The Project
I&P, an impact investing group dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, analyzed its large pool of transactions, funds, and structures to help explain why and where catalytic capital has been needed, what forms it has typically taken, what firms have been involved, how it has been utilized, and what economic, social, and financial outcomes have been achieved. This research considered different forms of catalytic capital, such as equity at both the fund and SME level, as well as the landscape of investors from Africa, Europe, and the U.S. that have been involved in these efforts.
Value and Outcomes
I&P has invested in nearly 150 companies in 16 countries. It has a strong track record of successfully using catalytic capital to de-risk products and transactions, crowd in new funders, and maximize impact. This project surfaced best practices and provided recommendations to maximize the efficiency of catalytic capital when supporting African entrepreneurs.
This work is generating deep insights into the need for catalytic capital and investment products and structures that are best aligned with the needs of the enterprises themselves.
For more information on I&P, visit their website.