SA’s Impact Amplifier Catalysed $4.5m in Startup Funding by End of 2014

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

South African incubator and consulting firm Impact Amplifier has revealed to Disrupt Africa it had catalysed over ZAR55 million (US$4.5 million) in investments into early-stage startups, and aims to close over ZAR100 million (US$8.2 million) of capital deployed in 2015.

Impact Amplifier, which was launched in 2011, describes its mission as accelerating the growth and capital provision of high impact, innovative businesses in Africa.

Partner Pascal Frohlicher told Disrupt Africa Impact Amplifier had been founded with the “strong belief” business can provide solutions to social and environmental issues, with impact investing gaining traction and money being deployed aimed at achieving both financial and social returns.

“There was huge potential for Africa to be part of this powerful movement, but a major hurdle was – and still is – that most exciting socially and environmentally impactful businesses are not ready to absorb growth capital into their business,” he said.

“Filling this gap would be a game changer for accelerating and supporting innovation on the continent. Since then we have been instrumental in supplying investment-ready projects and companies to investors, all of which have had measurable socio-economic impacts.”

The figures speak to the company’s success, while Frohlicher said the company is also proud of the impact of its Enterprise Elevator accelerator programme, which launched in 2012. One major ongoing commitment is the Green Pioneer Accelerator, which is being delivered in South Africa and Kenya through partnerships with GrowthAfrica,VC4Africa and Hivos.

Source: Disrupt Africa (link opens in a new window)

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