The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of The World Bank Group that focuses on fostering sustainable economic growth in developing countries through private sector investment. It provides a range of financial services, including loans, equity investments, quasi-equity products, and advisory services aimed at supporting startups and various stages of company development. IFC invests in sectors such as agribusiness, financial services, health, education, infrastructure, global manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunications, and tourism, with a particular emphasis on projects that promote food security, digital finance, and affordable healthcare. The organization targets investments ranging from $1 million to $100 million, often seeking minority stakes but may also take a majority position in its portfolio companies. IFC aims to create jobs, generate tax revenues, and enhance corporate governance in emerging markets, thus contributing positively to local communities. Established in 1956 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., IFC operates globally with offices across various regions, focusing its efforts on financing projects that align with its mission of improving lives in developing countries.
Oikocredit is a financial institution established in 1968 and based in the Netherlands. It focuses on empowering individuals and communities by providing funding to the microfinance sector, fair trade organizations, cooperatives, and small to medium enterprises. Oikocredit aims to create sustainable opportunities for people in need, enabling them to improve their own circumstances through access to financial resources.
Investisseurs & Partenaires is an impact investment group focused on supporting African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Established in 2002 by Patrice Hoppenot and currently led by Jean-Michel Severino, I&P has invested in over 90 companies across 16 African countries, spanning various sectors such as health, transport, and microfinance. The organization aims to foster local economic development by providing capital, technical assistance, and strategic support to enhance the growth of its portfolio companies. I&P manages four pan-African funds and sponsors five additional impact funds, with a total of €135 million under management. The team, comprising approximately forty professionals, operates from Paris and seven African offices located in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, Niger, and Senegal. Through its investments, I&P seeks to create long-term employment opportunities and generate significant social, environmental, and governance impacts across the continent.
TLG Capital is an award-winning private investment firm dedicated to empowering frontier market entrepreneurs, with a focus on opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).TLG firmly believes that impact creation is crucial to sustained financial success. They are committed to tackling persistent challenges and better directing resources towards improving the lives for some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Their investments have had a significantly social, environmental and development impact across Sub-Saharan Africa.TLG Africa Limited is a permanent capital investment vehicle focusing on equity opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). TLG Africa invests in sectors underpinned by the ‘rise of the African consumer’, such as: healthcare, finance, consumer goods and real estate. These investments include direct minority/majority stake investments, secondary opportunities and distressed fund restructurings. TLG Africa always seeks board representation, along with other minority protections. Notable investments include WHO pre-approved pharmaceutical plant QCIL (Uganda) and healthcare facilities in West Africa. In recognition for their efforts, their deals have won multiple awards including ‘Landmark Deal of the Decade’ in 2012 and 'Frontier Deal of the Year' in 2014 from Private Equity Africa.
CDC Group, established in 1948, is the UK’s Development Finance Institution wholly owned by the government. Its primary mission is to foster business development in Africa and South Asia, aiming to create jobs and improve living conditions in some of the world’s most impoverished regions. CDC invests strategically in sectors where job creation is most needed, including manufacturing, agribusiness, infrastructure, financial institutions, construction, health, and education. By supporting businesses in these areas, CDC seeks to stimulate economic growth and enhance the private sector in regions where it is often underdeveloped. Through its portfolio, which includes numerous investee businesses, CDC has demonstrated a significant impact on job creation and local economies, contributing to tax revenues and ultimately improving the lives of individuals in the communities it serves.
Proparco is a French government organization established in 1977, dedicated to promoting private sector funding in sustainable development. Based in Paris, the firm focuses on financing and supporting companies and financial institutions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Proparco's investment strategy emphasizes key development sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, and financial services. The organization aims to strengthen the contributions of private actors towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the international community. Proparco finances projects that create jobs, provide essential goods and services, and combat climate change, offering a range of financial instruments including loans, equity, and guarantees. Its interventions are designed to enhance the resilience of communities and promote sustainable economic growth in emerging markets.
Helios Investors II is a private equity fund managed by Helios Investment Partners, established in 2009 and based in Lagos, Nigeria. The fund focuses on investments across Africa, particularly targeting the exploration, production, and refining sectors. Helios Investors II seeks to make impactful investments in areas such as energy, agriculture, and real estate. The firm aims to support growth-stage companies and engage in various investment types, including buyouts and structured investments. With a strong emphasis on the African market, particularly in countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, Helios Investors II is committed to fostering economic development through its strategic investment approach.
E3 Capital is an investment firm that focuses on enhancing energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. It serves as an advisor to the Energy Access Venture Fund, which is dedicated to financing entrepreneurial businesses that tackle the region's electrification challenges through innovative technologies and business models. The fund is supported by Schneider Electric, a leading energy management company, along with various public-sector investors. E3 Capital aims to promote sustainable energy solutions to address the significant energy access gap in Sub-Saharan Africa.
TLcom Capital is a venture capital firm established in 1999, with offices in Lagos, Nairobi, and London. The firm primarily focuses on technology-enabled companies across Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Europe, Israel, and the United States. TLcom Capital manages over $300 million, with a specific emphasis on early to growth-stage investments. In 2017, the firm launched the TLcom TIDE Africa fund, aiming to raise $100 million to support technology startups across Africa. The fund's investment sectors include fintech, commerce, consumer services, and corporate services, covering areas such as health, education, energy, and media.
Village Capital is a Washington, D.C.-based venture capital firm founded in 2009 that focuses on early-stage and seed investments in sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, and healthcare. The firm aims to empower entrepreneurs by employing a unique peer-support model, allowing entrepreneurs to select the ventures that receive pre-committed seed funding at the conclusion of its programs. Village Capital connects high-potential entrepreneurs with essential resources, fostering innovation and growth. It operates both a nonprofit that provides training for founders and a for-profit investment fund that invests in top program graduates, having supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs and more than 550 enterprises across various global regions. The firm has achieved notable success, with its alumni generating significant revenue and creating thousands of jobs, while maintaining a high recommendation rate among participants.