Accra-based Sahara Impact Ventures has secured funding from the Heading for Change Endowment Fund, a donor-advised vehicle established by gender-smart investing leaders Suzanne Biegel and Daniel Maskit. The investment represents a strong endorsement of Sahara’s mission to back tech-enabled African SMEs that are driving climate resilience and broadening access to essential services. With this partnership, Sahara is poised to expand its impact across Ghana and Nigeria, where climate-smart solutions are urgently needed.
Supporting Climate-Smart Enterprises
The Heading for Change Endowment Fund is dedicated to catalyzing businesses that address the intertwined challenges of climate change and inequality. Its support for Sahara underscores the fund’s confidence in the potential of African entrepreneurs to deliver scalable solutions that reduce vulnerabilities and promote inclusive growth. For Sahara, the new capital will provide momentum to accelerate investments in climate-smart enterprises and deepen its footprint in critical markets.
Sahara Impact Ventures Fund I
At the heart of Sahara’s strategy is Sahara Impact Ventures Fund I, which provides early-stage and growth capital to SMEs building what the firm calls the “Just Transition.” The fund focuses on critical sectors such as sustainable food systems, clean energy, financial inclusion, healthcare, and education. By investing in companies that sit at the intersection of social impact and climate resilience, Sahara is helping to create sustainable livelihoods while supporting Africa’s shift to a low-carbon economy.
Gender Lens Investing
Sahara Impact Ventures distinguishes itself as an all-African female-owned and led team, embedding a gender lens across both its fund management and portfolio investments. This approach, which recognizes “Women as Agents of Change,” is integrated throughout the investment process, from sourcing entrepreneurs to supporting exits. By targeting climate-risk sectors where women play pivotal roles but often lack access to finance or land ownership, Sahara ensures that its investments address structural barriers while amplifying women’s economic empowerment.
Driving Inclusive Impact
The fund’s gender-smart approach reflects a broader movement to align capital with inclusive development goals. By prioritizing investments that both advance climate resilience and empower underrepresented groups, Sahara is contributing to the creation of more equitable and sustainable markets. Its focus on SMEs in Ghana and Nigeria ensures that capital reaches enterprises with direct community-level impact, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The investment from the Heading for Change Endowment Fund marks an important milestone for Sahara Impact Ventures as it scales its mission to enable climate-smart, gender-inclusive growth across West Africa. By channeling capital into SMEs that are driving the just transition, Sahara is not only expanding economic opportunity but also laying the foundation for more resilient societies. With the combined backing of experienced gender-smart investors and a visionary African-led team, Sahara Impact Ventures is set to play a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s sustainable future.