USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting Anza Capital’s plans to empower African tech entrepreneurs by fostering intellectual proprietary (IP) commercialization and innovation ecosystems through its investment fund. Anza Capital is raising a ZAR 900,000,000 fund to invest in 40-50 tech startups, focusing on cleantech, food-tech, and digital solutions. Strategically located in the Southern Africa region, Anza will address the critical funding gap for tech startups, which will in turn benefit local economies and underserved markets in the Southern Africa region.

Anza Capital's competitive advantage lies in its deep industry knowledge, extensive network and commitment to fund businesses from pre-seed to series A, while nurturing them to generate valuable intellectual property. This undertaking will significantly contribute to attracting both local and international capital, fostering sustainable investment flows, promoting gender and geographic inclusivity, and ultimately steering economic growth and social impact throughout the region. By nurturing an environment where IP thrives, Anza Capital will play a focal role in unlocking Africa's innovation potential and positioning it as a global leader in facilitating tech innovation.

Grant goal: Bridge the significant financing gap that exists for early-stage technology start-ups in the Southern Africa region.

Grant objectives:

• Reach the critical milestone of a successful first close of ZAR 360 m laying the foundation for the fund's establishment.

• Make strategic investments that not only yield financial returns but also generate tangible and measurable positive impact in Southern Africa. This impact extends to key sectors that are inherently transformative, including climate and energy, food and agriculture, and digital inclusion, encompassing healthcare, education, and financial services.

• Facilitate initiatives that mobilize further commitments for the fund to reach final close of ZAR 900 m.

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting FyreFem to focus on emerging and first-time South African fund managers with a predisposition (and as developed in the selection criteria) for women-owned and black-owned fund managers with an impactful mandate. FyreFem has a competitive advantage in this process in that it is one of the most formalized incubators of fund managers in a nascent and non-existing formal market for this service.

This grant aims to provide at least 30 people selected from 10 participating fund managers with the requisite financial service licensing experience for Key Individuals of fund managers (24 months for Category 1 license). FyreFem will provide the 10 participating fund managers with the requisite policies and procedures required to apply for and obtain their own financial service license from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) to operate in South Africa. This project also ensures, that in the interim, each fund manager has access to FyreFem’s license to operate as a fund manager under South Africa law. The incubation of the fund managers on FyreFem’s license means 10 fund managers can get to financial close quicker if licensing is the only remaining barrier. Lastly, upon graduation, FyreFem will apply for FSCA licenses for these Fund Managers directly. These activities will contribute to raising capital into PE and VC funds in South Africa.

Grant goal: FyreFem will support 10 fund managers to acquire FSCA regulatory licenses and support at least 30 individuals to gain the requisite on-license experience required to qualify as a Key Individual.

Grant objectives:

• Incubate emerging fund managers and support them to obtain the regulatory FSCA licenses.

• Mentor and train at least 30 individuals on FyreFem’s FSCA license and establish the individuals as Key Individuals at the end of the process.

GoGetta is a South African domiciled, equity-based, crowdfunding platform with the retail investor as the main target. Its mission is to “democratize” the venture capital investment space in the new platform economy by creating a marketplace where African entrepreneurs can showcase their businesses on an innovative, safe, secure, easy-to-use and trusted digital platform to raise capital. Officially launched in August 2022, it currently boasts 11 businesses listed on the platform. Three of these businesses (all South Africa-based) have been funded successfully, with a cumulative total of ZAR 16m in investment to-date - split between 64 crowd investors and 1 VC company.

Core to the platform design, GoGetta is introducing generative AI services to as a value-added service for entrepreneurs, assisting them in creating pitch decks, matching with global investors and producing funding applications. The firm seeks to accurately measure the impact of post-investment management amongst entrepreneurs to maximize success for all platform members. Finally, GoGetta mobilizes capital raise and deployment throughout the SADC region.

USAID Mobilizing Investment is supporting GoGetta with capacity building (fundraising, training, branding), the provision of business support services (legal, accounting, compliance & tax) as well as further platform optimization and data collection.

Grant goal: Increase Participation of retail Investors in private capital markets and afford entrepreneurs for the Southern Africa region an opportunity to access capital in these markets.

Grant objectives:

• Build a robust retail investor community via an equity based crowdfunding platform for entrepreneurs to access funding while simultaneously providing global investors with a curated selection of vetted investment opportunities.

• Augment GoGetta’s team by providing Business Support, and platform improvements, respectively to have a greater reach for each campaign.

• Enhance and grow GoGetta’s brand visibility and recognition as a primary digital retail crowdfunding platform for Southern African entrepreneurs

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting Fireball Capital to address the funding gaps in the South African venture capital ecosystem, by catalyzing South African institutional capital into the venture capital asset class and transform venture capital from a high-net-worth investment category into an institutional asset class. The South African venture capital industry has been developing over the last 20 years, with the support and financial backing of high-net-worth individuals and S12J funds (Section 12J of the South African Income Tax Act). Local institutional asset allocators have historically not invested in the industry, leading to a shortage of capital and an "institutionalized" asset class. The investment objective of Fireball Fund I is to build a diversified index of innovation and growth for the South African institutional investor with the strategic focus on fintech, healthcare and edtech.

The partners at Fireball Capital have been managing South African institutional client funds for over 20 years and have successfully built institutional grade alternative solutions within South Africa and globally. Fireball Capital has currently raised ZAR 400 m from institutional investors, and with the assistance of this grant aims to raise an additional ZAR 350 m to ZAR 600 m from South African institutional investors and close the fund raising at between ZAR 750 m and ZAR 1 b.

This activity directly correlates with USAID Mobilizing Investment by addressing a spectrum of funding gaps in Southern Africa’s investment ecosystem, with the aim of catalyzing private capital mainly from institutional investors into the economy to increase employment, decrease poverty, and reduce inequality within the Southern Africa region.

Grant goal: Fireball Capital aims to foster economic growth, jobs, and financial capital into the South African venture capital ecosystem through catalyzing institutional capital into Fireball Fund I with the aim to provide its investors with long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of unlisted venture capital type investments.

Grant objectives:

• Complete raising a ZAR 1 billion fund (ZAR 600 million raise as a result of this grant) which will be invested into the South African venture capital ecosystem as a fund of funds and co-investor alongside other funds making venture capital investments.

• To improve access to growth capital and create jobs.

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting 27four in the establishment of a working capital facility to aid historically under supported, gender diverse, emerging fund managers (“Managers”) increase their participation in the African private markets without potential investors discounting their ability due to a perceived weakness in sustainability. Selected managers will be provided with a working capital facility to cover costs associated with operational activities to enhance fundraising during a time when they are not yet generating revenue at a sustainable level. This working capital facility managed by 27four will eliminate a significant barrier to entry into an ecosystem hindered by societal biases such as gender, race, etc. for the Managers.

This working capital facility will be linked to 27four’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) approach that was tested and developed through 27four’s Black Business Growth Fund (BBG Fund). 27four continues to manage BBG Funds and is raising additional capital or asset management mandates linked to its DEI approach to invest in emerging fund managers.

The working capital facility will be offered to emerging fund managers under consideration for commitment and investment as part of the 27four emerging fund manager development. This is expected to auger well for 27four as it continues to raise more capital towards its fund of funds linked to the DEI approach and fund manager development. 27four is currently in discussion with a number of potential investors to raise an additional ZAR 1 b towards DEI related investments.

As a Black female founded and majority owned asset manager, 27four operates from a position of first-hand experience, which places 27four in a fortunate position able to relate and understand the challenges within the sector based on first-hand experience. This has motivated 27four’s differentiated thinking and active mandates over the last decade in the incubation of fund managers, transformation, and impact investments (initially focused on Black Managers).

27four’s proven approach and efforts towards encouraging gender diversity is uniquely aligned to that of USAID Mobilizing Investment as it promotes diversity, equity, and innovation in the investment ecosystem, enhancing fund management capabilities, ultimately attracting institutional capital, and nurturing long-term partnerships. Overall, 27four’s working capital facility will support the emerging fund managers to raise capital (four fund managers with each raising at least ZAR 925 m each) but it will also indirectly support 27four to raise more capital (at least ZAR 1 billion) for investment under its DEI approach.

Grant goal: Bridge the significant financing gap faced by a number of the emerging female fund managers with a working capital facility to support operational activities to establish fund operations and initial fund-raising activities resulting in supported emerging fund managers raising at least USD 100 million.

Grant objectives:

Provision of working capital facilities to a minimum of four promising Managers in support of their fundraising activities.

Enable the participating Managers’ sustainability for a period of 12-24 months prior to first close.

Support the participating Managers to sustainably attain first close (USD 25 million per fund) 24 months after accessing the working capital facility.

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting 27four with the ringfencing of institutional capital to allow for the implementation of a warehousing facility pilot to aid historically under supported, gender diverse, emerging fund managers (“Managers”) increase their participation in the Southern Africa private markets without potential investors discounting their ability due to a perceived lack of pipeline or track record. The USAID Mobilizing Investment grant provides 27four with the capacity to subsidize the institutional investor’s expected commercial return on the ZAR 87 m warehousing capital, whilst providing the fund manager access to funds at a cost of capital in line with such manager’s hurdle rate and at a rate significantly below that of the institutional investor’s return expectation. The transaction size is dependent on at least one, possibly two transactions (totaling ZAR 100 m) and will be selected from gender diverse and emerging fund manager(s) to be warehoused as the selected manager(s) build a track record and demonstrate their ability to make, manage and even exit investments. This will enable the manager(s) to build a much-needed track record and by implication, enhance their probability to successfully fundraise to reach final close.

This warehousing facility provided and managed by 27four will eliminate a significant barrier to entry into an ecosystem hindered by societal biases such as gender, race, etc. for the Managers. This warehousing facility will be linked to 27four’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) approach that was tested and developed through 27four’s Black Business Growth Fund (BBG Fund). 27four continues to manage BBG Funds and is raising additional capital or asset management mandates linked to its DEI approach to invest in emerging fund managers. The warehousing facility will be offered to emerging fund managers in the process of raising capital and augers well for 27four as it continues to raise more capital towards its fund of funds linked to the DEI approach and fund manager development. 27four is currently in discussion with a number of potential investors to raise an additional ZAR 1 b towards DEI related investments.

Grant goal: Pilot a warehouse facility of ZAR 100 m over 2 years and develop a road map to scaling the facility for a larger warehouse facility.

Grant objectives:

• Making available to the market warehousing capital totaling ZAR 100 m for deployment into one or two transactions (small to midsize deals) to enable execution on pipeline opportunities for one or two fund managers pre first or final close.

• Enable the fund managers an opportunity to build a track record.

• Fund managers successfully attain first close (at least ZAR 462 m) within a period of 2 years post implementation of a warehousing transaction.

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting Savant Capital in the sustainable establishment of its Build Program which helps early-stage deep tech and hardware startups become investment ready, fostering those start-up’s potential to attract investment and achieve sustainable growth. Savant aims to generate an investment return on an intensive six-month investment readiness program. Each cohort will be equipped with the essential skills and resources needed to thrive. Situated in South Africa, a pivotal hub for technological innovation, this initiative holds strategic significance in advancing the investment ecosystem, empowering local entrepreneurs, and catalyzing economic transformation in the region. Savant has a proven track record of incubating and investing in successful startups, bridging the gap between startups and investors, and facilitating access to funding opportunities.

This activity will significantly contribute to USAID Mobilizing Investment objectives by strengthening the investment landscape and expanding the sustainability of business incubation support services while strengthening the appeal and attractiveness of fund managers making investments in the pre-seed and pre-series A investments such as Savant and others in the investment ecosystem. This will in turn expand opportunities for startups while expanding the deployment opportunities for various fund managers.

Grant goal: Transform the Savant Build Program into a self-sustaining initiative, promoting the growth of early-stage deep tech and hardware startups in South Africa.

Grant objectives:

• Expand Savant’s six-month Investment Readiness Program.

• Ensure that at least 40 percent of the companies supported are able to raise the expansion capital sought.

• Expand Savant’s scope, increase the number of companies Savant can support and enhance the depth and breadth of support offered to early-stage companies.

• Generate sufficient revenue from participating startups and empower them to attract the necessary funding to spur their growth.

Grindstone is the accelerator that produces the pipeline of investor-ready startups for Knife Capital and Grindstone Ventures. Thinkroom provides back-end programmatic management support and access to markets opportunities. Knife Capital is a venture capital investment manager that accelerates the international expansion of Southern African innovation-driven businesses by leveraging knowledge, networks and funding. Operational since 2014, Thinkroom develops customized SME programs and assists clients with execution using tools and systems to automate processes. These programs could be for R&D, innovation, ESD, ESG or impact-related initiatives. Grindstone Accelerator has worked with over 120 tech and tech-enabled startups since 2012. The accelerator is mainly funded by corporate sponsors, with participating entrepreneurs contributing a minimal amount towards Grindstone Ventures as angel investors. Grindstone is 50% owned by Thinkroom and 50% by Knife Capital. Aside from its funders, Grindstone’s secondary market is closely linked with several funders in the ecosystem, including Savant, Strat Tech, Anza Capital, and Digital Africa Ventures.

Grindstone requires a fully staffed team to provide a back-end solution for startups, specifically functions in the areas of HR, legal, finance, operations, marketing and PR. Funding dedicated to mentorship will also substantially enhance startups’ success. Grindstone uses robust technology solutions for administrative tasks, which the automation and integration software facilitates. The system requires enhancements to include robust AI and predictive analytics to improve their data. Funding would allow the firm to build a model that can replicate multiple programs that run concurrently to reach far more companies for the investment pipeline and enable data analytics to enhance our selection and development modules. The data-rich and operationally more robust businesses will allow better funding decisions. Dedicated mentors will spend time with startups after the official program is completed to integrate into the Grindstone Alumni program.

Grindstone’s grant funding will support building the back-office solution, recruit the best mentors, and pay for specialists such as IP and Valuation resources. Its technology used to run their current programs is effective, but built on low code, and requires coding intervention to include an AI-driven approach for future predictive analytics. Subsequently, Grindstone Accelerator cohort numbers will increase from two to five, increasing numbers of startups from 20 to 50 annually. These will be made available to Grindstone Ventures and Knife Capital and then open to the broader ecosystem.

Grant goal: Set up, scale, and operate a pay as you use back-office service accessible to alumni of the Grindstone accelerator program, fund managers and fund manager portfolio companies within Southern Africa.

Grant objectives:

• Make Grindstone’s accelerator services financially self-sustainable over time as the users pay to access and use the back-office services.

• Facilitate the development of back-office solutions to provide capacity building, mentoring, operational infrastructure refinement, access to markets, fund/funding readiness, and the implementation of monitoring and reporting systems for start-ups and fund manager portfolio companies.

• Double the number of startups graduating from Grindstone’s accelerator program per year (increase from 20 to 40, this could include previous Grindstone alumni who need additional support).

• Establish the Grindstone Jersey identity within the Southern Africa market.

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting RH Managers to finance fund formation, fundraising activities, market development and capacity building for RH Fund III which is a social impact fund focused on healthcare. The grant will allow RH Managers to expand its executive team, increase internal capacity of the team, legal services, and other activities related to fundraising. Fund III like RH Managers’ previous funds will deliver healthcare infrastructure and technologies to previously underserved communities. The grantee has garnered over a decade of expertise in the field having managed 2 other similar funds. In addition, the grant will allow the Fund to extend its market development, marketing and solicitation reach, provide working capital which will also allow the sponsors to raise their General Partner (GP) contribution to Fund III in alignment to USAID Mobilizing Investment’s goal to attract investment into Southern Africa and contribute to creating jobs while improving the quality of life of the South African population while exploring ways to implement the lessons learnt into the wider Southern Africa region.

Grant goal: RH Fund III aims to raise a R2 billion fund that will be utilized for the Fund’s objective of delivering healthcare and related infrastructure and technologies in previously underserved communities.

Grant objectives:

• The Fund aims to invest in alternative healthcare delivery platforms that have grown since the pandemic (telemedicine groups, virtual hospitals, and e-health).

• Assist start-up companies with financial assistance to scale up, ramp up demand for services and grow the company’s clientele.

• To assist the Fund in reaching its goal of raising ZAR 2 billion over the next 25 months (24 months level of effort), with a first close target of ZAR 300 million by March 2024 which will help the fund gain gravitas from both local and global investors.

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) is supporting Sanari Capital’s ability to be more competitive in the Private Equity landscape and in so doing will enable Sanari to reach their final close (ZAR 1.5 billion) by the end of 2023. Being a women-owned and black-owned firm, Sanari has taken close to 10 years to raise its institutional fund. The founding team of Sanari has drained its resource base to be able to play as an equal player in the Private Equity space. USAID Mobilizing Investment’s grant will allow Sanari Capital to invest in the resources, initiatives, and activities to establish an efficient operational capacity base like other funds of a comparable size and vintage. Through this grant’s support Sanari will be able to hire critical staff, improve operational efficiency and increase Sanari’s branding and marketing efforts, allowing Sanari capital to better position itself within the private equity space. Due to Sanari capital’s evolution as a fund, Sanari is unknown for investing in the lower-mid market segment.

The grant funds will help establish Sanari’s profile as a player in this space, with improved branding and marketing initiatives to highlight its offerings to future investors and potential investee companies alike. Sanari is positioning itself with the USAID Mobilizing Investment grant to further strengthen its ability to remain up to date on economic, political, and sector specific changes so that it can strengthen its ability to invest in key growth sectors of the Southern Africa economy

Grant goal: Build Sanari Capital’s operational capacity, governance, compliance, and profile to maximize deal origination, deployment and capital raising capabilities, and in doing so reach final close and build a pipeline of local and international investors.

Grant objectives:

• Reach final close (Sanari 1).

• Attract local and international investors for current and future funds.

• Improve Sanari’s overall operational efficiency.

• Optimize Sanari’s governance and compliance.

• Improve Sanari’s marketing and business development.

SDG Namibia One, a blended finance vehicle managed by a joint venture between the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia ("EIE") and Climate Fund Managers ("CFM"), seeks to deploy private sector capital towards the development of Green Hydrogen infrastructure. The joint venture brings together CFM's experience with utilizing blended finance vehicles for infrastructure development in emerging markets (CFM currently has USD 1.8 billion in AUM since its establishment in 2015 including an investment of USAID in Climate Investor One) with Environmental Investment Funds' experience on the local Namibian context (including but not limited to regulatory and other governmental aspects).

SDG Namibia One aims to develop and construct the infrastructure that's required for the production, transportation/transmission, storage, and utilization of Green Hydrogen (and its derivatives). It will do this by providing early-stage Development Financing, which will help developers and promoters to complete foundational studies and pilot engagements that are required before actual construction. Upon successful completion of such studies and pilots, SDG Namibia One will invest Construction Equity Finance to finance the project construction phase. SDG Namibia One will seek to obtain positions of influence to ensure that the Funds objectives and requirements are met during all stages. Once operational, with contracted cash flows, SDG Namibia One will refinance the projects with local debt providers and exit its remaining stake thereafter. SDG Namibia One will only focus on projects with clear domestic benefits (i.e., it will not finance projects that are only targeted for the export market).

SDG Namibia One will target the entire Green Hydrogen supply chain within Namibia. As such, it will invest in infrastructure real assets, project development companies and service companies, which may include:

The Fund is primarily a private sector intervention (backed by significant government support). The size of SDG Namibia One (estimated at over USD I billion) implies it will target to near to all households in Namibia. As such, initial estimates are that SDG Namibia One will (indirectly) reach 2.5 million people (noted that this number would be higher if the impacts on neighboring countries are also included).

USAID Mobilizing Investment is supporting Nam H-2 Fund Managers to cover working capital and operational support for (further) establishing and scaling the Fund and the Manager.

Grant goal: Successful set-up and initial implementation of Nam H2, the fund manager to manage SDG Namibia One and capacitate Nam H2 to raise the ambitious capital target of USD 1.15 billion, which is the planned final close target, as well as developing a strong pipeline of impactful green hydrogen investments in Namibia.

Grant objectives:

• Establish Nam H2 by hiring local staff and securing office space.

• Ensure fund governance and compliance by setting up the financial management activities, operational management, procurement and audits.

• Conduct fundraising preparation in relation to marketing and investor outreach that will enable the Nam H2 team to achieve a final close of up to USD 1.15 billion by December 2027.

Since inception in 2013, Verdant Capital has played a catalytic role stimulating SME-oriented investment activity across Africa.

Verdant has initiated a new sole-managed fund project, Verdant Capital Frontier States (SADC) Fund, or VCFSSF. Once raised, this new fund will be a sister strategy to the Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund and will be investing senior debt and "stretched-senior" debt into medium sized enterprises.

The VCFSSF will support job creation through supporting medium-sized enterprises through capex financing and trade finance. The fund will address the lack of debt financing for medium-sized enterprises through expansion financing and trade finance. The intended financing solutions will include senior and stretched-senior term financing and trade finance facilities with sizes of USD I million to USD 4 million. It is expected the average financing amount will be around USD 2 million.

USAID Mobilizing Investment is supporting Verdant’s pre-operating expenses in new markets it deems as high potential.

Grant goal: Fundraise USD 60 million for Verdant Capital Southern Africa Fund to facilitate SME funding in the Southern African region.

Grant objectives:

• Achieve a final fund size of USD 60 million at the close of the VCSAF

• Promote investment in approximately 30 medium-sized enterprises by facilitating their access to mainstream private and public debt and equity financing or capital expenditure and trade finance.

CHANCEN International (CI) provides excluded youth in Africa with access to high-quality skills development programs leading to employment. The organization uses an innovative financial product called the Income Share Agreement (ISA), where students sign contracts to repay a percentage of their income after graduation. To date, Chancen has signed over 2600 ISAs, with a focus on women, rural households, and previously unemployed individuals.

In 2024, Chancen is launching a blended investment vehicle domiciled in South Africa with a target raise of R255M to reach 3,340 excluded youth.

USAID Mobilizing Investment is supporting Chancen SA with concessional capital to be used towards the most patient tranche in the new South Africa ISA Fund. This funding will provide a catalytic effect and crowd in other impact investors.

Grant goal: Attract the private sector to invest capital into impactful and sustainable ISAs to boost skills development directed towards the skills required by the available job opportunities for marginalized youth.

Grant objectives:

● Develop a pathway to increase private sector investment into Income Share Agreements for excluded youth in South Africa.

● Build capacity of Chancen SA to enter into new Income Share Agreements to match the great capital mobilized for youth development in South Africa.

● Secure commitments of a ZAR 50 million first close and develop a strategy to reach ZAR 250 million within 5 years (by 2029).

Heritage Capital is a 100% black female-owned and controlled private equity fund manager. The firm was established in 2015. Its maiden fund, Heritage Capital Fund I reached final close in 2017 and invests in small-to-medium sized privately-owned companies in South Africa. To date, Heritage Capital has created over 750 jobs through the fund’s investment activities.

USAID Mobilizing Investment is supporting Heritage Capital with working capital to fund the foundational activities for setting up a successor fund, i.e. a limited partnership agreement, investment management agreement, tax opinion as well as considerations for an international fund to attract international investors.

This partnership aligns to USAID Mobilizing Investment’s objective of developing fund managers to increase their capital raise abilities. Knowledge generated through this partnership will be significantly useful to the region’s investment ecosystem.

Grant goal: Improve operational efficiency and support fundraising for Heritage Capital Fund II.

Grant objectives:

1. Improve operational capacity at Heritage Capital ahead of fundraising for Fund II.

2. Support the legal establishment of Fund II.

3. Demonstrate that adaptability in fund raising strategy is essential for emerging fund managers within a challenging environment.

4. Design and implement marketing strategy for Fund II.

USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment is supporting the Cape Town Stock Exchange (CTSE) to boost capital-raising efforts for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the CTSE’s online portal. This solution provides SMEs an innovative alternative to access debt finance outside of the traditional financial institutions, and concurrently offers investors a new channel by which to deploy capital (excess liquidity) and support fund managers in raising capital based on the improved investment pipelines, both in quantity of opportunities and based on specifically qualified opportunities – i.e.. pertaining to specific investment themes such as renewables in agriculture, improved water efficiency, etc.).

This partnership aims to make it easier for corporate investors and investment funds to access investment opportunities within a secure and well-regulated framework (under the stock exchange’s regulation, governance and in adherence to its covenants).

The CTSE has significantly enhanced its online portal to enable large and medium sized businesses that are investor ready to list or register to access equity and debt. The USAID grant will support CSTE in simplifying the registration, allowing smaller and non-investor ready businesses to register. The simplified registration will enable the smaller businesses to improve their investor readiness by permitting CSTE to regularly collect data and compiling the required investment analysis to eventually be presented to the potential investors and fund managers through the CSTE portal.

Grant goal: The Cape Town Stock Exchange aims to accelerate capital raising and its deployment by fund managers to SMEs through the Cape Town Stock Exchange’s platform and services.

Grant objectives:

• Through the testing and customization process ensure that the CTSE platform and associated services are fit-for-purpose, globally trusted, and scalable.

• Customize and standardize capital deployment turnkey solutions for unlisted debt/credit, providing investors and fund managers with greater access, transparency, and real-time data on SMEs and their impact.