2018 In Review

TEAM & CLIENTS: 

2018 was one of our biggest-ever growth years! We grew our team to 110+ full time staff across our consulting, capital markets, and group services teams. The team completed over 100 engagements in 2018 covering a range of sectors including agribusiness, water, off-grid energy, financial services, manufacturing/consumer goods, ICT, education and healthcare among others.

CAPITAL MARKETS: 

We have now supported high-impact businesses to raise >$450M of investment across Africa. This has spanned the full range of financial products including equity, debt, quasi-equity, & blended financing structures. Our 2018 deals ranged from $600K local currency debt for an agribusiness in Sierra Leone, to $50M+ multi-currency raise for a pan-African off-grid energy operator.

ARCADIA: 

In April of 2018, we officially launched our new embedded talent service, Arcadia. Since then, we have recruited and trained over 40 analysts and completed over 70 placements across six African markets. Our Analysts work with clients for 3-6 months, or on a rotating basis to fill longer-term roles, so organizations have the right person for every role when it’s needed most.

UOMA: 

In 2017, we pioneered a new model for market acceleration in partnership with the Shell Foundation. Today, the Uganda Off-Grid Market Accelerator (UOMA) has grown and exceeded impact targets enabling thousands of connections through support from the Shell Foundation, USAID/Power Africa & DFID. Check out our new website and stay in touch by subscribing to UOMA’s newsletter, or reaching out via contact@uoma.ug.

VENTUREBUILDER (VB): 

In partnership with Catalyst Off-Grid Advisors, we launched VentureBuilder, a development company that supports African-owned & managed distributors to extend energy access to some of the most difficult, under-served markets in Africa. Please download our first white paper to see how we work and let us know if there are any ways to partner.

2019 Plans

Clients Served: 

We’re looking to complete >100 high-impact engagements in 2019, supporting a diverse range of industry-transforming clients across Africa and the world. This will include some of the most innovative SGBs and forward-looking corporates, investors, and development partners.

Team Growth: 

We’re continuing our growth and are looking for the best and brightest to join our team. Please see the section below and reach out with any interest or referrals.

Arcadia Expansion: 

We’ll formally launch in Uganda as we look to expand this new talent model more broadly.

West Africa: 

After two years covering the region, we’re excited to invest further in West African hires in order to enhance the support we provide in these markets.