Mercore’s Post

In some cultures it’s called a “wedding of elephants” when two really big things get together. Well, among the biggest trends in venture investing in Africa currently are cleantech and fintech. More than half of the new capital invested on the continent this year aims at those two sectors. Only a fraction so far goes to the combination of the two: Green fintech. But that too is changing. Financial innovation has become a key driver of climate action. Fintech is falling for the green economy. About time A diverse mix of new financial services is accelerating climate action on the continent. The sector is still at an early stage. Many (of the often homegrown) solutions are yet to meet customers at scale. Take Nairobi-based startup ProsperHedge, which offers foreign exchange hedging, inaccessible to all but the largest players in the economy. Other innovators are focused on biodiversity credits, peer-to-peer lending and alternative credit scoring. Not bad for two elephants getting together. To hear more, click the link in the comments or subscribe to our free newsletter Green Rising covering Africa's green economy. Joshua Ndolo Marie Nielsen

Sustainability is often "branded" as a first world nice to have. But we are really excited by Fetola's standout results which show that actually it just takes small adjustments to immediately improve profitability... whilst at the same time reducing the negative impact on the planet. Clearly #circularity needs to be embedded from top to bottom.

Simon Littlewood is the CEO of SDG Global Group, bringing over 35 years of experience in capital markets, investment, finance and global business development. He is a recognized expert in #sustainability, finance and developing economies, dedicating his career to fostering innovative financial and sustainable solutions worldwide. Under his leadership, SDG Global Group has focused on two primary platforms: the Sustainable Community Platform and the Finance Platform. The Sustainable Community Platform aims to deploy scalable solutions across multiple markets, focusing on food and #agriculture, #energy, water, sustainable housing, health and wellness and education. Meanwhile, the Finance Platform develops and invests in fintech, digital assets, exchanges, funds and investment vehicles, bridging the gap between #investors' needs and the opportunities in both traditional and digital finance. Simon has been actively involved in the #sustainablesector and #impactinvesting since the 1980s and has been a regular speaker at global conferences on topics such as sustainability, investment, geopolitics and developing economies. His extensive background includes working in business, private equity, fund management, #investment and corporate finance across various regions including Europe, Africa, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greater China and Southeast Asia. Since 1990, he has been active in listing and advising businesses on stock markets in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US. His industry experience spans healthcare, clean technology, education, food, retailing, telecommunications, media, technology and financial services. Simon Littlewood will be attending the 185th Private Investment Forum Worldwide, "Future of Energy. Chapter IV," scheduled for August 1st, 2024. This distinguished forum will gather leading figures from the #energysector to discuss crucial developments in the evolving energy landscape. The event will focus on innovative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and nuclear energy, exploring these as cleaner alternatives. The forum is dedicated to presenting progressive and #sustainableenergy solutions that are vital for reducing environmental impact. Special topics include advancing cleaner hydrogen production techniques and exploring alternatives to lithium batteries. To register for the event, go to: https://lnkd.in/dRyEMiJk

What if CleanTech could disrupt industries the way FinTech, InsureTech, and AgriTech have? Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey. With rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization, the continent faces immense challenges. These present unique opportunities for CleanTech innovation. CleanTech is not just a trendy term, it is a lifeline for Africa's future. Africa has the potential to design solutions tailored to its unique needs. CleanTech is more than just technological advancements; it’s about empowering communities and fostering a future where sustainability and growth go hand in hand. I am now on a mission to leverage years of software development expertise to address Africa's environmental challenges. Future Sustainability Forum #CleanTech #Sustainability

In recognition of #ZeroEmissionsDay on Saturday (21 September), let’s commit to investing in the green economy. As the world strives to meet net zero targets, businesses have a vital role in safeguarding our future and driving sustainability.   The Growth Gateway programme has delivered over 20 interventions on green investment across Africa and Asia. One outcome is the Green Investment Tool, designed to help UK businesses and investors identify green opportunities across Africa. The tool provides valuable insights into high-potential sectors and countries, supporting low-carbon projects and sustainable development.   Discover how the Green Investment Tool can guide your business towards greater sustainability and explore opportunities in clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green finance: https://lnkd.in/ewnrve3h   #ZeroEmissions #GreenInvestment #GrowthGateway #AfricaUKTrade #NetZero

Guojin "Jin" Zhang: Capitals Should Embrace Green “Capital" has always been regarded as the opposite of "environmental protection🏕". However, with the deepening of “#sustainable #development”, more and more people of insight and foresight begin to think that: Can capital become a transformative force to green development ❓ Guojin "Jin" Zhang, Founding Partner of Asia Green Fund, put forward his opinion in the interview with #GUI (Grand Union of Innovation). 👨He raised that, capital is not an obstacle, but an #engine to promote green development. The “Green Impact Investment" means: investing in green industries or promoting industries greening through capital, which can not only generate environmental benefits✔, but also achieve financial returns✔. 👨He said that the future #high-quality development of China must be based on green development. We hope to #empower enterprises with green influence, which is also the tenet of Asia Green Fund. Asia Green Fund is not only an "investor", in Guojin "Jin" Zhang's view, it's also a "#partner" and "#mentor" equipped with rich resources and experience, to provide portfolios with all-round #empowerment. Interview video please visit: https://lnkd.in/eVrz3PWN

Did you know that many #angelinvestors strategically adopt a portfolio approach, investing across multiple sectors to mitigate risk? According to our 2024 Angel Investment Survey Report (https://bit.ly/4g46etv), 25% of surveyed angels describe themselves as sector-agnostic, spreading their #investments across two or more sectors. While fintech has long been a favorite, agriculture and agtech are now emerging as the most popular sectors for #investment, reflecting a growing appetite for innovation in areas crucial to sustainable development. Despite this diversification, over 60% of respondents reported having less than five years of experience in their chosen sectors. This underscores the need for experienced partners and co-investors to help navigate and unlock new opportunities. Are you ready to bring your expertise and resources to this dynamic landscape? Join forces with our growing network of angels driving transformative change across Africa! Get in touch with us at secretariat@abanangels.org for more details! African Angel Academy Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) Briter Fadilah Tchoumba Catalytic Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Angel Network Clean Technology Angel Network Digital Trade Angel Network Smart cities Angel Network

🚀 Join the Metabolic journey and invest in the future of sustainability! 🌱 For those who've followed our work over the last 12 years, now is your chance to be a part of our next chapter. We’re offering a 9% interest bond for people or companies with an EU bank account. The minimum investment is €250. And you need to sign up on the platform (in Dutch): https://bit.ly/4gzYmR1 This is your opportunity to support impactful, regenerative projects and join a thriving community. Help us reach our goal—share this post or invest today! 🌍 *Please note: Investors must be EU residents or companies with an EU IBAN number. #duurzaaminvesteren #crowdinvesting #sustainableinvestment #metabolic

Thanks to Equities.com for featuring this article on the potential of blended finance to transform sustainable development and to Claire Lu for her significant contribution to the content and research. #blendedfinance #emergingmarkets #sustainabledevelopment

Throw back Thursday! 😊Excited to look back at 2023 through the publication of our Catalyst Fund Impact Report! The report spotlights the hard work of our portfolio companies after a year of work with them, as they continue to build game-changing solutions from precision agriculture technologies to water access solutions or waste management tools. 👉 Dive into our portfolio companies' impact to date, our theory of change, and how we empower bold founders to build a climate-resilient future for millions of Africans. 👉 Learn about our gender lens investing approach, sustainability focus, and how our startups are driving green growth and positioning Africa as a leader in climate action. 👉 Explore spotlights on select portfolio companies and discover how Catalyst Fund's hands-on venture building accelerates the path to scale for early-stage climate tech in Africa 👉 See the recognition our fund has earned to date and join us in investing for a climate-resilient future on the continent. Sand to Green, Bekia inc, Visual and AI Solutions (VAIS), Assuraf | Insurance, Simply, Eight Medical | Techstars ‘23, Farmz2U, Farm to Feed, Octavia Carbon, PaddyCover, Agro Supply, NoorNation, Scrapays, THOLA, Earthbond, Zebra CropBank, Medikea, Keep IT Cool, Tolbi Link to download the report: https://lnkd.in/ejJjH6aD