Manager

Helena Teppana

Associate Director

Antti Urvas

Associate Director

Past deals in Nigeria

d.light

Venture Round in 2022
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.

Advans Group

Debt Financing in 2021
Advans Group is an international microfinance organization established in August 2005 and headquartered in Luxembourg. As the venture capital investment arm of Horus Development Finance, it specializes in providing equity, loans, and guarantees primarily to microfinance institutions across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Advans Group aims to strengthen local businesses, enhance job creation, and improve living standards, thereby promoting private sector-led economic and social development in these regions. One of its subsidiaries, Advans Tunisie, focuses on offering microfinance and credit solutions tailored for retailers, wholesalers, artisans, small industries, services, and small-scale farmers in Tunisia. As a majority shareholder in its investments, Advans Group typically assumes a lead role in the microfinance institutions it supports.

Starsight Energy

Debt Financing in 2021
Starsight Energy provides premier clean on-grid and off-grid energy services to commercial and industrial clients in Africa. We make clean energy a smart bottom-line decision for clients by eliminating all up-front costs. Clients pay an all-inclusive monthly fee for end-to-end service.

Starsight Energy

Debt Financing in 2020
Starsight Energy provides premier clean on-grid and off-grid energy services to commercial and industrial clients in Africa. We make clean energy a smart bottom-line decision for clients by eliminating all up-front costs. Clients pay an all-inclusive monthly fee for end-to-end service.

ETG

Debt Financing in 2020
ETG, established in 1967, is one of the largest and fastest growing integrated agricultural conglomerates in sub-Saharan Africa, importing and exporting soft commodities to and from 48 countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa. It also has supply chain operations in China, India, America, Middle East, and South East Asia; merchandising desks in Europe, and; treasury companies in Singapore, Mauritius and UAE. Globally, ETG is present across 48 countries. ETG runs its business under five business verticals: 1. Fertilizer and Farm Inputs: ETG is one of the largest importers and distributors of fertilizers and farm inputs in sub-saharan africa 2. Cash traded products: Pulses, Sesame seed, Cashew and Rice are key commodities in this vertical. ETG is the world largest trader and processor of Pulses as well as world largest trader for raw cashew nuts. 3. Exchange traded commodities: Grains & oilseeds, sugar, coffee, cocoa, maize and soybean are key products in this segment. ETG is one of the major players for maize and soybean in sub-shara africa 4. Consumer Branded (Vamara): ETG operates multiple processing plants across 14 countries to manufacture products that are targeted to African consumers. ETG has 22 brands in its portfolio that offers products from vegetable cooking oil, condiments, and spreads, etc. 5. Logistics: ETG operates a very successful and integrated Logistics platform. ETG has a network of more than 400+ warehouses across 32 countries and a fleet of more than 900 trucks. ETG provided end-to-end Logistics services across sub-Sahara Africa.

Starsight Energy

Debt Financing in 2019
Starsight Energy provides premier clean on-grid and off-grid energy services to commercial and industrial clients in Africa. We make clean energy a smart bottom-line decision for clients by eliminating all up-front costs. Clients pay an all-inclusive monthly fee for end-to-end service.

Access Bank

Post in 2019
Access Bank provides banking products and services to individual and business customers in Ghana. It offers standard savings and current, access advantage, solo, and premier accounts. The company also provides online banking services that include ATM, online access, and point-of-sale terminal services; and bills payment and Western Union money transfer services.