GALY
Funding Round in 2024
GALY Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2019, based in the United States, that specializes in the production of cotton through cellular methods rather than traditional agricultural practices. Utilizing proprietary biomaterial technology, GALY cultivates cotton in a laboratory setting, allowing for the creation of high-quality cotton yarns that serve the textile industry. This innovative approach not only offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional cotton but also significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional cotton farming. By providing sustainable raw materials, GALY aims to support clothing brands and textile manufacturers in meeting the growing demand for environmentally friendly fabrics.
BlocPower
Series B in 2023
BlocPower is an innovative energy technology company based in Los Angeles, California, focused on creating healthier, greener, and smarter buildings. Established in 2014, BlocPower specializes in providing solar power and energy efficiency solutions tailored for churches, schools, small businesses, non-profits, and homeowners. The company employs advanced technologies and innovative electrification equipment to enhance urban structures, identifying and retrofitting energy-wasting buildings through a proprietary machine learning platform. This platform analyzes data to determine the most effective retrofits, enabling clients to reduce energy consumption and save 20 to 40 percent on their energy bills annually. By connecting various stakeholders—including government agencies, utilities, and equipment providers—BlocPower effectively addresses energy inefficiencies in financially underserved communities, contributing to the advancement of smart and sustainable urban environments.
Cabinet Health
Venture Round in 2022
Cabinet Health is a sustainable healthcare company founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York, offering a range of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements. The company emphasizes environmental sustainability and quality in its products, which include more than 30 OTC medicines. Cabinet Health also manufactures innovative refillable medicine containers, designed to keep medications fresh and safe, as well as compostable medicine pouches made from a blend of wood cellulose and sealants. Through its commitment to personalized care and eco-friendly practices, Cabinet Health aims to transform the way consumers access and manage their healthcare needs.
Airex Technologies is a company based in London, United Kingdom, that specializes in smart ventilation control solutions. Founded in 2016, Airex develops intelligent air ventilation units that utilize atmospheric sensors and cloud-based algorithms to enhance indoor air quality and energy efficiency. The company's retrofit smart ventilation control system regulates airflow through air-bricks, providing homeowners with benefits such as reduced energy bills, improved thermal comfort, and healthier living environments. By automatically adjusting air flow based on local weather conditions and air quality data, Airex aims to create healthier homes while minimizing disturbances and maintaining optimal air quality.
Plant Prefab
Series C in 2022
Plant Prefab specializes in constructing custom single-family and multi-family homes using advanced prefabrication methods. Their proprietary Plant Building System employs digital modeling and modular components called Plant Panels and Plant Modules, allowing contractors and developers to complete projects 20-50% faster than traditional on-site construction. This system ensures superior quality control, design flexibility, and significant time, cost, and material efficiency. Committed to sustainability, Plant Prefab aims to build a better world by design, having achieved carbon-neutral operations since 2020 and being the first housing prefabricator to announce a net-zero goal.
Frontier Markets
Series B in 2022
Frontier Markets is a company focused on enhancing the quality of life for rural customers in India by providing access to essential products and services. Recognizing that 551 million rural individuals lack sufficient infrastructure for economic improvement, the company utilizes a women-centric model to foster local entrepreneurship. Frontier Markets recruits and trains women, known as Saral Jeevan Sahelis, who leverage a digital platform, the Meri Saheli app, to facilitate door-to-door sales and deliveries. This approach not only empowers women but also enables them to earn a sustainable income while serving their communities. The company has successfully connected over 700,000 rural customers to more than one million quality solutions in sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, and homecare. By collaborating with fintech and FMCG companies, Frontier Markets offers additional services, including doorstep ATM access and essential goods delivery. With a strong emphasis on local distribution and technology, Frontier Markets aims to scale its operations and connect 100 million rural customers with a network of digitally proficient women entrepreneurs, effectively addressing the last-mile delivery challenge in rural India.
Greyparrot
Series A in 2022
Greyparrot is an innovator in AI waste analytics, focused on enhancing recycling efficiency and reducing waste sent to landfills and incinerators. The company offers a waste intelligence platform that includes the Greyparrot Analyzer and Greyparrot Sync API, which provide real-time insights into over 89 waste categories across multiple data layers, such as financial value, brand, and greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024, Greyparrot analyzed over 40 billion waste objects, significantly improving operational efficiency and driving substantial cost savings for recycling facilities. By leveraging its advanced software, which employs intelligent waste recognition and low-cost hardware, Greyparrot enables clients in the waste sector—including recycling professionals, plant builders, and packaging producers—to make informed decisions that enhance recycling rates and comply with regulations. The company has received numerous accolades, including recognition as a Global Cleantech 100, a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer, and a top AI company by CB Insights.
Plant Prefab
Series B in 2021
Plant Prefab specializes in constructing custom single-family and multi-family homes using advanced prefabrication methods. Their proprietary Plant Building System employs digital modeling and modular components called Plant Panels and Plant Modules, allowing contractors and developers to complete projects 20-50% faster than traditional on-site construction. This system ensures superior quality control, design flexibility, and significant time, cost, and material efficiency. Committed to sustainability, Plant Prefab aims to build a better world by design, having achieved carbon-neutral operations since 2020 and being the first housing prefabricator to announce a net-zero goal.
Classcraft
Venture Round in 2021
Classcraft is an online educational role-playing game designed to enhance classroom management and engage students in the learning process. Founded by Lauren Young, Devin Young, and Shawn Young, the platform offers a gamified experience that motivates learners by promoting teamwork and personal growth. It enables educators to foster positive student behavior through interactive gameplay, where students can earn rewards and develop skills that reflect real-world consequences. Classcraft is accessible across multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, OS X, Chrome, and Windows, making it a versatile tool for teachers and administrators aiming to create a more dynamic and engaging educational environment.
Aflore
Venture Round in 2021
Aflore is a financial services company based in Bogota, Colombia, dedicated to empowering the unbanked population, which constitutes 65% of the country's residents. Founded in 2012, Aflore focuses on providing accessible financial solutions by partnering with trusted financial advisors within local communities. These advisors are equipped with the necessary support and tools to distribute loans and financial products to their networks, thereby facilitating access to personalized credit and enabling individuals to better manage their finances. Through its innovative approach, Aflore aims to help the middle class in Latin America achieve their financial goals and improve their overall economic well-being.
Stones2Milestones
Venture Round in 2020
Stones2Milestones is dedicated to fostering a love of reading among children, with the goal of creating a literate nation. The organization operates Freadom, an app tailored for children aged 3 to 9, designed to enhance their English reading skills. Freadom offers a curated selection of stories, language activities, monthly competitions, and daily news articles that align with children's reading levels. By employing a proprietary reading scale, the app assesses users' abilities and guides them toward improvement. The platform emphasizes family engagement through shared reading experiences, which research indicates is vital for developing lifelong reading habits. Stones2Milestones utilizes an AI-driven recommendation engine for personalized content delivery and collects detailed usage data to provide insights for continuous improvement. The organization collaborates with prestigious educational institutions, including Stanford University and IIM Calcutta, for impact evaluation. Freadom has reached 100,000 parents and partners with notable publishers such as Harper Collins and Penguin Random House, earning recognition in the EdTech sector for its innovative approach.
Soko, Inc. is a Kenya-based company that operates an online platform for handcrafted jewelry and accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Founded in 2011, Soko connects over 2,300 independent artisans throughout Kenya to the global marketplace using mobile technology. The company has developed a virtual factory model that responds efficiently to demand while providing economic opportunities for marginalized artisans, who earn significantly more than those in traditional workshops. Soko distinguishes itself through its commitment to social impact and is certified as a B Corporation, appealing to Millennials and Gen Z consumers who prioritize brands that align with their values. With additional offices in Nairobi, San Francisco, and New York, Soko aims to empower artisans and promote sustainable economic development.
BuffaloGrid
Seed Round in 2018
BuffaloGrid is a pioneering company that provides mobile power and internet connectivity solutions to off-grid communities worldwide. Their mission is to empower the next billion smartphone users in frontier markets, enabling them to improve their quality of life and business activities through access to mobile digital services. The company's innovative technology includes an advanced off-grid phone charging system powered by solar energy, which can also communicate with a cloud platform using SMS and the internet. This allows users to access digital content and services, bridging the digital divide and fostering socio-economic development.
eFishery is an aquaculture technology startup that focuses on providing innovative solutions for fish and shrimp farmers. The company develops an internet of things-based automatic fish feeder that utilizes motion sensors to assess fish appetite and optimize feeding amounts. In addition to its feeding technology, eFishery offers a cloud-based dashboard and data platform that helps farmers manage their operations effectively. The company aims to enhance productivity and profitability for aquaculture practitioners while addressing social and economic inequalities within the industry. By creating an integrated ecosystem that includes services for farming operations, financing, and distribution, eFishery supports sustainable growth in one of the world’s vital food production sectors.
Paga is a mobile payment company focused on creating a digital ecosystem for money transactions, primarily in Nigeria, where it is recognized as a leading provider in the sector. The company's application facilitates sending and receiving money through mobile devices, making financial services accessible to a broad audience. In addition to transferring funds, Paga's platform allows users to purchase airtime credits, pay bills, and make retail payments, addressing the growing demand for viable payment options. With an ambitious mission to simplify financial access for one billion people, Paga aims to overcome the challenges associated with traditional banking and enhance the overall financial inclusion in its target markets.
Stones2Milestones
Seed Round in 2018
Stones2Milestones is dedicated to fostering a love of reading among children, with the goal of creating a literate nation. The organization operates Freadom, an app tailored for children aged 3 to 9, designed to enhance their English reading skills. Freadom offers a curated selection of stories, language activities, monthly competitions, and daily news articles that align with children's reading levels. By employing a proprietary reading scale, the app assesses users' abilities and guides them toward improvement. The platform emphasizes family engagement through shared reading experiences, which research indicates is vital for developing lifelong reading habits. Stones2Milestones utilizes an AI-driven recommendation engine for personalized content delivery and collects detailed usage data to provide insights for continuous improvement. The organization collaborates with prestigious educational institutions, including Stanford University and IIM Calcutta, for impact evaluation. Freadom has reached 100,000 parents and partners with notable publishers such as Harper Collins and Penguin Random House, earning recognition in the EdTech sector for its innovative approach.
Eneza Education
Series A in 2018
Eneza Education Limited, established in 2011 and based in Nairobi, Kenya, provides mobile-based educational services designed to enhance learning accessibility across the country. The company offers a virtual tutor and teacher's assistant that facilitates access to courses and assessments for students and teachers through various platforms, including USSD/SMS, online web applications, an offline desktop application, and an Android app. Eneza Education’s offerings include locally-aligned tutorials, tips, and assessments, complemented by features such as a leaderboard, Wikipedia text, and live teacher chat. The company's content, developed by Kenyan teachers, targets students from primary to secondary levels, promoting comprehensive, on-demand educational support to improve academic performance. Eneza Education operates as a subsidiary of M-Prep Inc.
BuffaloGrid
Convertible Note in 2017
BuffaloGrid is a pioneering company that provides mobile power and internet connectivity solutions to off-grid communities worldwide. Their mission is to empower the next billion smartphone users in frontier markets, enabling them to improve their quality of life and business activities through access to mobile digital services. The company's innovative technology includes an advanced off-grid phone charging system powered by solar energy, which can also communicate with a cloud platform using SMS and the internet. This allows users to access digital content and services, bridging the digital divide and fostering socio-economic development.
Soko
Venture Round in 2016
Soko, Inc. is a Kenya-based company that operates an online platform for handcrafted jewelry and accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Founded in 2011, Soko connects over 2,300 independent artisans throughout Kenya to the global marketplace using mobile technology. The company has developed a virtual factory model that responds efficiently to demand while providing economic opportunities for marginalized artisans, who earn significantly more than those in traditional workshops. Soko distinguishes itself through its commitment to social impact and is certified as a B Corporation, appealing to Millennials and Gen Z consumers who prioritize brands that align with their values. With additional offices in Nairobi, San Francisco, and New York, Soko aims to empower artisans and promote sustainable economic development.
Soko, Inc. is a Kenya-based company that operates an online platform for handcrafted jewelry and accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Founded in 2011, Soko connects over 2,300 independent artisans throughout Kenya to the global marketplace using mobile technology. The company has developed a virtual factory model that responds efficiently to demand while providing economic opportunities for marginalized artisans, who earn significantly more than those in traditional workshops. Soko distinguishes itself through its commitment to social impact and is certified as a B Corporation, appealing to Millennials and Gen Z consumers who prioritize brands that align with their values. With additional offices in Nairobi, San Francisco, and New York, Soko aims to empower artisans and promote sustainable economic development.
Olist is a Brazilian company headquartered in Curitiba that operates an online e-commerce platform designed to facilitate sales for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It acts as a commerce enabler by connecting entrepreneurs to major online marketplaces, allowing them to advertise and sell their products seamlessly. Olist's offerings include Olist Store, which helps merchants sell on various marketplaces, and Olist Shops, a mobile-first e-commerce solution integrated with social media and accessible in 180 countries. Additionally, Olist provides logistics services through Olist Pax, a cloud-based network that supports fulfillment in Brazil, and financial services through Olist Credit and Olist Pay, assisting SMBs with their capital needs. As a leading commerce enabler, Olist is expanding its reach beyond Brazil to serve the global market.