Ground Squirrel Ventures

Untapped Global facilitates data-driven investment opportunities for global investors in high-growth businesses across emerging markets. Its innovative Smart Asset Financing model provides real-time tracking of asset usage and revenue streams, ensuring transparency and profitability. With a presence in San Francisco, Brussels, and Africa, the company aims to create shared prosperity by unlocking economic opportunity in underserved regions.

Necessary Ventures, LLC is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2020. The firm specializes in providing growth capital to early-stage companies across various sectors, including healthcare, climate, education, fintech, food, and agriculture. Necessary Ventures aims to invest in businesses that address critical global needs, partnering closely with founders to develop scalable solutions. The firm predominantly focuses on pre-seed investments but also participates as a non-lead investor across seed to pre-IPO stages.

MindMics is an emerging wearable company developing an in-ear, sound-based health monitoring platform that uses earbuds and hearing aids to measure biometrics in real time, including heartbeat, breathing, circadian rhythms, and body temperature, with the goal of supporting mental performance, focus, mindfulness, and overall well-being.

Africa Eats is a pan-African holding company established in 2020 and headquartered in Bainbridge Island, Washington. The company focuses on high-growth food and agriculture enterprises across the African continent. By targeting native businesses within these sectors, Africa Eats aims to foster sustainable development and contribute to the growth of local economies.

Appload is an online logistics platform that connects logistics providers with customers seeking cargo transport. The platform enables planning, booking, and tracking of shipments within a professional B2B network, delivering a transparent and efficient supply chain. It supports secure scheduling and electronic payments, and facilitates secure shipments through industry partnerships. The solution serves the transportation and logistics sector by creating an integrated network across the supply chain, improving visibility and coordination from origin to destination for clients.

Wunder is a company based in Boulder, Colorado, specializing in financing and developing large-scale solar projects across the United States. Established in 2013, Wunder provides construction and term financing for various commercial solar initiatives, including power purchase agreements, feed-in tariffs, and community solar developments. The company collaborates with solar organizations and financial institutions to facilitate the creation of solar projects for businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, and communities. Additionally, Wunder operates solar investment funds that connect individual and institutional investors with solar projects, leveraging proprietary software to conduct thorough project evaluations. This approach enables accredited investors to build diversified solar portfolios, traditionally accessible only to larger entities.

Fortis Green Renewables Investment Management provides flexible capital to renewable energy assets in Sub-Saharan Africa. The management team has extensive African investment experience: $14 billion across 20 African countries. The company was founded in 2020 and is based in Kigali, Africa.

Desert Bloom is a venture capital firm founded in 2019, with a focus on supporting innovative businesses within the food and beverage industry. Based in New York, it provides consultation services aimed at fostering growth and development in this sector. The firm is dedicated to identifying promising opportunities and assisting companies in navigating the complexities of the food industry, thereby contributing to their success and sustainability.

Rally Cap is a global community of tech folks investing in an exclusive portfolio of top-tier early stage venture funds in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.

Sherpa Africa Partners focuses on early stage tech and tech-enabled startups in Africa providing funding and expertise to scale up business.

Atmos Financial is a startup focused on providing banking services, accepting deposits and extending loans specifically to sectors committed to supporting a clean energy transition. Their mission is to facilitate the shift towards a sustainable economy by enabling depositors to actively contribute to environmental preservation through their financial choices.

Farmstead is an innovative online grocery delivery service that utilizes artificial intelligence to streamline the process of delivering fresh and local food directly to consumers. The company offers a personalized Smart Shopping List feature, which assists users in discovering new recipes and efficiently purchasing their preferred groceries. By employing AI-driven predictive analytics, Farmstead optimizes demand and supply, ensuring that customers receive fresh products conveniently. This approach not only saves users time but also reduces food waste and promotes healthier eating habits, as the company's supply chain emphasizes fresher options compared to traditional supermarket offerings.

Farmland L.P. is a private equity firm focused on transforming conventional farmland into certified organic and sustainably managed agricultural land. Founded in 2009 and based in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Monmouth, Oregon, the firm emphasizes enhancing soil fertility and productivity through science-based practices, including livestock and crop rotations. Currently, Farmland L.P. manages 6,750 acres of farmland in the San Francisco Bay Area and Oregon's Willamette Valley, with over 10% of its acreage certified organic and the remainder in transition. The firm’s approach aims to create a new model for farmland ownership and management, benefiting farmers, investors, the environment, and consumers alike. By demonstrating that sustainable agriculture can be more profitable than traditional commodity farming, Farmland L.P. offers investors a secure stake in the growing organic food markets.

Sunwealth Power is a clean energy investment firm focused on commercial solar. It uses a proprietary methodology to identify high-performance, high-impact solar projects and builds a diversified portfolio of assets that generate returns and clean energy. The company employs a tech-driven investment approach and leverages its experience in solar to support the deployment of solar power for businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations, delivering favorable financial outcomes alongside meaningful environmental impact.

Money254 is an integrated financial services marketplace that operates a loan comparison platform designed to enhance transparency and accessibility in financial decision-making. It aggregates and reviews a wide range of financial and insurance products from established institutions, allowing users in Kenya to efficiently search and compare these offerings. By centralizing financial and insurance services into one database, Money254 aims to simplify the process for customers, facilitating informed choices in a fast and transparent manner.

Twende operates a tech-enabled carpooling platform that connects drivers with empty seats to travelers headed in the same direction. The service enables users to search for or offer trips, book seats, and manage payments while digitizing bookings, dispatch, and transactional processes. It provides a unified solution for individuals and mobility and logistics operators to plan and execute shared trips in a transparent and cost-effective manner.

Terraformation focuses on reforestation and climate restoration. It provides services to accelerate carbon drawdown by supporting forest creation and restoration projects. The company develops climate-controlled seed banks of native species, pursues low-cost solar-powered desalination to address freshwater shortages, and offers open-source landscape monitoring software to help monitor forest health and progress. Through these offerings, Terraformation enables forest developers around the world to restore degraded ecosystems, increase carbon sequestration, and contribute to climate stabilization.

MCJ is a venture capital firm that invests in startups driving the transition of energy and industry towards cleaner, more profitable, and resilient solutions. They back extraordinary founders tackling climate change impacts and connect them with a network of tech and industrial leaders through the MCJ Collective. Additionally, MCJ operates a media platform, including the Inevitable podcast, to spotlight key perspectives in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Catalyst Opportunity Funds is an investment firm focused on Opportunity Zone investments in underserved U.S. markets. The firm targets smaller and mid-sized Opportunity Zone communities with growth potential, aiming to redevelop the built environment, create local jobs, and attract support from public, philanthropic, and nonprofit partners to drive community renewal. Founded in 2019 and based in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, Catalyst Opportunity Funds pursues real estate and business investments across Opportunity Zones in the United States, seeking to deliver both social impact and financial return on investment.

Oze is a technology company focused on bringing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa into the digital age. It offers an application that allows businesses to easily track sales, expenses, and customer information. By analyzing this data, Oze provides tailored recommendations and business education to help entrepreneurs improve their operations. The platform also connects users with Oze Coaches for additional support, enhancing their learning experience. With over 150,000 registered users, Oze claims to be the largest online community of SMEs in West Africa. The company leverages machine learning to assess credit risk, enabling it to offer affordable capital through banking partners. Notably, 97% of businesses that have utilized Oze for at least nine months report growth or profitability, indicating the effectiveness of its services in fostering business success.

4G Capital is a Nairobi-based company founded in 2013, dedicated to providing unsecured credit to small business owners in Africa's informal markets. Focused on supporting micro-enterprises, particularly in low-income sectors, the company offers working capital loans alongside bespoke financial literacy training. Utilizing proprietary machine learning technology, 4G Capital delivers tailored credit products and services to clients, enabling them to leverage micro-loans effectively for sustainable business growth. Loans can be accessed rapidly through mobile money, ensuring a streamlined experience for entrepreneurs who often lack traditional forms of credit due to high collateral demands. With a significant emphasis on supporting female traders, rural businesses, and micro-entrepreneurs in various sectors—including agriculture and trade—4G Capital aims to close the substantial finance gap across Africa. The company has achieved impressive collection rates and has expanded its impact to over one million individuals through ongoing operations in Kenya and Uganda, while continuing to scale its services across the continent.

Dr CADx is an artificial intelligence-based healthcare company founded in 2016 and based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The company specializes in developing a platform that utilizes deep learning algorithms to enhance the accuracy of medical image diagnosis. By employing advanced computer-aided diagnostic systems, Dr CADx assists healthcare professionals in interpreting medical images and recognizing disease patterns more effectively. This innovative approach aims to improve diagnostic precision while reducing costs, ultimately supporting better patient care.

Carry1st is a full-stack publisher of mobile social games and interactive content focused on frontier markets, particularly Africa. Founded in 2018, it handles publishing, distribution, localization, user acquisition, marketing, monetization, and customer experience for partner games, enabling developers to reach new audiences through global studios. The company operates with a global team across multiple countries and collaborates with leading studios to grow its portfolio in untapped markets. It has raised capital from notable investors, including Riot Games and others, to fund growth and partnerships.

GET IT is providing produce and dry goods delivery services, including cold storage, beginning with hotels and restaurants. Through its focus on systems, training and superior execution, GET IT seeks to solve the deficiency of cold storage and logistics services in Rwanda and beyond. The company sources produce directly from farmers, cutting out several middlemen who add little value, providing higher quality products at lower cost. GET IT is also introducing new, high demand products to the East African market.

Brio Systems provides a turnkey COVID-19 testing platform for employers, linking laboratories and medical suppliers with workplaces to enable on-site testing. Its platform supports PCR and antibody testing conducted by FDA-certified laboratories, manages logistics for kit distribution and test requisitioning, provides medical oversight, and delivers digital results within about three days of collection. It serves customers across manufacturing, food processing, and other industries, offering a scalable solution that can support up to 50,000 tests daily. Founded in 2017 and based in Boston, Brio Systems focuses on helping employers maintain workforce safety and business continuity through data-driven testing programs.

4G Capital is a Nairobi-based company founded in 2013, dedicated to providing unsecured credit to small business owners in Africa's informal markets. Focused on supporting micro-enterprises, particularly in low-income sectors, the company offers working capital loans alongside bespoke financial literacy training. Utilizing proprietary machine learning technology, 4G Capital delivers tailored credit products and services to clients, enabling them to leverage micro-loans effectively for sustainable business growth. Loans can be accessed rapidly through mobile money, ensuring a streamlined experience for entrepreneurs who often lack traditional forms of credit due to high collateral demands. With a significant emphasis on supporting female traders, rural businesses, and micro-entrepreneurs in various sectors—including agriculture and trade—4G Capital aims to close the substantial finance gap across Africa. The company has achieved impressive collection rates and has expanded its impact to over one million individuals through ongoing operations in Kenya and Uganda, while continuing to scale its services across the continent.

SFR3 is a real estate agency focused on acquiring, renovating, and renting single-family homes. The company identifies properties that require renovation and transforms them into affordable rental units, aiming to make housing more accessible. Through its platform, SFR3 facilitates the connection between individuals seeking affordable housing and the renovated properties, streamlining the process of finding suitable homes for potential renters.

Sigora Home is a prominent solar company focused on delivering innovative solar and energy efficiency solutions. The company manufactures solar panels that are designed to provide access to clean and reliable energy at an equitable price. Its offerings include photovoltaic panels that generate electricity from sunlight and systems that supply heat and hot water for domestic or commercial use. In addition to manufacturing, Sigora Home specializes in the installation of solar panels for residential, commercial, and community applications, enabling users to harness solar energy effectively.

Linger provides home textiles directly to the consumer. They partner with factories around the world to craft inspirational designs through a transparent and sustainable supply chain.

MyPerfectStitch manufactures an array of stylish and desirable boutique items that embraces Zambian fashion and modern needs.

Kakbima is an insurtech company that provides a software-as-a-service platform for insurance management and distribution. The platform tracks policies, claims, and premiums for both conventional and micro-insurance, and connects insurers, distribution partners, and customers to facilitate buying, managing, and selling insurance. It supports flexible product development and distribution channels, enables quote generation, and offers real-time risk analytics. The solution serves individuals, agents, brokers, micro-insurers, and insurers, expanding coverage and accessibility of insurance worldwide. Kakbima is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

GladeFinance is a company focused on accelerating the growth of merchants and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing digital financial solutions aimed at fostering financial inclusion. It has developed a payment platform that facilitates seamless and secure transactions between customers and businesses. This platform offers a robust financial technology infrastructure designed to enhance secure transaction processing across Africa, enabling businesses to access hassle-free digital payment services. By prioritizing security and efficiency, GladeFinance supports the digital transformation of commerce in the region.

Founded in 2014, Akido Labs develops a platform that integrates software with hospital health record systems. Its solutions handle HL7 integration, ETL, lab systems, and other health system data sources, providing API documentation, client libraries, and support services.

Copia PBC operates an innovative online platform that connects businesses with surplus food to individuals and organizations in need. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, the company addresses food waste by matching donors, such as restaurants, markets, and caterers, with local shelters, food banks, and human service organizations in real time. The platform facilitates the efficient donation of prepared and perishable food, allowing businesses to request pickups and ensure timely delivery to those who require assistance. By utilizing data and analytics, Copia helps its partners reduce food waste, achieve tax benefits, and contribute to environmental sustainability through decreased carbon emissions. The company's services are available in various cities, including Mountain View, San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Oakland, effectively tackling the logistical challenges associated with food distribution.

Trove Technologies Limited operates an online platform designed to facilitate investment in a range of securities, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and cryptocurrencies. Based in Lekki, Nigeria, Trove aims to simplify the investment process for beginners by providing an accessible application that allows users to easily find and select investment opportunities. The platform features a user-friendly KYC process, brokerage services, and a personalized news feed related to the assets traded. Trove enables investors to participate in both local and international markets, offering access to Nigerian stocks, government bonds, and a selection of cryptocurrency assets. Through its seamless approach to micro-investing, Trove empowers users to engage with the financial markets with ease.

Bluefield Technologies Inc. is a technology company based in Palo Alto, California, established in 2017, that specializes in developing microsatellite sensors for monitoring methane emissions. The company offers advanced remote sensing technology that utilizes artificial intelligence imaging and analysis to deliver precise, continuous detection of methane leaks. Bluefield's platform enables users, including those in the oil and gas sector, as well as regulatory and environmental organizations, to track emissions and monitor climate change effectively. Its innovative approach involves using compact, backpack-sized satellites to capture comprehensive data on methane emissions globally, providing critical alerts and analytics to assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Community Investment Management LLC is a principal investment firm based in San Francisco, California, specializing in financing small businesses in the United States. Established in 2012, the firm focuses on marketplace lending and works in partnership with technology-driven lenders to provide responsible and transparent financing solutions. Community Investment Management aims to support innovative fintech through bankruptcy-remote debt financing, ultimately benefiting small businesses and underserved borrowers. The firm's investment strategy involves creating a diversified short-duration portfolio of marketplace loans originated by financial technology companies, aligning the interests of small business borrowers with those of investors.

10Power is a social enterprise focused on developing and financing commercial-scale solar projects, primarily targeting communities that lack access to electricity. By providing renewable energy solutions, the company aims to address critical issues such as clean water access, gender empowerment, livelihood improvement, education, and technology advancement. Through its financial platform, 10Power enables clients to implement sustainable innovations that foster regenerative international development, thereby reinvesting its revenue to enhance its social impact.

Kwara GmbH is a technology company that specializes in developing a digital banking platform tailored for savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs). Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwara aims to modernize credit unions by providing a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The platform facilitates loan application servicing and approval for members, while also offering integration services, customer support, real-time financial tracking, and compliance assistance. Kwara's offerings include Kwara Pronto, a tool for managing loans. Currently, the company serves over 200 SACCOs across Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines, enabling these financial institutions to enhance their operations and improve access to formal financial services.

Virunga Power is an electric utility company that develops, invests, and operates of renewable power projects and rural distribution grids. Their focus is on megawatt-scale rural utility projects across several countries in East Africa and beyond with a goal of bringing high-quality, low-cost power to rural communities that currently lack reliable access to modern energy. They engage local and regional stakeholders to tailor renewable power solutions to match local needs and resources. The company's mission is to build the leading rural utility company in sub-Saharan Africa and to continuously strive to bring the full benefits of electrification to new rural communities and consumers in a sustainable manner. It provides clean electricity to communities living in and around Virunga National Park in North Kivu, Eastern Congo.

Majika offers solutions to enable rural communities to access to electricity.

Founded in 2014 by Conor Platt and Ian Monroe, Etho Capital develops an investment strategy management platform. This platform enables investors to align their values with their portfolios while mitigating risks and enhancing financial returns. The company's strategies are based on a public equity index that focuses on efficiency, innovation, diversification, and environmental, social, and governance sustainability.

Goat 'n Chips offers a wide variety of freshly prepared and delicious food

Democracy Brewing is a worker-owned cooperative brewery and pub dedicated to producing quality beers while fostering community engagement. It operates a traditional public house that combines the warmth of a neighborhood gathering place with the ambiance of an old-world beer hall. The establishment offers a diverse selection of beers, complemented by food, live music, and movie screenings, all aimed at providing an enjoyable and accessible experience for its patrons. Through its commitment to both craft brewing and community support, Democracy Brewing emphasizes a collaborative and inclusive approach to its operations.

Global Student Embassy (GSE) develops community leaders through action oriented environmental education.

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 that facilitates investments in clean energy projects. It enables accredited individuals and institutions to invest in secure, diversified clean energy assets via its user-friendly online platform.

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

ZPOS is a technology company that specializes in developing business management systems, primarily focused on point-of-sale software. The company provides a comprehensive suite of tools that includes inventory management, credit customer tracking, discount offerings, and the capability to add new stock. Additionally, ZPOS enables users to save transactions for later processing, enhancing operational efficiency. Beyond its software solutions, ZPOS also offers IT-related consulting services, aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises and non-governmental organizations optimize their performance and profitability.

SunFunder Inc. is a solar energy finance company based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in providing various forms of financing to solar energy enterprises, particularly in emerging markets. Founded in 2012, the company offers short-term working capital, inventory, construction, and structured finance loans to solar product distributors, manufacturers, and project developers primarily in East and West Africa, as well as Asia. SunFunder's mission is to catalyze the development of solar energy infrastructure by leveraging its expertise in the solar market and facilitating efficient due diligence processes. By acting as a financial intermediary, SunFunder enables investors to engage in high-impact, fixed-income debt offerings that support the growth of solar assets in regions with inadequate energy access.

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 is a solar technology company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 2011. It specializes in designing and manufacturing meter collars that facilitate the connection of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging to residential homes and the grid. By transforming the electricity meter socket into an interconnection point, ConnectDER enhances the integration and management of DERs. The company also offers ConnectDER Cloud, a system that allows fleet operators to access metering data, manage operational parameters, and control firmware remotely. This technology improves the efficiency and resilience of home energy systems while benefiting users, the grid, and the environment.

Quona Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in fintech companies in emerging markets, focusing on financial inclusion for underserved consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises. The firm backs startups developing financial products and services beyond microcredit, including alternative lending, remittances, insurance, prepaid services, and payments infrastructure, as well as software that enhances distribution, financial management, and online bill payments. It targets companies leveraging digital platforms to expand access to banking and financial services in Sub-Saharan Africa, India and Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Typical investments range from about 1 to 10 million. Founded in 2014 and based in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Bengaluru, Lima, Cape Town, and Mexico City, Quona Capital aims to fuel inclusive fintech and related adjacencies such as agriculture, healthcare, education, commerce, and mobility finance.

Founded in 2017, DFS Lab is an early-stage incubator focused on empowering communities in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. It supports high-potential entrepreneurs refine and launch fintech businesses that profitably serve the poorest at scale.

Baobab Network is an accelerator for early-stage technology ventures operating across Sub-Saharan Africa, with offices in Nairobi, South Africa, Nigeria and London. It supports startups by providing funding, guidance and a growth platform in exchange for equity, helping companies scale through mentorship and access to resources. The organization connects early-stage businesses with talent and investors worldwide, offering leadership development programs, planning and consulting services, entrepreneurship training, and talent recruitment. It helps startups with strategy design, resource planning and utilization to improve revenue and pursue finance more effectively. Baobab Network concentrates on enabling technology-driven companies across the continent to accelerate growth and reach international markets through its global network.

Clip Health is a health technology company that develops rapid test technologies. Their innovative platform transforms smartphones into medical devices capable of accurately detecting and quantifying biological targets such as bacteria, viruses, hormones, and protein biomarkers from small samples quickly. This enables users to access critical health information instantly.

Sigora is a provider of utility-management systems designed specifically for frontier markets. Founded in 2016 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company offers a platform that transforms energy access into viable business opportunities for both established urban grid utilities and rural micro-grid developers. By utilizing specialized hardware, web-managed software, and straightforward payment solutions, Sigora's system enhances operational efficiency for energy providers in emerging markets. It streamlines bill collection, minimizes revenue losses, and helps prevent energy theft. Sigora's innovative technology acts as an essential operating system for financeable micro-utility business models, enabling corporate clients and energy industry stakeholders to manage their resources more effectively.

OffGridBox is a company that specializes in delivering renewable energy and clean water solutions to remote areas and developing countries through its innovative OffGridBox™ system. This modular unit, housed within a compact 6x6x6 feet shipping container, is equipped with the necessary technology to generate electricity and purify water. OffGridBox aims to address the needs of over 2 billion people who lack access to reliable energy and clean water. Each unit can serve approximately 300 families, potentially impacting around 1,500 individuals, and is often managed by local cooperatives, such as women-led organizations in Rwanda. The company has successfully deployed 38 units across nine countries, including Italy, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, the Philippines, Madagascar, the United States, and Colombia, serving various sectors such as humanitarian efforts, household retail, and industrial services. To date, these units have accumulated over 400,000 working hours, demonstrating their effectiveness and sustainability.