How we invest

How we invest

Bridging financing gaps for small and growing businesses

Through catalytic funding, we help surface and commercialize new ideas, business models, companies and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, expand energy access, and alleviate poverty while also addressing the crosscutting themes of women and youth.

We are the world’s largest challenge fund and we have perfected this model to identify unique and innovative business ideas that have demonstrable social impact.

We are committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk
economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go.

Our financing options

We provide a range of financing tools, which are designed to best serve small and growing businesses address different market failures.

Grants

We disburse grants when the proposed project/business approach is particularly risky, and requires seed funding to test the concept, fund research and development (R&D), pilot test and/or cover feasibilities.
Working capital

This is made available to entities that have been able to grow their businesses and demonstrate the need for additional working capital.
Zero interest loans

At times grants are accompanied by interest free loans in jurisdictions where loaning and loan recovery are permitted and where the repatriation of funds is legally feasible.