October here at Finding XY has been quite an eventful month. In this newsletter, we share highlights from the different projects that we have designed and implemented. Specifically, the newsletter features the Women in Agriculture Impact Investment (WAII) Facility, and the Africa Green Technologies Facility (AGTF). Each of these is significant to Finding XY’s model- designing and implementing innovative projects that provide access to low-cost capital, capacity development, and market-based research to support entrepreneurs to position themselves for investment and growth while collaborating with eco-system builders to address climate change and create a social impact. Please receive our October Newsletter.
Eddie Sembatya,
C.E.0
THE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE IMPACT INVESTMENT (WAII) FACILITY
Through the Women in Agriculture Impact Investment (WAII) Facility, Finding XY has built a strong pipeline of female-led Agri SMEs looking to raise investment of a minimum of USD 50,000 in debt or equity financing. The facility is now partnering with institutional and impact investors to accelerate investment in female-led Agri-SMEs. Since the facility launch in June, we have partnered with investors including, Nordic Impact Funds and I Gravity. We look forward to engaging with more investors to address the “gender gap” through Gender Lens Investment and a blend of development and commercial finance. Agriculture being the largest employer of women, conscious Gender Lens Investment across the value chain will create a positive economic and social ripple effect across generations.
The facility has so far received over 100 expressions of interest, out of which 14 Agri-SMEs have been selected for the first investment advisory cycle. The companies are currently going through investment readiness support, and we are proud that the facility has already recorded successful deal closures!
The call for applications is still open and we are still receiving applications from female-led enterprises in the agricultural sector aimed towards developing and supporting a community of female-led Agri SMEs to grow and receive investment.
WAII is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future Uganda Inclusive Agricultural Markets Activity and is implemented by Finding XY.
AFRICA GREEN TECHNOLOGIES FACILITY (AGTF)
The increasing need for solar companies to afford inventory financing since the available local debt financing solutions are too expensive for them only means one thing, creation of solutions and opportunities to strengthen domestic markets and accelerate adoption of green technologies.
Finding XY and partners have designed the Africa Green Technologies Facility (AGTF), a facility that profiles feasible projects where investments can be made, and match them to funders via an alternative/blended financing scheme as a way of providing cover across the different investment needs of funders and local enterprises. This shall give an opportunity to local climate-smart enterprises to grow, provide green energy and better climate adaptation solutions in local communities
The facility seeks to increase cooperation among green business promoters by taking a bespoke approach to defining green technology needs, learning, and facilitating deal flow using finance and project consulting for commercial uptake by investors.