Cauris Finance, an Africa-focused impact credit fund, has closed $40 million to expand its efforts to support socially impactful African fintechs that provide essential credit access to financially underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs, the economic engines of every African economy.
Cauris specializes in bridging the critical funding gap for financially underserved African businesses and entrepreneurs. By financing innovative companies that deliver high-quality credit, Cauris drives financial inclusion, supports job creation (particularly for youth), and empowers women-led businesses. With a commitment to gender equity, climate action, and sustainable development, Cauris aligns its work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This new funding will significantly enhance Cauris’s financing initiatives. It will also provide a strong foundation for future growth as Cauris is on track to reach the first close of its new $50 million fund, The Third Wave Fund, in 2025.
“Cauris is committed to unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential by enabling fintechs to deliver high-quality, accessible credit to the businesses and people who are the backbone of the continent’s economies,” said Azer Songnaba, Chief Investment Officer of Cauris Finance. “This facility marks a significant milestone in our journey, underscoring our belief in the power of innovative financial solutions to create meaningful social impact and to drive sustainable growth.”
Africa is undergoing rapid and transformative demographic shifts. By 2050, the continent’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion and by 2034, Africa is poised to host the world’s largest working-age population, estimated at nearly 1.2 billion. These shifts present immense opportunities for economic growth, but also significant challenges in creating the jobs and financial access required for sustainable development.
In September, Numida, a Ugandan fintech providing working capital loans to African MSMEs secured a debt financing facility from Cauris Finance to enable Numida to continue its mission of supporting the growth of micro and small businesses in Africa through quick and affordable working capital loans.
The firm had in 2012 invested in Asaak Financial Services Limited (“Asaak”), a mobile-based equipment financing for gig workers in Uganda. In the same year, Branch International (“Branch”), a mobile-based financial services in emerging markets secured credit facility from Cauris to help Branch expand in India.
Nigeria’s Swipe Technologies, Inc., aka “Float”, a cash flow management platform company geared at providing working capital solutions to small and medium-sized businesses in Africa, also secured term loan facility from Cauris in 2022. Jetstream, a Ghanian technology-enabled logistics company focusing on cross-border trade also secured credit facility with Cauris in 2022
Ronald Bwire
Read More