Who we are

Grassroots Business Fund operates as a global investment organization with a strong presence in Eastern Africa.

With offices in Washington, DC, and Nairobi, Kenya, we've positioned our teams close to the entrepreneurs and communities we support, with Nairobi serving as our regional hub for investment operations, technical assistance, and portfolio management across the continent.

We finance and support enterprises that create jobs, strengthen value chains, and reach underserved markets.

INVEST WITH US
World map highlighting key locations of an organization, including Washington D.C. in the United States, Lima in Peru, Kampala in Uganda, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Nairobi in Kenya, New Delhi in India, Jakarta in Indonesia, with labels and color-coded regions.

Our Evolution

A timeline showing the history and growth of an organization from 2004 to 2022. It includes key milestones such as founding inside the International Finance Corporation in 2004, becoming independent in 2008, launching a $49 million investment fund in 2011, and expanding program lending with a focus on gender, agriculture, and climate-resilient enterprises in 2022. The timeline features photos of people involved in the organization, with notable milestones marked by text boxes.

Our Values

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Business rigor

We apply the same discipline to impact investing that others apply to commercial finance.

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Learning and improvement

20 years in this space has taught us what works. We adapt our approach as conditions change.

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Making a difference

The businesses we back employ people, pay suppliers, and serve customers who have few alternatives.

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Respecting diversity

Our team, board, and partners reflect the markets we serve.

Our team, board, and funders reflect diverse backgrounds and the regions where we work.

We prioritise investments in women-led enterprises. Women-led businesses make up 46% of our current pipeline, and over 6 million women have benefited from our investments to date.

A diverse group of men and women dressed in business attire standing outdoors on grass, smiling and giving thumbs up, with trees and greenery in the background.