Scio Network

🚀 Huge congratulations to the five remarkable startups from Ghana selected for the #develoPPP Ventures program! We're thrilled to be part of this journey and look forward to working together to turn these bold ideas into impactful realities.

🌟 We’re delighted to introduce our newest network member, Rimamskeb Nuhu! With a strong background in Project Management, Rimamskeb is a fantastic addition to our network, and we’re excited for our collaboration.

Thank you, Thomas Festerling, for the warm handoff. We're honoured to celebrate #25YearsDeveloPPP, a testament to its enduring impact and success. At Scio Network, partnering with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and our consortium partner GreenTec Capital Partners has been incredibly rewarding. Thank you for providing us with the platform to implement important partnerships like this one. The experiences we've gained from develoPPP, especially in Ghana, have been enriching and impactful. Special thanks to the dedicated GIZ develoPPP team, Annabelle Söffing, and Camilo Carrillo Wilisch, for their leadership. Kudos to Emmanuel "Melo" Nomafo for his contributions. Here's to continuing our impactful journey! We nominate Hannah B. Acquah, Isaac Newton Acquah and The Innovation Spark to share their project highlights. #25YearsDeveloPPP #ImpactInvesting #SustainableDevelopment #Teamwork

Equity vs. Debt? Or new alternatives altogether?   🏦 Equity-driven funding remains dominant in the global venture capital landscape. However, it often falls short in addressing the specific challenges faced by startups and SMEs in emerging markets. These companies typically have relatively low funding requirements (which can be cost-prohibitive for fund managers), are not always digital-first and therefore may lack scalable business models, operate within uncertain legal frameworks, and offer limited exit options—making traditional equity deals less suitable. This raises an important question: What alternative and more innovative financing solutions can better meet the needs of these businesses? In collaboration with GreenTec Capital Partners and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, our colleagues Tobias Straube and Florian Justus conducted a study exploring alternative financing instruments for startups and SMEs in Africa, particularly those focused on climate change adaptation. Some key insights from the study: ❗Equity funding yields moderate returns, often dilutes ownership, and favors tech startups over traditional SMEs, highlighting the need for alternative funding models. 🌍 Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFE), created by Y Combinator have gained popularity for early-stage start-ups funding by simplifying seed rounds without requiring immediate valuations, making them particularly useful in emerging markets like Africa.  🤝 Corporations through Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund startups, an exciting opportunity particularly for emerging markets. Beyond financial gains, these ventures access innovative technologies, new regions, and ideas as startups gain expertise and infrastructure, providing a win-win solution. 🚀 Venture Studios continue to grow as an effective model for nurturing startups reducing the risk of failure within the first years. 💸 Venture Debt remains an underestimated funding source. Its flexible financing option with negotiable loan terms, makes it accessible, providing alternatives to equity financing.  💻 Frontier financing options such as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are bridging this gap and fostering economic growth as Crypto adoption rates surge in Africa. 🌳 SMEs and startups, particularly those in climate-relevant sectors, can benefit from participating in Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) by generating revenue, attracting investment, and boosting sustainability credentials.   🔍Interested to learn more? Check out the full study➡️ https://lnkd.in/da8mdvnv Filippo Brasesco I Tobias Straube I Nora Fedisch I Florian Justus I GreenTec Capital Partners I Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH    #Startups #SMEs #InnovativeFinance #Funding #EmergingMarkets #ScioNetwork #GreenTecCapitalPartners #GIZ

Exciting News! 🎉 We’re thrilled to welcome Paulin Regnard to the Scio Network! With extensive expertise in democracy and governance, Paulin brings fresh insights to our growing network of experts. We look forward to a successful collaboration!

Equity vs. Debt? Or new alternatives altogether?   🏦 Equity-driven funding remains dominant in the global venture capital landscape. However, it often falls short in addressing the specific challenges faced by startups and SMEs in emerging markets. These companies typically have relatively low funding requirements (which can be cost-prohibitive for fund managers), are not always digital-first and therefore may lack scalable business models, operate within uncertain legal frameworks, and offer limited exit options—making traditional equity deals less suitable. This raises an important question: What alternative and more innovative financing solutions can better meet the needs of these businesses? In collaboration with GreenTec Capital Partners and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, our colleagues Tobias Straube and Florian Justus conducted a study exploring alternative financing instruments for startups and SMEs in Africa, particularly those focused on climate change adaptation. Some key insights from the study: ❗Equity funding yields moderate returns, often dilutes ownership, and favors tech startups over traditional SMEs, highlighting the need for alternative funding models. 🌍 Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFE), created by Y Combinator have gained popularity for early-stage start-ups funding by simplifying seed rounds without requiring immediate valuations, making them particularly useful in emerging markets like Africa.  🤝 Corporations through Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund startups, an exciting opportunity particularly for emerging markets. Beyond financial gains, these ventures access innovative technologies, new regions, and ideas as startups gain expertise and infrastructure, providing a win-win solution. 🚀 Venture Studios continue to grow as an effective model for nurturing startups reducing the risk of failure within the first years. 💸 Venture Debt remains an underestimated funding source. Its flexible financing option with negotiable loan terms, makes it accessible, providing alternatives to equity financing.  💻 Frontier financing options such as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are bridging this gap and fostering economic growth as Crypto adoption rates surge in Africa. 🌳 SMEs and startups, particularly those in climate-relevant sectors, can benefit from participating in Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) by generating revenue, attracting investment, and boosting sustainability credentials.   🔍Interested to learn more? Check out the full study➡️ https://lnkd.in/da8mdvnv Filippo Brasesco I Tobias Straube I Nora Fedisch I Florian Justus I GreenTec Capital Partners I Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH    #Startups #SMEs #InnovativeFinance #Funding #EmergingMarkets #ScioNetwork #GreenTecCapitalPartners #GIZ

Welcome Marco Filippini to Scio Network! We are excited to collaborate with you!

📉 Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change according to the Global Climate Risk Index. 🕗 Time to take action! 📢 Join us for an exciting pitch event and discover some of the most innovative climate adaptation businesses from Pakistan shaping the future of climate resilience today! When & Where: 📅 Date: October 2nd, 2024 ⏰ Start: 3 PM (Pakistan time, PKT) // 12 PM CEST 📍 Format & Location: This event is available in a hybrid format. If you wish to attend in person, please make sure to register at the link below! For those attending virtually, simply mark your calendars and join us at the indicated time using the link provided in the event description. What to Expect: 🌱 Pitches from SMEs developing cutting-edge climate adaptation solutions. 💡 Expert talks on Pakistan's investment landscape. 🚀 Networking over tea and dinner with industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs [Onsite only]. 🔗 Register now and save your spot to participate on the ground! Link: https://lnkd.in/eNcdvx83 The event is organized under PrivABoo. Learn more about the initiative: https://lnkd.in/dGt_RWwi Let’s shape a sustainable tomorrow together! #ClimateChangeAdaptation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Innovation #Pakistan #Lahore #GreenEconomy #Climate #Impact #Resilience #SME #Startup #Pitch #Investment #Investor #VC #Angel #SustainableDevelopment #SGD #SustainableBusiness #ImpactInvesting #GIZ #PrivABoo Wajahat Iqbal, PMP, CBAP Tobias Straube GIZ Pakistan Josué Arguedas Thomas Festerling Joerg Weidemann

Welcome Baltazar ATANGANA to Scio Network! We look forward to a strong and successful collaboration!

Our MD Filippo Brasesco was part of this evaluation team. Read the FAO report! 👉 Reach out if you want to know more about our work on Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Stefania Chirizzi Blaga Zlateva #MEL