Latin America
In Latin America, the Grassroots Business Fund has been focusing its work on strengthening and scaling enterprises that create new economic opportunities for the poor in Bolivia and Peru (see map at right; star represent GBF field presence). GBF’s strategy in Latin America is to align itself with strong, experienced partners on the ground, working together to support High Impact Businesses.
GBF is addressing its clients’ financing needs--providing them with equity, loans, and technical assistance; and offering them the support necessary to develop and grow their operations.
In order to optimize the effectiveness of its investments, GBF has aligned itself with strong, experienced partners on the ground, working together to support High Impact Businesses. GBF has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), FUNDES, IES Foundation and SOLyDES Foundation. Moreover, GBF has access to more promising investments through GBF’s networks of local and international partners, such as Ashoka, Swisscontact, Grey Matters Capital, the Inter-American Development Bank’s Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), TechnoServe or Corporacion Colombia Internacional.
Click here to download the GBF Factsheet en Español
Current Portfolio Companies
+ Agricola Viñasol S.A. (AVSA)
Agricola Viñasol S.A. (AVSA) purchases top quality agricultural products from small-scale farmers in Peru. AVSA provides its farmers with assistance from agronomists throughout the harvest season and partners with an NGO to advance production techniques. GBF is providing a grant and a long term equity investment to fund AVSA’s expansion into increased asparagus production. GBF is also providing technical assistance to support a Supplier Development Program that will increase the number of farmers in asparagus production and provide them with training in business skills and asparagus cultivation. Click here and Learn more...
+ Capital para el Crecimiento Empersarial (CAPCEM)
CAPCEM offers micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bolivia innovative short-term financing solutions that are aligned with the MSMEs’ production cycles and allow for flexible repayment schedules based on their sales. With CAPCEM’s support, MSMEs’ sales grow by an average of 11.5% annually, and annual supplier income increases by 30%. In June 2009, GBF provided CAPCEM with an MBA consultant to develop an online platform that connects small business owners to customized capacity building services. GBF’s investment will also support the development of a technical assistance fund and help CAPCEM grow its portfolio and scale up. Click here and Learn more...
+ IES Foundation
The IES Foundation is a Bolivian development institution that uses investment capital and value-added services to assist SMEs in Bolivia in improving their sustainability and social impact. IES recognizes that no single approach will be effective for each business, and therefore IES offers a wide variety of services and adapts its technical assistance to best fit each specific SME. GBF is providing funding to IES to improve its advisory capabilities, help finance the foundation’s investment in new enterprises, and create a “bridge the gap” facility for medium sized enterprises. Click here and Learn more...
+ LATCO
LATCO International promotes the production of organic and conventional sesame seeds in the extremely impoverished areas of eastern Bolivia. LATCO currently exports sesame seeds to 18 clients in nine countries. Due to the high quality of its product, it negotiates the highest sales price among its peers and transfers the price gains to its farmers. GBF invested $700,000 in convertible debt to support financing for new equipment and increase amount of land cultivated. Through grant funding GBP also hired agronomists to manage training and support for farmers, established 10 community sesame seed farmer associations. LATCO has become Bolivia’s biggest exporter of sesame seeds working with over 1,000 farmers and touching the lives of over 5,500 people. Click here and Learn more...
+ Novica
Novica is a crafts company that connects over 15,000 artisans in developing nations with global consumer markets. Novica designers work with the artisans to help them improve product quality, and Novica has partnered with international organizations such as National Geographic in order to increase visibility and sales. GBF is providing Novica with investment capital and technical assistance to expand its global network of artisans to new countries, open a regional office in Guatemala, and provide Business Development Services to their clients. Click here and Learn more...
+ Procesadora S.A.C. (PP)
PP is a Peruvian exporter of fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, and legumes to the U.S. and Europe, which sources produce from small farmers. It is a family owned business that has worked with farming families on the coast of Peru since 1986. PP was started with the objective to help poor farmers in Peru, and its business model is based on building value chains which include small scale farmers, and the company works to diversify crops and introduce higher margin crops to continue improving the incomes and livelihoods of farmers.. Click here and learn more...
SURevolution
SURevolution, founded in 2005, is a lifestyle brand that connects indigenous, rural and urban artisan groups in the developing world with high-end retail buyers in the United States, Europe and Asia. SURevolution works closely with the artisans on product development, quality, production, costing and international compliance so they can enter the international market, receive higher wages and preserve their culture and tradition. Click here and learn more...
