Village Capital
Village Capital is a Washington, D.C.-based venture capital firm founded in 2009, focused on early-stage and seed investments in sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, and healthcare. The firm aims to empower entrepreneurs by fostering a unique peer-selection model, allowing participants to award pre-committed seed funding to the top ventures identified during their programs. Village Capital supports entrepreneurs globally, with a significant presence in regions including North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Through its programs, the firm has engaged over 1,000 entrepreneurs and has facilitated the growth of more than 550 enterprises, leading to substantial job creation and revenue generation. Village Capital also operates a nonprofit to provide training for founders and investors, and manages a for-profit investment fund that invests in top graduates of its programs. Its innovative approach to investment and support has garnered recognition, including the M-Prize for innovation.
Mazima Retirement Plan engages in helping those working in the formal sector save for retirement.
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.
Patasente is a factoring platform aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), traders, and farmers. The platform facilitates access to credit, allowing users to purchase and pay for goods on favorable terms. Through its web and mobile applications, as well as a durable payment card, Patasente enables users to manage transactions effectively both in physical stores and online. By offering these services, the platform helps farmers, warehouses, and factories enhance their earnings, lower expenses, and improve cash flow.
LipaMobile operates an integrated cashless payment platform called Xuldime, designed to facilitate financial transactions among parents, school administrators, and vendors in the educational sector. This service addresses the needs of parents with variable incomes by allowing them to manage school fees, supplies, and services through manageable, periodic payments rather than lump sums. In addition to processing payments, LipaMobile's platform includes features such as a lunch pocket money tool for students and various fee collection options, streamlining the transfer of funds and enhancing the financial experience within schools. The platform emphasizes security in sending and receiving mobile money, making it a valuable resource for families and educational institutions alike.
ARED Group, founded in 2013 and based in Kigali, Rwanda, operates a multi-service solar kiosk platform designed to enhance access to digital services in Africa, particularly for low-income individuals. The company offers a range of services, including Internet Wi-Fi, intranet solutions for offline users, phone charging, mobile money, prepaid electricity, airtime, and tax payment services. ARED has developed a mini-server platform that stores digital applications closer to users, reducing internet costs and facilitating access. With approximately 142 kiosks across Rwanda and Uganda, ARED serves around 150,000 unique customers annually and processes over 500,000 digital transactions each year. The company has recently expanded its offerings to include smart data and content management systems for businesses, helping clients such as telecom companies and NGOs optimize their networks and enhance user engagement. ARED's operations have also extended to Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Nigeria, reflecting its commitment to scaling its impact across the region.
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.
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