Impact SME Development Programme
We support entrepreneurs in creating social and environmental impact and help them develop their businesses.
Human economy
Our vision
Bright drops
Yetunde Akande, Fashion entrepreneur
Bright drops
Yetunde Akande, Fashion entrepreneur
WHAT ARE IMPACT SMEs?
Impact SMEs are businesses that aim at benefiting the community, individuals, and the planet beyond profit-making. Using human centered and ecological business models, iSMEs tackle pressing issues such as climate change, youth unemployment, accessibility to services and gender inequality.
Some of our Impact SME's
MEET SOME OF OUR IMPACT SME'S
Impact SME's
Olivia Onyemaobi, CEO & Founder of PAD-UP
Daniel Yin, CEO of Spouts of Water
Olivia Onyemaobi, CEO & Founder of PAD-UP
Daniel Yin, CEO of Spouts of Water
Why do we support Impact SMEs?
- SMEs are a key driver of economic development, accounting for over 50% of GDP, 67% of full-time employment and 85% of new jobs created in the countries we work in
- Impact SMEs play a key role in offering innovative and sustainable solutions for local economic development
- In order to grow sustainably, SMEs need to overcome issues related to their organizational capacity, access to finance, investment readiness and the overall business ecosystem.
MEET SOME OF OUR IMPACT SME'S
Impact SME's
Shahira Yahia, Co-Founder of Chitosan Egypt
Amin Aden Mohamed, Managing Director of Tayo Uniforms
Shahira Yahia, Co-Founder of Chitosan Egypt
Amin Aden Mohamed, Managing Director of Tayo Uniforms
Our approach
We improve the business and impact performance of SMEs by providing tailored support, group trainings, peer learning, and network facilitation. We connect SMEs with investment funds that deliver impact by increasing investment readiness and connecting SMEs to investors. We influence stakeholders to drive change in national policies by engaging with policymakers and promoting SME stories to gather support.
The superstar impact business competition
Every year, businesses that were part of our iSME or start-up development programmes participate in our Superstar Competition to scale-up and innovate through grant funding and technical support.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS 2015-2025
545
81%
+15,600
46%
Blog
Stories of impact
Read stories of impact driven SMEs that we work with from Cambodia, Kenya, Uganda, Somaliland, Nigeria and Egypt. These SMEs are defying the odds to show that it is possible to build a more human economy that profits people and the environment.
