Our Structure:

GBF delivers a distinctive blend of investment capital and business advisory services through two main vehicles working together: a private investment fund and a non-profit organization.

Through the fund, GBF makes equity, mezzanine equity, mezzanine debt, and straight debt investments. These customized investment structures ensure that GBF’s investment performance aligns with the businesses’ performance. The fund delivers a form of capital suitable for long-term investment in businesses servicing the Base of the Economic Pyramid.

In tandem, the non-profit provides business advisory services to clients in the fund. GBF’s staff, expert consultants, and local service providers focus on enhancing financial and strategic planning, corporate governance, human resource management, marketing, supply chain management, and management information systems (MIS).

Our History

The Grassroots Business Fund builds on five years of experience as the International Finance Corporation's Grassroots Business Initiative (GBI). As GBI, we undertook the initial work of piloting grassroots business investments and field- testing capacity-building approaches. 

Our Vision & Mission

The Grassroots Business Fund strives to create a world where economic opportunity reaches everyone. Our mission is to build and support High Impact Businesses that provide sustainable economic opportunities to millions of people at the base of the economic pyramid.