International Finance Corporation

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of The World Bank Group that focuses on fostering sustainable economic growth in developing countries through private sector investment. It provides a range of financial services, including loans, equity investments, quasi-equity products, and advisory services aimed at supporting startups and various stages of company development. IFC invests in sectors such as agribusiness, financial services, health, education, infrastructure, global manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunications, and tourism, with a particular emphasis on projects that promote food security, digital finance, and affordable healthcare. The organization targets investments ranging from $1 million to $100 million, often seeking minority stakes but may also take a majority position in its portfolio companies. IFC aims to create jobs, generate tax revenues, and enhance corporate governance in emerging markets, thus contributing positively to local communities. Established in 1956 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., IFC operates globally with offices across various regions, focusing its efforts on financing projects that align with its mission of improving lives in developing countries.

Hyung K. Ahn

Principal Investment Officer

Irene Arias

Global Director of Financial Institutions Group and Director of Latin America and the Caribbean

Georgina Baker

Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Central Asia

Paulo de Bolle

Global Director

Peter Joseph Cashion

Head of Climate Finance FIG and CIO

Andrea Engel

Senior Country Officer, Principal Country Officer and Principal Country Manager

Rapti Goonesekere

Principal Economist

Christian Grossmann

Director for Climate Change

Mandeep Julka

Associate Investment Officer

Rana Karadsheh

Principal Investment Officer and Country Manager

Kyle Kelhofer

Country Manager for Vietnam

Alzbeta Klein

Global Industries Director and Director of Climate Business

Galina Vsevolodovna Klimenko

Principal Investment Officer of Financial Markets

Toshitake Kurosawa

Director

André Laude

CIO of Climate Finance

Mouayed Makhlouf

Regional Director of Middle East and North Africa

Paolo M. Martelli

Regional Industry Director of Latin America and the Caribbean

Atul Mehta

Senior Director of Telecom, Media and Tech, Venture Investing and Funds

Vivek Pathak

Director of East Asia and Pacific

Mary Porter Peshka

Director of Cross-cutting Advisory Services

Tomasz Telma

Senior Director of Manufacturing, Agri. and Services

Mary Beth Ward

Principal Syndications Officer and Team Leader

Tracy Washington

Principal Investment Officer for Global PE Funds and Regional and Sectoral Lead of SME Ventures Program

Al Murshed, Walid

Principal Country Officer

Past deals in Southeastern Africa

M-KOPA

Debt Financing in 2023
M-KOPA Kenya Limited, established in 2011 and headquartered in Nairobi, specializes in developing and marketing solar home systems designed for off-grid customers. The company offers a range of solar products, including systems equipped with lights, phone charging capabilities, and solar-powered radios. M-KOPA began commercial operations in Kenya in 2012 and has since expanded its services to Uganda and Tanzania. The company operates through a network of over 1,000 retail agents and shops, employing a team of more than 500 staff. M-KOPA is recognized for its innovative "pay-as-you-go" energy services, which leverage a proprietary technology platform that integrates mobile payments and asset financing, facilitating access to affordable energy solutions for underserved communities. The firm is also exploring opportunities to license its technology to reputable partners in markets beyond East Africa.

Avenue Group

Debt Financing in 2023
The Avenue Group is dedicated to the provision of high quality, affordable and accessible healthcare. The Avenue Group includes the following companies; Avenue Hospital Avenue Healthcare Avenue Homecare Avenue Rescue Services.

Westfalia Fruit

Debt Financing in 2023
Westfalia Fruit is a multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related processed​ products to international markets. Part of the Hans Merensky Holdings Group, Westfalia grows, sources and ripens, packs, processes and markets sustainably-grown avocados year round. Its vertically-integrated supply chain enables Westfalia to market quality fruit from across the globe.

WIOCC

Venture Round in 2022
WIOCC is revolutionising the delivery of high-capacity connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world. As a result, it is now widely recognised as Africa’s carriers’ carrier, offering a one stop-shop and end-to-end service between more than 30 African countries and the world’s key global financial and commercial centres. As a specialist in the wholesale market, WIOCC’s unique, flexible, bandwidth packages have been designed to enable carriers, mobile operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to take full advantage of Africa’s rapidly developing markets for fixed and mobile broadband and international corporate networking. WIOCC recognises that customers differ, and tailors many of its solutions to specific customer requirements.
Equity Bank Kenya is a financial services provider headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It is licensed as a commercial bank by the central bank of Kenya, the central bank, and national banking regulator. Equity Bank Kenya Limited was incorporated in 2014 as a result of the corporate restructure of Equity Group Holdings Limited.

WIOCC

Debt Financing in 2021
WIOCC is revolutionising the delivery of high-capacity connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world. As a result, it is now widely recognised as Africa’s carriers’ carrier, offering a one stop-shop and end-to-end service between more than 30 African countries and the world’s key global financial and commercial centres. As a specialist in the wholesale market, WIOCC’s unique, flexible, bandwidth packages have been designed to enable carriers, mobile operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to take full advantage of Africa’s rapidly developing markets for fixed and mobile broadband and international corporate networking. WIOCC recognises that customers differ, and tailors many of its solutions to specific customer requirements.

Absa Bank

Funding Round in 2021
Absa Group Limited is a prominent financial services provider based in Johannesburg, South Africa, offering a diverse range of products and services both locally and internationally. The company specializes in personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, as well as wealth and investment management. Its offerings include residential property finance, vehicle and asset finance, credit cards, personal loans, and a variety of insurance products. Absa also provides commercial property finance, agricultural loans, and a suite of transactional banking options, including savings and investment services. Additionally, the bank offers investment banking services, private equity, and corporate banking products, along with life insurance and fiduciary services. Absa's commitment to serving individual, enterprise, and commercial customers is evident through its comprehensive financial solutions, which include treasury services and cash management. The company was previously known as Barclays Africa Group Limited before rebranding to Absa Group Limited in May 2018.

Daystar Power

Debt Financing in 2021
Daystar Power specialises in providing solar power and energy efficiency solutions for businesses in the commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors that result in significant reduction of power costs, diesel consumption and pollution.

Adumo

Venture Round in 2021
Adumo is a privately held independent payment service provider.

Liquid Telecom

Debt Financing in 2021
Liquid Telecom is an independent data, voice, and IP provider that commits to build a digital future. Liquid Telecom has built Africa’s largest single fibre network, currently stretching over 18,000km across Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho and South Africa. The award-winning Pan-African fibre network covers Africa’s fastest growing economies, where no fixed network has existed before.

Twiga Foods

Debt Financing in 2020
Twiga Foods Ltd. operates a mobile-based business-to-business supply platform, serving retail outlets, kiosks, and market stalls across Africa. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company facilitates the ordering of various supplies, including bananas, pineapples, and tomatoes, through its innovative platform. Twiga Foods aims to streamline the supply chain and enhance access to essential goods for millions of small and medium-sized vendors in urban markets throughout the continent.

Equity Group Holdings

Debt Financing in 2020
Equity Bank Kenya is a financial services provider headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It is licensed as a commercial bank by the central bank of Kenya, the central bank, and national banking regulator. Equity Bank Kenya Limited was incorporated in 2014 as a result of the corporate restructure of Equity Group Holdings Limited.

Zenith Bank

Debt Financing in 2020
Zenith Bank Plc, established in May 1990 and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, is a leading commercial bank and the largest in the country by tier-1 capital. It became a public limited company in 2004 and is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. With a shareholder base of approximately one million, Zenith Bank operates over 500 branches across Nigeria. The bank has expanded its presence internationally, with subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Gambia, as well as a UK subsidiary, Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, which offers various financial services including asset management and trade finance. Zenith Bank also has representative offices in South Africa and China, and it aims to further extend its brand across other African countries and into European and Asian markets.

Grainpulse

Venture Round in 2019
Grainpulse Limited offers collection, storage, processing, and loading of coffee, grains, and animal feed. The company also offers fertilizers blends. Grainpulse Limited was founded in 2002 and is based in Kampala, Uganda.

Lulalend

Series A in 2019
LulaLend is more than a company. It’s a belief in the power of small business, making a difference, building a better solution and striving for excellence. We work hard to empower businesses across South Africa with the funds they need to grow, and we have a great time doing it!

Twiga Foods

Series B in 2018
Twiga Foods Ltd. operates a mobile-based business-to-business supply platform, serving retail outlets, kiosks, and market stalls across Africa. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company facilitates the ordering of various supplies, including bananas, pineapples, and tomatoes, through its innovative platform. Twiga Foods aims to streamline the supply chain and enhance access to essential goods for millions of small and medium-sized vendors in urban markets throughout the continent.

Twiga Foods

Series B in 2018
Twiga Foods Ltd. operates a mobile-based business-to-business supply platform, serving retail outlets, kiosks, and market stalls across Africa. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company facilitates the ordering of various supplies, including bananas, pineapples, and tomatoes, through its innovative platform. Twiga Foods aims to streamline the supply chain and enhance access to essential goods for millions of small and medium-sized vendors in urban markets throughout the continent.

Botswana Building Society

Debt Financing in 2017
BBS is a financial institution whose principal business is residential and commercial property finance. BBS mission is to provide affordable property finance and attractive investment returns through efficient utilization of resources in the spirit of teamwork for the benefit of our stakeholders. Our vision is to be the premier provider of property finance and attractive investment returns in Botswana.

Africa's Talking

Series A in 2017
Africa's Talking Ltd. is a Kenya-based information technology company that specializes in providing communication solutions tailored for the African market. Founded in 2010 by Eston Kimani and Samuel Gikandi, the company offers a range of services including bulk SMS, short codes, premium SMS, USSD, and MMS, catering to individuals, businesses, and developers. Its platform enables reliable two-way communication and integrates with various mobile providers across the continent. Africa's Talking also provides customized mobile messaging solutions, voice and premium voice channels, and mobile advertising. With a focus on enhancing the growth and use of information technology in Africa, the company supports developers through an API that allows for the connection of short codes and the sending of SMS messages. It is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

Csquared

Venture Round in 2017
Csquared, based in Nairobi, Kenya, specializes in building and operating metro fiber and Wi-Fi networks to enhance Internet connectivity for local providers. Established in 2013 from Google's Project Link, the company facilitates Internet service providers and mobile network operators in Uganda and Ghana, allowing them to deliver broadband and Wi-Fi services to homeowners, small businesses, and mobile users. By providing shared infrastructure, Csquared enables these providers to offer broadband at reduced costs, thereby expanding access to the Internet for a broader audience.

Zoona

Venture Round in 2017
Zoona is a mobile technology company developing products such as money transfers, electronic voucher payments, and agent payments.

Britam

Post in 2017
Britam is a diversified financial services group, listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The group has interests across the Eastern and Southern Africa region. The company offers a wide range of financial products and services in Insurance, Asset management, Banking and Property. The product range includes: life, health and general insurance, pensions, unit trusts, investment planning, wealth management, off-shore investments, retirement planning, discretionary portfolio management, Property development and private Equity.

Mobisol

Series B in 2016
Mobisol GmbH, founded in 2010 and based in Berlin, Germany, specializes in developing and installing solar home systems to provide electricity to underserved low-income customers in developing nations. The company offers solutions that power LED lights, radios, mobile phones, and various household appliances, while also promoting productive use appliances. Mobisol's innovative approach combines solar energy with an affordable mobile payment plan, making it accessible for those living without electricity. The company emphasizes comprehensive customer service and utilizes remote monitoring technology to ensure reliable performance. With additional offices in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya, Mobisol operates as a subsidiary of ENGIE SA, focusing on delivering clean and affordable energy alternatives to fossil fuels.

Haltons Limited

Venture Round in 2016
Haltons Pharmacy is a brand created by Haltons Limited. It is a collection of pharmacists, investors and leaders passionate about delivering accessible and affordable pharmacy care of the highest quality to Kenyans in a dignified manner wherever they are. Haltons Pharmacy is a retail pharmacy chain dispensing prescription and non-prescription pharmaceutical products. The company has retail outlets located mostly in high traffic residential estates capitalizing on volumes created by health care medicine prescribers to the average Kenyan consumer.

Zoona

Series B in 2016
Zoona is a mobile technology company developing products such as money transfers, electronic voucher payments, and agent payments.

ADvTECH

Post in 2016
ADvTECH Limited operates in South Africa, focusing on education, training, and staff placement services. It comprises three main divisions: Schools, Tertiary, and Resourcing. The Schools division delivers pre-primary, primary, and secondary education, while the Tertiary division provides diploma, degree, and postgraduate programs through both face-to-face and distance learning formats. The Resourcing division specializes in staffing solutions, offering permanent, temporary, and contract placements across various sectors, including engineering, finance, and information technology. ADvTECH is headquartered in Sandton and plays a significant role in enhancing human capacity development in the private sector.

Lekela Power

Private Equity Round in 2016
Lekela Power B.V. is a renewable energy generation platform that delivers utility scale wind and solar projects into commercial operation in Africa. The company currently develops, constructs, and operates a portfolio of projects in Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal. It provides renewable energy to consumers, such as government, utilities, and large-scale industrial consumers. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lekela Power B.V. operates as a subsidiary of Mainstream Renewable Power Limited.

Zola Electric

Debt Financing in 2015
Zola Electric provides off-grid solar solutions primarily for African markets, focusing on Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. The company offers solar home kits that can be either leased or purchased, utilizing a pay-as-you-go micro-finance model that accommodates various income levels. By employing advanced solar, battery, and power electronics technology, Zola Electric delivers renewable energy systems tailored to the needs of individual households and businesses in rural communities. Since its inception in 2012, the company has powered over 180,000 homes and businesses. Formerly known as Off-Grid Electric Tanzania Limited, it rebranded to Zola Electric in July 2018 and has established its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, with an additional office in San Francisco, California. The company has garnered recognition through various awards and has attracted investment from notable firms, including Tesla and EDF.

Helios Towers Africa

Private Equity Round in 2014
Helios Towers Africa has operations in Ghana, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and a sister company in Nigeria. The number of mobile subscribers in Africa has increased from just 16 million people in 2000 to over 500 million today. Based on these growth levels and without an increase in the sharing of telecoms tower facilities, the number of towers in Africa will need to double from the current number of 75,000, a significant environmental impact.
Bridge International Academies operates primary schools focused on providing education to underprivileged children. Founded in 2007 and based in Nairobi, Kenya, the organization offers services that align with national curricula and emphasizes comprehensive teacher training and development programs. Utilizing advanced wireless technology, Bridge International Academies aims to deliver quality education at no cost to students, fostering opportunities for a brighter future for those in underserved communities.

eleni

Venture Round in 2013
eleni LLC is a developer of commodity exchange platforms, focused on transforming markets in frontier regions of Africa. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the company specializes in building end-to-end exchange ecosystems that significantly impact the livelihoods of rural communities. It offers a comprehensive technology suite that includes various business applications for commodity markets, alongside essential services for implementing exchange projects. These services encompass legal and regulatory frameworks, warehouse receipt systems, electronic central depositories, automated clearinghouses, trade matching, and real-time mobile market data. Additionally, eleni manages logistics for delivery, membership, training, and certification, while ensuring market surveillance, compliance enforcement, and risk management. Through its initiatives, eleni aims to enhance accessibility to commodity exchanges, ultimately improving the economic conditions for millions in rural areas.