U.S. International Development Finance Corp

Ilara Health is a company based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2018, that specializes in the development and distribution of AI-powered diagnostic devices aimed at primary care doctors in peri-urban and rural clinics. The company's innovative technology platform integrates miniature diagnostic devices with software that connects to an electronic medical record system, allowing healthcare providers to efficiently manage patient data. By focusing on accurate and affordable diagnostics, Ilara Health seeks to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality for rural populations in Africa, addressing the challenges posed by a fragmented healthcare infrastructure.

Syrah Resources Limited is an Australian resource company focused on the exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties, primarily in Mozambique. The company's flagship project is the Balama graphite and vanadium project, located in the Cabo Delgado province. Through its Balama segment, Syrah Resources produces and sells natural flake graphite, which is distributed globally to various markets, including Europe, China, India, and the Americas. In addition to flake graphite, the company has developed a downstream strategy to produce natural spherical graphite, utilized in anodes for lithium-ion batteries and recarburiser products for steelmaking and other industrial applications. Founded in 2007, Syrah Resources is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

BasiGo is an e-mobility start-up focused on transforming public transportation in Kenya and Rwanda by providing electric buses as a sustainable alternative to diesel. The company operates under a pay-as-you-go model, which includes maintenance and battery charging services, facilitating the transition for bus owners to adopt electric vehicles. BasiGo's electric buses are designed to operate throughout the day on a single charge, utilizing proven battery technology that offers a reliable and economical solution amidst rising diesel costs. By making electric buses more accessible, BasiGo aims to enhance the efficiency of public transport while contributing to environmental sustainability.

Inputi is an online marketplace based in Kampala, Uganda, designed to connect smallholder farmers with quality and affordable farm supplies. The company aggregates and distributes essential agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides, allowing farmers to access a diverse range of products through a single digital platform. In addition to its marketplace services, Inputi offers insurance coverage to protect farmers against unforeseen circumstances, further supporting their agricultural endeavors. By facilitating access to genuine inputs at competitive prices, Inputi aims to enhance the productivity and resilience of smallholder farmers in the region.

Pezesha is a digital financial marketplace based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2016. The company focuses on connecting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to various financial resources, including working capital, float financing, and LPO financing. By leveraging credit and data analytics, Pezesha facilitates affordable credit options for underserved micro-businesses, enabling them to access the formal financial system. The platform serves as a bridge between lenders and low-income borrowers, promoting a shared economy and broadening financial access for SMBs. Through its innovative approach, Pezesha aims to be a leading player in Africa's digital financial landscape, enhancing the growth potential of small businesses across the region.

Copia Global Inc. is an e-commerce company based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2013. It provides an innovative application that allows users to browse and order products from local shopkeepers, facilitating access to a wide range of quality goods for consumers in the developing world. The platform is designed to empower middle to low-income Africans by enabling them to make purchases without needing direct internet access. Copia Global leverages mobile technologies and a network of local agents to serve as distribution points, ensuring efficient delivery of products at consumers' convenience. The application also incorporates a mobile payment system, allowing shopkeepers to fulfill customer orders seamlessly.

Blencowe Resources plc, incorporated in 2017 and based in Rugby, United Kingdom, is focused on the exploration and development of the Orom Graphite Project located in the Republic of Uganda. The company holds mining licenses for an extensive area of approximately 520,000 hectares, with a commitment to advancing the project's potential. Originally known as Cora Gold Limited, Blencowe Resources aims to strategically acquire additional companies or business ventures to enhance its operations and growth trajectory within the mining sector.

Blencowe Resources plc, incorporated in 2017 and based in Rugby, United Kingdom, is focused on the exploration and development of the Orom Graphite Project located in the Republic of Uganda. The company holds mining licenses for an extensive area of approximately 520,000 hectares, with a commitment to advancing the project's potential. Originally known as Cora Gold Limited, Blencowe Resources aims to strategically acquire additional companies or business ventures to enhance its operations and growth trajectory within the mining sector.

Kentegra Biotechnology Holdings is a leading U.S-Kenyan company that supports a Kenyan-based biopesticide processing business that aggregates, extracts, and refines pale refine extract (PRE) from the pyrethrum flower, and sells the PRE to formulators across the world. Kentegra is committed to improving farmer’s livelihoods by investing in the communities where we are working to help farmers and their families have a more stable income and better quality of life. Grants: Norad 2021, AgriFi 2020, USAID 2020, USAID 2019, DEG 2020, DEG 2019

Kasha is a Rwanda-based e-commerce platform established in 2015, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to improving access to health and personal care products for women in East Africa. The company offers a wide range of products that cater to various aspects of women's health, including beauty care, menstrual hygiene, and sexual and reproductive health. Its product lineup includes bath and body items, menstrual care products such as sanitary pads and menstrual cups, contraceptives, pharmaceuticals, and mom and baby care items. Kasha’s innovative approach serves both urban and rural populations, ensuring that women have access to essential health products at all stages of life, including maternal health and disease prevention. The company emphasizes the importance of accessibility and affordability in promoting overall health and well-being for women in the region.

Africa Data Centres is a leading network of interconnected, carrier and cloud-neutral data centre facilities across the African continent. The company provides essential infrastructure for digital transformation, offering rapid and secure data centre services and interconnections for businesses. With strategically located facilities in major regional trade hubs, Africa Data Centres enables both African and international companies to host their critical applications and data securely. Notably, the East Africa Data Centre, situated at Sameer Industrial Park in Nairobi, is optimally positioned to connect to a wide range of carrier networks and long-distance fibre routes, ensuring reliable access to multiple markets, including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia. This strategic location makes it an ideal choice for businesses seeking robust data hosting solutions in East Africa.

Copia Global Inc. is an e-commerce company based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2013. It provides an innovative application that allows users to browse and order products from local shopkeepers, facilitating access to a wide range of quality goods for consumers in the developing world. The platform is designed to empower middle to low-income Africans by enabling them to make purchases without needing direct internet access. Copia Global leverages mobile technologies and a network of local agents to serve as distribution points, ensuring efficient delivery of products at consumers' convenience. The application also incorporates a mobile payment system, allowing shopkeepers to fulfill customer orders seamlessly.

Apollo Agriculture, established in 2015, is a Kenyan agtech company with a presence in Nairobi. It specializes in providing smallholder farmers with access to critical farming inputs, financing, and advisory services. The company leverages agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology to assess credit risk and tailor financial and technical assistance to each farmer's unique needs and location. This approach aims to enhance farm yields and profitability in emerging markets, with a focus on Kenya.

Ampersand is a company based in Kigali, Rwanda, that specializes in the manufacture of affordable electric vehicles and charging systems tailored for the three million motorcycle taxi drivers in East Africa. The company aims to enhance mass-market electric mobility by providing a battery swap network and an operating system that facilitates sustainable transport solutions. By making electric mobility accessible and affordable, Ampersand not only improves the livelihoods of drivers but also contributes to environmental sustainability. As of January 2024, the company's customer base has expanded to 2,000 users, who collectively cover 1.5 million kilometers weekly in Nairobi and Kigali.

Africa Healthcare Network (AHN) is a pioneering provider of dialysis services in Sub-Saharan Africa, establishing the first chain of dialysis centers in the region. The organization focuses on delivering high-quality, life-saving dialysis treatment at affordable prices, addressing the critical shortage of accessible care for patients suffering from Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). With a commitment to improving healthcare in a region faced with limited resources and a rising prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) due to urbanization and lifestyle diseases, AHN combines global technical expertise with practical operational experience. The organization aims to enhance the quality of care while reducing costs for patients by securing high-quality equipment, training healthcare professionals, and optimizing operational efficiency. Operating in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya, AHN seeks to increase patient access to essential dialysis services, fostering better health outcomes and providing a sustainable business model.

Kasha is a Rwanda-based e-commerce platform established in 2015, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to improving access to health and personal care products for women in East Africa. The company offers a wide range of products that cater to various aspects of women's health, including beauty care, menstrual hygiene, and sexual and reproductive health. Its product lineup includes bath and body items, menstrual care products such as sanitary pads and menstrual cups, contraceptives, pharmaceuticals, and mom and baby care items. Kasha’s innovative approach serves both urban and rural populations, ensuring that women have access to essential health products at all stages of life, including maternal health and disease prevention. The company emphasizes the importance of accessibility and affordability in promoting overall health and well-being for women in the region.

Copia Global Inc. is an e-commerce company based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2013. It provides an innovative application that allows users to browse and order products from local shopkeepers, facilitating access to a wide range of quality goods for consumers in the developing world. The platform is designed to empower middle to low-income Africans by enabling them to make purchases without needing direct internet access. Copia Global leverages mobile technologies and a network of local agents to serve as distribution points, ensuring efficient delivery of products at consumers' convenience. The application also incorporates a mobile payment system, allowing shopkeepers to fulfill customer orders seamlessly.

Kasha is a Rwanda-based e-commerce platform established in 2015, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to improving access to health and personal care products for women in East Africa. The company offers a wide range of products that cater to various aspects of women's health, including beauty care, menstrual hygiene, and sexual and reproductive health. Its product lineup includes bath and body items, menstrual care products such as sanitary pads and menstrual cups, contraceptives, pharmaceuticals, and mom and baby care items. Kasha’s innovative approach serves both urban and rural populations, ensuring that women have access to essential health products at all stages of life, including maternal health and disease prevention. The company emphasizes the importance of accessibility and affordability in promoting overall health and well-being for women in the region.