Kenya

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

Adenia Partners is a private markets investment firm focused on growth opportunities across Africa. Founded in 2002, the firm invests in high-potential companies that drive economic development while delivering strong financial returns. With offices across key African markets, Adenia Partners works closely with management teams to scale businesses, improve operational performance, and expand regional footprint. The firm integrates ESG and impact considerations into its investment strategy, with a focus on building resilient businesses that contribute to long-term economic growth on the continent.

ALMA Sustainable Finance is an impact investment firm focused on mobilizing capital toward sustainable development and climate solutions. The firm partners with institutional investors, development finance institutions, and private sector stakeholders to structure and deploy capital into high-impact opportunities across emerging markets. Through a blended finance approach, ALMA Sustainable Finance supports investments that address critical global challenges, including climate change, financial inclusion, and sustainable infrastructure, while delivering competitive financial returns.

The Catalyst Fund is a pre-seed VC fund and accelerator that invests $200K in early-stage startups and follows on at Seed and Series A rounds. As a thesis-driven investor, they focus exclusively on backing founders building climate adaptation and resilience solutions across Africa. The fund operates as both an investor and venture builder, with ex-founders and operators providing hands-on support spending 400+ hours with each startup to accelerate growth. Since 2015, they have accelerated 81 companies across 19 markets, connecting startups to their global network of 250+ investors and ecosystem partners. Their comprehensive approach includes tailored venture building support across key business areas including data, tech, sales, talent, product, fundraising, and growth.

Since 2010, Kuramo Capital Management has been a leading force in connecting global investors with Africa's dynamic markets. With strategic presence in Nairobi, Lagos, and New York, they deliver deep local insights and drive significant returns. The firm manages nearly $500 million under management and has catalyzed over $3 billion into high-growth businesses across sub-Saharan Africa, impacting over 3.5 million lives across 200+ companies in 30+ countries. Kuramo employs a results-oriented and data-centric ESG strategy that incorporates and oversees ESG factors throughout the investment life cycle. They focus on key sectors including Financial Services, Agriculture, Technology, and Power, using primary fund investments, direct and co-investments, and separately managed accounts to build sustainable prosperity across Africa.

One Acre Fund is an agricultural service provider that supplies smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa with farm supplies, financing, and training needed to increase productivity and income. They work with 1 million smallholder farmers, providing quality seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural services to help farmers grow more food and earn more money on the same plot of land. The organization operates on an investment model rather than charity, providing farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to build resilient communities and sustainable livelihoods. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre Fund invests in farmers to help them increase yields and profits through better planting techniques, naturally-produced hybrid seeds, and small amounts of fertilizer combined with education and training. One Acre Fund plays a critical role in addressing food security and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, where most people living on $1 a day are farmers and smallholder farms produce 80% of the continent's food. Their work delivers 45% more farm income on the same plot of land, helping create pathways out of hunger and poverty while strengthening local economies and communities across nine African countries.

Pharo Foundation is a mission-driven, impact-oriented organization that designs, funds, and operates economic development programmes toward a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa. The foundation focuses on three core missions: education, water, and productivity, operating primarily in the Horn of Africa including Ethiopia, Somaliland, Rwanda, and Kenya. Distinguished as a privately funded organization, Pharo Foundation combines sustainable ventures with non-profit projects, prioritizing problem-solving, research, and economic empowerment. In 2019, the foundation expanded its approach by adding a commercial arm called Pharo Ventures, which operates for-profit social enterprises to complement its non-profit activities and create sustainable impact across the continent.

Talanton Impact Fund is a faith-driven impact investment firm that creates transformative change through strategic investments in East Africa's 'missing middle' - growth-stage businesses with $500K-$15M in revenue. The fund targets the critical funding gap between microfinance and traditional banking, where 70% of new jobs are created by small and medium-sized businesses. Guided by the biblical Parable of the Talents, Talanton has committed $60M in capital across 18 active investments, impacting over 148,500 jobs across Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC. Their rigorous vetting process and ongoing mentorship ensure both business growth and meaningful social impact, allowing faith-driven investors to earn financial returns while combating poverty through job creation.