Village Capital

Dabchy SARL operates an online peer-to-peer fashion marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of new and used fashion items. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Tunis, Tunisia, the platform allows users to list a variety of products, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, bags, and beauty items. Dabchy fosters a community atmosphere where users can engage with one another by liking, commenting on listings, and sharing fashion advice. This unique combination of marketplace and social interaction enables customers to buy, sell, and exchange fashion items while participating in a vibrant online community.

Octavia Carbon is the first Direct Air Capture (DAC) company in the Global South, focused on filtering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The company designs, builds, and deploys patented technology that utilizes Kenya's geothermal energy and geological resources to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of DAC technology. By capturing CO2 directly from the air, Octavia Carbon enables the conversion of this greenhouse gas into stable underground rock formations or repurposes it as an industrial gas, helping to replace polluting fossil fuels. This innovative approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also supports industrial power users in East Africa, contributing to the fight against energy poverty in the region.

Duma Toys, established in 2018 and headquartered in Giza, Egypt, is a brand dedicated to crafting high-quality, handmade children's toys and products. Their offerings include soft crochet blankets, dolls, and animal dolls, each meticulously crafted to inspire imagination and support children's mental and psychological development. The company also provides job training and employment opportunities, utilizing sustainable materials in their production process.

BeSingularity, headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a technology company that provides a sales outsourcing platform. This platform aims to help businesses grow their sales, acquire and retain customers, and achieve overall business growth objectives. It enables clients to optimize their sales strategies, expand market reach, and ultimately sell their products and services more effectively.

Cupmena operates in the agri-tech and waste management sectors, focusing on maximizing value through the reuse of spent coffee grounds. The company has developed an efficient waste collection system that collects these grounds to serve as the primary soil for mushroom cultivation. In addition to its current operations, Cupmena is actively engaged in research and development, working on new mushroom strains and exploring additional agricultural solutions derived from spent coffee grounds. This initiative aims to enhance the agri-sector in Egypt and the broader MENA region by providing sustainable and innovative solutions.

ICT for Development Kenya reaches out to undeserved communities in East Africa offering Technology literacy.

Angaza Elimu is an ed-tech company focused on transforming education in Kenya and across Africa by addressing challenges in classroom efficiency and access to educational resources. The organization provides a comprehensive e-Learning platform that simplifies classroom management, allowing teachers to dedicate more time to effective instruction. It features a Student Portal designed to engage learners and foster critical thinking skills. Angaza Elimu also emphasizes skill-based learning to prepare African youth for success in a digital economy. Additionally, the company offers supplemental STEM training to cultivate innovation among young learners and operates an Internet of Things (IoT) school to provide hands-on training in hardware engineering, enabling students to learn both in and out of the classroom at their own pace.

Tustawi is a Kenyan company specializing in e-learning solutions for professional development. It leverages technology to create customized, job-specific, and market-relevant training programs, helping professionals enhance their skills and stay competitive in the job market.

Khazna operates a mobile application platform designed to enhance financial services for Egyptians, particularly targeting the 50% of smartphone users who lack access to formal financial systems. The super app provides a range of services including General Purpose Credit, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), bill payments, savings, and insurance. It also facilitates cash advances for employees to address unforeseen emergencies and allows users to transfer and receive funds without incurring transaction fees. By focusing on digitizing cash transactions, Khazna aims to offer convenient, effective, and secure financial solutions, thereby improving financial inclusion in Egypt and potentially beyond.

Ensibuuko is a Ugandan startup founded in 2014 that develops cloud-based micro-finance software tailored for community-level financial entities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company's software provides essential banking solutions, allowing users to access their accounts via mobile phones, where they can check balances, make deposits, and withdraw funds. Designed to function effectively even in areas with poor telecom infrastructure, Ensibuuko's software includes standard accounting and reporting features, thus enhancing the viability and competitiveness of community microfinance schemes. By offering affordable financial products and services, Ensibuuko aims to support the growth of local businesses and improve financial access in rural communities.

Ennota is a financial management startup based in Egypt, specializing in cash flow management, budgeting, and financial projections for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the MENA region. Its primary offering, ennota.com, is a cloud-based cash flow management tool designed for business owners with limited technical or accounting expertise. The platform allows users to securely record transactions and visualize their financial data in an intuitive manner. Ennota.com is customizable, enabling businesses to tailor their spending and expenditure categories while tracking trends that are vital for informed decision-making. With robust visual reporting capabilities, the platform provides detailed or summary views of financials, helping SMEs gain insights from historical data and anticipate potential issues for better financial management.

ARED Group is a company focused on bridging the digital divide, particularly in developing countries. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, ARED has developed a business-in-a-box solar kiosk platform that provides various services, including Internet access, intranet solutions for offline users, phone charging, airtime, mobile money, prepaid electricity, and tax payment services. The company aims to support underserved communities, including women and individuals with disabilities. ARED's innovative approach utilizes renewable energy through solar kiosks and mini-server platforms, which store digital applications closer to users, thereby reducing internet costs and enabling access to digital services. After several years of development, ARED began piloting its technology in six African countries in 2020, with a mission to eliminate the digital divide by creating a distributed infrastructure that enhances connectivity and accessibility for users.

EDOM is a Kenya-based fortified flour and enriched porridge producer mitigating malnutrition in Sub-Sarahan Africa through a BoP-targeted sales strategy. The business has achieved a 68% revenue CAGR since inception, 4-fold net margin increase in 2013, and has a 4,000+ smallholder farmer network in Uganda and Kenya. With I-DEV support, EDOM has engaged a leading global impact investor to secure the first tranche of a multi-stage investment which will be used to provide WC and M&E financing to double production and extend BoP outreach.

Access Afya Limited is a healthcare provider based in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on delivering essential medical services to low-income neighborhoods through a network of micro-clinics. Founded in 2012, the company operates standardized digital clinics that offer a range of services including consultations, pharmacy services, rapid diagnostic tests, family planning, and immunizations. Access Afya also engages with local schools by providing health check-ups, health report cards, deworming services, hand-washing education, and nutrition counseling. Utilizing modern health technologies, Access Afya aims to improve access to quality healthcare in underserved communities.