Afrishela

Our impact investment thesis bets on women, adaptation to climate change, including the youth and integrating low-income communities as the formula to drive and maintain sustainable growth and ensure shared prosperity. People, Purpose and Profit.

Our investment approach

Afrishela has coined its investment strategy around gender lens investing and is targeting sectors where climate action would have the most impact. With deal sizes ranging from $20,000 to $500,000, we seek to address an underserved segment of the market that is often overlooked either due to its perceived risk or operating costs with funders seeking collateralised lending or bigger deal sizes.

We target the missing middle entrepreneur segment by focusing on early growth stage women-owned and led businesses with innovative, responsive financing using mostly self-liquidating structures.

Geographic Focus: East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda) and Southern Africa (Zambia, South Africa).

Priority Sectors: Agriculture and Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Retail & Wholesale Trade, Education, Health, Financial Services and Renewable Energy.

General Criteria: Revenue-generating (at least $60,000), been operating for at least 3 years, gross profit margins of 30%, year on year growth of 20%, cash flow positive (for debt like instruments).

Type of Funding Offered: Mezzanine financing (Revenue Based Financing, Mezzanine loans, variable interest loans, preference shares) & Equity financing.