The Mastercard Africa Growth Fund has approved investments in three Africa-focused investment firms: Chui Ventures, VestedWorld, and SME Impact Fund. These investments totaling $27 million bring the total number of funds supported by the Africa Growth Fund to five.

Chui Ventures will receive $9 million, VestedWorld $10 million, and SME Impact Fund $8 million to support their efforts in fostering sustainable development across Africa.

The Mastercard Africa Growth Fund, an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation, aims to bridge the financing gap in Africa’s impact investing space. Launched in December 2022, the $200 million fund of funds receives support from Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), ESPartners (ESP), Criterion Institute, Genesis Analysis, and Africa Communications Group. These partners provide business development services to portfolio companies and assist with fund advisory, communications, and diversity/inclusion advisory.

Commenting on the investments, Samuel Akyianu, Managing Director of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Chui Ventures, Vested World, and SME Impact Fund to our growing network of investment vehicles. These strategic partnerships underscore our unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable development in Africa through impactful investments.”

Chui Ventures, founded in 2019, is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology startups in Kenya and Rwanda. The firm targets investments in fintech, agritech, and healthtech companies that address critical challenges faced by African communities.

VestedWorld, a pan-African investment firm, focuses on supporting early-stage businesses that are transforming industries and creating social impact. The firm has a portfolio of investments across various sectors, including education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and agribusiness.

SME Impact Fund, a Tanzanian fund manager, invests in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the country’s agricultural sector. With 44 investments worth over $15 million, the fund has reached 23,000 smallholder farmers and created over 3,000 jobs.

Allert Mentink, CEO of SME Impact Fund, commented: “Smallholder farmers are the cornerstone of African agriculture, and their potential remains largely untapped due to financial constraints. Our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund is a crucial step towards addressing these constraints. By funding agribusiness SMEs, we are empowering the agricultural sector and fostering the growth of farmers themselves.”

These investments by the Mastercard Africa Growth Fund highlight the growing recognition of the critical role impact investing plays in driving sustainable development and economic growth across Africa. By supporting innovative and impactful businesses, the fund is contributing to the creation of jobs, the advancement of financial inclusion, and the improvement of livelihoods for millions of Africans