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Transforming Startup Financing: The Rise of Venture Debt and Alternative Finance in MENA
The venture capital ecosystem in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) experienced a 23% drop in funding and a 34% decline in the number of transactions closed in 2023. But as Reem Goussous at Village Capital and Dunya Bashiti at Capifly explain, alternative capital solutions are emerging to fill the gap — including venture debt, which reached $757 million in the region last year, a staggering 50-fold increase from 2020 levels. They explore how venture debt provides an important financing tool for early-stage, high-growth startups in MENA, enabling them to access funding without diluting their equity.
- Categories
- Investing
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Helios Towers’ Public Listed Bond, Co-anchored by BII, Mobilises Private Capital of Over $700 Million to Support Africa’s Digital Transformation
BII is providing $30m anchor commitment, alongside other anchor investors including IFC, DEG and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.
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- Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Reversing Climate Change is Possible — But First, We Need to Democratise Climate Finance
Much of the current conversation around climate change focuses on the obstacles that make the problem so difficult to solve. But according to Kevin Kyer at Pyrpose, there are signs of hope, as a growing, global sense of urgency around the issue is driving consumers to embrace sustainable products and behaviors. He explores how emerging technologies and businesses are helping to reduce Co2 emissions — and how platforms like Pyrpose can help mobilize climate-conscious investors to direct climate finance to the most vulnerable parts of the world.
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- Environment, Investing
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More Data is Not the Answer: Why We Need to Reset Our Expectations for Impact Measurement and Management
Impact measurement and management (IMM) is gaining momentum. As Julia Mensink at Acumen explains, while the sector was once underfunded and under-emphasized, it is now taken much more seriously — not only by impact investors, but also by mainstream banks, pension funds and corporations. But she argues that this progress has brought with it some challenges, including investors' growing demand for rigorous impact data, regardless of the challenges this data collection and reporting may present to entrepreneurs. She proposes some ways investors can work with social enterprises to shift IMM from a burden to a means to greater impact.
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- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Press Release: Capria Ventures Closes India Opportunity Fund Post Successful Sale of Awign
Capria Ventures, a Global South specialist venture capital firm, announced the successful completion of fundraising for its India Opportunity Fund at INR 153 crore (~USD 19M).
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Press Release: Global Blended Finance Volumes Reach 5-Year High
The global network for blended finance, Convergence, has released the 8th edition of the State of Blended Finance report.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Global
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Taking Stock of India’s Fintech Landscape: A Venture Capital Firm Shares Six Insights from One of the World’s Most Vibrant Investment Markets
The global team at Quona Capital — a venture capital firm focused on inclusive fintech — recently concluded a visit to India, during which they immersed themselves in the local fintech ecosystem. Michel Zaidler at Quona shares six insights they gathered from several of their Indian portfolio companies, and from these companies' customers and other fintech thought leaders. He highlights some of the groundbreaking business models these fintechs are using, and explains why the Indian market offers unique opportunities to investors.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance, Investing, Technology
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Goodwell Invests in OmniRetail, Fuelling Better Opportunities for Informal Retailers
The firm is proud to be the first to commit, underscoring its desire to support the growth of companies driving financial inclusion in underserved communities.
- Categories
- Investing