Norfund
Norfund is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in direct and fund of fund investments through equity and loans. Within direct investments, it invests in new business ventures, corporate restructurings, expansions, growth capital, management buy-ins, and buy-outs of small and medium sized enterprises. The firm seeks to invest in seed/startup, early venture, emerging growth, and turnarounds. For its fund of fund investments, the firm invests indirectly through SME funds through equity capital in private equity funds, venture capital funds, and other investment funds targeting small and medium sized enterprises. The firm seeks to invest in sustainable enterprises in poor countries to contribute to economic growth and poverty alleviation. It primarily invests in infrastructure focusing on bank services, industrial partnerships, financial institutions, micro finance institutions, and companies operating in the energy, electrical equipment, power generation equipment, clean energy, agriculture, agribusiness, and financial services. Within clean energy, the investments are focused on improving and expanding electricity generation. The firm also seeks to invest in sectors such as tourism. It seeks to invest in the sub-Saharan African countries with a focus on companies that are based in Latin America with a focus on Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama, and Costa Rica; Middle East with a focus on Turkey; Southern Africa with a focus on Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar, and Malawi; Eastern Africa with a focus on Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan; Central America; and some parts of South Asia, South East Asia, primarily Vietnam, Bangladesh, Laos, and Cambodia, and Myanmar. The firm seeks to invest in West Africa region. It also invests in Norway's main cooperation countries and least developed countries with a GNI per capita of less than $5290. Its equity investments are from NOK 20 million ($3.25 million) and above. The firm makes investments in SME’s from $4 million and above. It invests in loans from NOK 20 million ($3.25 million) and above. The firm invests between $2 million and $20 million in funds. The firm typically seeks to acquire stake between $15 million to $45 million. Its investments are either direct, in the form of loans, equity, or indirect, through investment funds. The firm offers loans to companies in which the firm already has an equity position. It offers ordinary loans to financial institutions like banks, as well as to other companies. It prefers not to invest more than the business partner. The firm takes maximum 35% ownership share although it may increase the equity share through its local investment funds. It also co-invests and is not the lead investor. It prefers to be an active owner seeking to have a board seat. The firm primarily invests with a horizon between four years and to ten years with an aim to reinvest capital in new projects. It seeks to make an exit through IPO, sales to existing owners, or sales to new owners. It makes balance sheet investments. Norfund was founded in 1997 and is based at Oslo, Norway with additional offices across North America, Africa, and Asia.
54 past transactions
Greenlight Planet Inc
Debt Financing in 2021
Greenlight Planet Inc develops and manufactures solar lighting and energy devices. It manufactures solar lighting devices, including solar lamps, solar lanterns with mobile charger, and home energy systems. The company offers its products through a network of distributors and it also offers its product online. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with additional offices in Mumbai, India; and Nairobi, Kenya.
Gigawatt Global Coöperatief U.A.
Private Equity Round in 2014
Gigawatt Global is committed to accelerating energy sustainability and independence in each local region it operates. In pursuit of this goal, GWG’s strategy is to partner with energy financial partners, governments, development groups and institutions to structure socially responsible investments.
AgDevCo
Venture Round in 2022
AgDevCo is a social impact investor and agribusiness project developer, incorporated as a non-for-profit distribution, limited companyin.
Fourth Partner Energy
Private Equity Round in 2021
Fourth Partner Energy provides turnkey rooftop solar energy solutions for customers in India. The company specializes in manufacturing solar energy based applications and its current product portfolio includes solar lanterns, home lighting systems, solar street lights, and photovoltaic panels.
Fourth Partner Energy aims to build, develop, and manage a large operating portfolio of de-centralized solar power assets in India and is positioned as a leading renewable energy services company. It strives to be a partner for sustainable change and endeavors to do so by providing products and services that improve the renewable resources available on the planet, and provide its customers with better quality at lower costs.
Fourth Partner Energy is an MNRE empanelled Channel Partner and an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. It is also registered as a partner with state bodies such as RREC, TNREDC, and NREDCAP. The company was founded in 2010 by [Vikas saluguti](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/vikas-saluguti), [Saif Dhorajiwala](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/saif-dhorajiwala), and [Vivek Subramanian](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/vivek-subramanian-3). It is based in Hyderabad, India.
Brighter Life Kenya 1
Debt Financing in 2021
Brighter Life Kenya 1 Limited (BLK1), an indirect subsidiary of AFC incorporated in Jersey, was incorporated to acquire pay-as-you-go solar home system accounts receivables from d.light Limited (d.light Kenya), providing d.light Kenya with flexible working capital to finance its continued growth.
Greenlight Planet Inc
Private Equity Round in 2020
Greenlight Planet Inc develops and manufactures solar lighting and energy devices. It manufactures solar lighting devices, including solar lamps, solar lanterns with mobile charger, and home energy systems. The company offers its products through a network of distributors and it also offers its product online. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with additional offices in Mumbai, India; and Nairobi, Kenya.
Real People Home Finance
Private Equity Round in 2010
Real People is a financial institution that offers credit to small enterprises and individuals who otherwise have limited access to financial services in South Africa and other countries in the region.
Real People is one of South Africa’s largest non-banking independent financial services provider that has been operating in Southern Africa for more than 15 years. Real People is a consumer finance and mortgage financing institution that targets customers from previously disadvantaged communities, with low to moderate household earnings who would traditionally not qualify for credit from the banking institutions in South Africa.
Excelsior Capital Vietnam
Venture Round in 2021
Excelsior Capital Vietnam is a newly established fund that will primarily invest in established, larger Vietnamese SMEs and mid-sized businesses in Vietnam.
Wave
Debt Financing in 2022
Wave Mobile Money provides an app-based financial solution to save, transfer, and borrow money. Wave Mobile Money is on a mission to make Africa the first cashless continent. On a continent where less than 10% of the population has a bank account, Wave is building the first modern financial network — no account fees, instantly available, and accepted everywhere! It is building life-changing financial infrastructure. When mobile money succeeded in Kenya, it lifted about a million people out of poverty. And yet, over 10 years later, most Africans still lack access to affordable ways to save, transfer or borrow the money they need to build businesses or provide for their families. Wave is solving this problem by using technology to build a radically inclusive and extremely affordable financial network.
Amartha
Venture Round in 2021
Amartha is a financial technology company that connects micro and SME business partners with investors.
Neofresh (Pty) Ltd.
Private Equity Round in 2017
Neofresh (Pty) Ltd. engages in production, packaging, and marketing of fruits. It owns and operates farms and pack houses. The company offers papaya, litchis, mango, and macadamia. Neofresh (Pty) Ltd. is based in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Real People Home Finance
Venture Round in 2010
Real People is a financial institution that offers credit to small enterprises and individuals who otherwise have limited access to financial services in South Africa and other countries in the region.
Real People is one of South Africa’s largest non-banking independent financial services provider that has been operating in Southern Africa for more than 15 years. Real People is a consumer finance and mortgage financing institution that targets customers from previously disadvantaged communities, with low to moderate household earnings who would traditionally not qualify for credit from the banking institutions in South Africa.
Serena Hotels
Private Equity Round in 2010
Serena Hotels create buildings of outstanding ethnic design; to offer the highest standards of service and product.
d.light design
Venture Round in 2021
d.light design inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells solar light and power products for households and small businesses worldwide. The company solar lanterns, home systems, and appliances. It serves customers through a network of importers, distributors, and retailers, as well as online. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Palo Alto, California with additional offices in Shenzhen, China; Gurgaon, India; Nairobi, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; and Lagos, Nigeria.
Baobab+
Funding Round in 2021
Baobab+ is a social business committed to providing access to energy and digital. We commercialize innovative products with financing solutions that meet the needs of local populations.
Yoma Bank
Funding Round in 2020
Yoma Bank Limited offers banking products and services. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Yangon, Myanmar.
Advans Group
Private Equity Round in 2015
Advans Group is a venture capital investment arm of Horus Development Finance. The firm invests in the form of equity, loans, and guarantees. It invests in microfinance institutions. The firm focuses its investments in the Africa, Middle East and Asia region. It is typically the lead shareholder in its investments. The firm invests as a majority shareholder in microfinance institutions. Advans Group was founded in August 2005 and is based in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
First Finance MFI
Venture Round in 2013
The company is focused on providing a long-term Home Loan and medium-term Home Improvement Loans to underserved low-middle income Cambodian households who do not have access to formal commercial lending.
FDL
Private Equity Round in 2013
FDL is a Nicaraguan nonprofit microfinance institution (MFI) that is committed to integrated service provision in rural areas where access to essential services is often limited. The organization began its activities in 1992 as part of the NITLAPAN* research institute and became its own independent entity in 1997. While the organization’s principal mission is to provide financial services to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs, it has continued to work closely with NITLAPAN to design innovative, non-financial products and services that meet the multifaceted needs of small producers.
SN Power AS
Private Equity Round in 2013
SN Power invests in clean, renewable energy on commercial basis in emerging markets. The company has operations in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central America and the focus is to acquire, develop, construct and operate hydropower assets.
SN Power has several running Hydropower plants in The Philippines, Laos, Zambia and Panama, and the company consist of a multinational team of people employed globally in its operations and projects.
In addition to the operating assets, SN Power has an office in Amsterdam, Netherlands and is Head-quartered in Oslo, Norway.
Agrica
Private Equity Round in 2010
Agrica Limited was founded in September 2005 to develop model sustainable agribusinesses in East Africa, where growing internal markets urgently require the introduction of both modern commercial agriculture and innovative smallholder technology to achieve food security.
Basecamp Explorer Kenya
Venture Round in 2010
Basecamp Explorer AS, through its subsidiaries, provides tour services to see the natural environments. Basecamp Explorer AS was formerly known as Ecco Travel Group AS and changed its name to Basecamp Explorer AS on May, 2002. Its tourist destinations include Svalbard, Norway; Masai Mara and Lamu, Kenya; Solovki, Russia; Rajasthan and Dharamsala, India; and Pyrenees, France, as well as Spitsbergen in Arctic Circle. Basecamp Explorer AS was formerly known as Ecco Travel Group AS. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Oslo, Norway. It has subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden, Kenya, India, and Russia.
Myanmar Finance International Limited
Seed Round in 2015
Myanmar Finance International Ltd. (MFIL) was successfully established in 1st September 2014 founded by Myanmar Finance Company Limited - the locally owned company, and Myanmar Investments Limited - the Singapore based company
Family Bank Ltd
Private Equity Round in 2010
Family Bank is a fully-fledged commercial bank since May 2007. The Bank is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and is a member of the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The Bank is growing with over 1.7 million customers and a network of 93 branches countrywide. It was the first Bank in Kenya to introduce paperless banking through smart card technology.
Sundry Foods Limited
Private Equity Round in 2019
Sundry Foods Limited is a food services provider in Nigeria. It operates a chain of quick service restaurants around the country in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and a number of other Nigerian cities.
Sundry Foods is well known for its brand-name “Kilimanjaro’, which has established itself as a market leader in that sector. Sundry Foods has developed a fast food concept, which combines traditional Nigerian cuisine with western fast food and is targeted at the fast growing middle class market.
African Century Foods
Private Equity Round in 2013
African Century Foods (ACF) is Sub-Sahara Africa’s aquaculture producer with tilapia farms in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda. Its supply of affordable, high-quality fresh protein is important in countries facing challenges related to the availability and affordability of food supplies.
Asilia Africa Ltd.
Private Equity Round in 2013
Asilia Africa is a pioneering travel company, operating 13 luxury camps and lodges. Their goal is to make a true difference everywhere they work, both on the pristine natural habitats where they operate and on the lives of the people living in and around them. They believe in better. They are committed to delivering the best wilderness experience in Africa. The very personal service and outstanding guiding in their small and remote properties offers an unforgettable, and often life changing safari adventure. You are invited to join them in their mission: improving the future of nature and communities in some of the most special places on earth for generations to come.
Yoma Micopower PDF
Private Equity Round in 2017
Electricity infrastructure development is a priority for Myanmar to drive economic growth. According to the World Bank only 16 percent of rural households in Myanmar are connected to the power grid1. The demand for power far exceeds the available production capacity, resulting in regular blackouts. The limited production and distribution of power severely hamper economic development and the powering of telecommunications towers.
Renewable Energy Holdings
Private Equity Round in 2014
REH focuses on the development, construction and operation of green-field and refurbished independent power plants (IPPs) in the range of 5MW to 50 MW across Southern Africa.
responsAbility Renewable Energy Holding
Private Equity Round in 2017
responsAbility Renewable Energy Holding are energy efficiency and renewable energy investments are dedicated to contributing to the mitigation of climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Confianza
Venture Round in 2014
Confianza provides microfinance services in El Salvador.
Sunshine
Private Equity Round in 2017
Sunshine is a pick-me-up of good energy with no artificial nonsense. It offers 3 different flavors including Ginger Berry, Blueberry Lemonade, and Clementine Twist– all of which are packed with vitamins, electrolytes, and just enough caffeine to deliver the perfect pick-me-up. In a market overrun with extreme energy drinks, Sunshine is pioneering efforts to redefine the energy category by bringing good energy to consumers with the promise of great taste, no artificial flavors, lower sugars, and only 60 calories per can.
d.light design
Grant in 2017
d.light design inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells solar light and power products for households and small businesses worldwide. The company solar lanterns, home systems, and appliances. It serves customers through a network of importers, distributors, and retailers, as well as online. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Palo Alto, California with additional offices in Shenzhen, China; Gurgaon, India; Nairobi, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; and Lagos, Nigeria.
Vertical Agro
Venture Round in 2015
Vertical Agro(EPZ)Limited is a vertically integrated independent grower, processor, exporter and marketer of fresh and frozen vegetables and fruits.
Vertical Agro has built a state of the art processing facility in Naivasha , Kenya and it's currently the leading grower, processor and exporter of highest quality fresh and frozen vegetables,packed to the highest standards.
Verde Beef Processing PLC
Private Equity Round in 2017
The project was founded by the Ethiopian venture firm, Verdant Frontiers, whose founders have established and sold numerous successful companies both in the US and Ethiopia. Verde Beef is led by two proven agribusiness managers residing in Ethiopia, Mr. Bruce Hamilton and Mr. Arnold Krul, who have both managed successful Ethiopian agribusiness ventures over the past five years.
Verde Beef Processing PLC is an Ethiopian agribusiness company with an established feedlot in Adami Tulu, Oromia, Ethiopia on a 1,300 hectare farm.
BRAC Bank Limited
Private Equity Round in 2010
BRAC Bank Limited provides various commercial banking products and services in Bangladesh. The company offers retail, wholesale, small and medium enterprises (SME), and Probashi banking products and services. It provides various deposit products, such as current accounts, fixed deposits, SME deposits, savings accounts, and term deposits. The company also offers loan portfolio comprising personal loans, auto loans, home loans, and secured loans/overdrafts.
Globeleq
Private Equity Round in 2015
Globeleq Generation Limited develops, builds, and operates renewable power projects in Africa and the Americas. It operates a portfolio of natural gas, solar, wind, HFO, and fuel oil power generation assets. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in London, United Kingdom with regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya; Cape Town, South Africa; and Doula, Cameroon.
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.
Escotel
Series A in 2020
Escotel is an energy services company currently focused on Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Escotel provides energy services to mobile tower owners and operators, owning and operating decentralized renewable energy infrastructure across Africa
DFCU Group (Development Finance Company of Uganda)
Private Equity Round in 2013
dfcu Limited was established in 1964 as a development finance institution. For many years dfcu has been associated with many success stories in Uganda's economy. dfcu Bank is the banking branch of the group and has been successfully serving the nation especially promoting SMEs and Women In Business
Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant
Private Equity Round in 2011
Bio2Watt is the production of methane and carbon dioxide is a natural consequence of the degradation of organic waste. In this plant, the process is accelerated and the methane is captured and used to generate electricity using gas engines. The technology is established and commercially proven with many biogas plants operating in Asia, Europe and the Americas.The generation capacity of the biogas plant is 4.2 MW, providing an estimated 35 GWh of energy per year.
Nordic Microfinance Initiative
Private Equity Round in 2008
The Norwegian Microfinance Initiative (NMI) is an innovative strategic partnership between the Norwegian public and private sectors that will invest in microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing countries and provide professional assistance and technical support for these institutions. The mission of NMI is to contribute to the empowerment of poor people and to the creation of jobs, wealth, and economic and social sustainability in developing countries by investing in and supporting MFIs.
African Century Infrastructure Services
Private Equity Round in 2014
African Century Infrastructure Services offers equipment on lease to support the development of the oil and gas industry in Tanzania and Mozambique. It provides large scale machinery and other equipment such as forklifts and portable heavy duty cranes.
d.light design
Series E in 2018
d.light design inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells solar light and power products for households and small businesses worldwide. The company solar lanterns, home systems, and appliances. It serves customers through a network of importers, distributors, and retailers, as well as online. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Palo Alto, California with additional offices in Shenzhen, China; Gurgaon, India; Nairobi, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; and Lagos, Nigeria.
Yoma Micro Power
Venture Round in 2018
Yoma Micro Power Myanmar Company Limited builds, owns, operates, and maintains solar-based micro-power plants. The company offers mini-grids in off-grid areas generating and distributing electricity to power telecom towers in rural areas and off-grid communities. It also offers on-grid commercial and industrial solar systems. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Yangon, Myanmar.
Financiera Desyfin, S.A.
Private Equity Round in 2011
Financiera Desyfin, S.A. provides financing solutions to projects and contracts with the central government, autonomous institutions, and AAA companies in Costa Rica. The company offers a range of integrated services, such as the issue of guarantees, financing purchase orders, working capital, and factoring; and international services comprising wire transfers, and foreign currency exchange and letters of credit. It also provides leasing, currency exchange, investment and savings, credit or debit cards, loans, and insurance products and services. The company was founded in 1991 is based in Sabanilla, Costa Rica.
ARNERGY
Series A in 2019
ARNERGY's mission is to deliver energy solutions for productive use by deploying products, services and systems that power business operations and improve economic outcomes for our clients.
Vision:
Providing sustainable solutions to energy reliability issues across emerging markets.
M-KOPA
Debt Financing in 2017
M-KOPA Kenya Limited develops and markets solar home systems. It offers solar systems with three lights, phone charging, and a solar powered radio. The company sells its products through dealers and retail shops in Kenya. It offers M-KOPA 5, KOPA 6, KOPA 600, and KOPA 6000. M-KOPA Kenya Limited was founded in 2011 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. M-KOPA Kenya Limited operates as a subsidiary of M-Kopa, LLC.
Green Resources AS
Private Equity Round in 2009
Green Resources is a afforestation company and a leader in East African wood processing. The company has 40,000 ha of standing forest in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, established through its own planting activities. It operates East Africa’s largest sawmill in Tanzania and electricity pole and charcoal plants in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda.
Freight in Time Limited
Private Equity Round in 2016
Freight in Time Limited provides logistic solutions in Africa. The company provides sea freight, air freight, project cargo, express and courier, warehousing and distribution, and inter-regional transportation solutions, as well as sea air solutions from the east. It serves perishables, pharmaceutical and healthcare, telecommunications and ICT, humanitarian and relief, mining, and oil and gas sectors. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
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.
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.