KawiSafi Ventures is Acumen's for-profit climate investment platform for Africa, run from Nairobi. Its premise: more than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live off-grid, spending billions on dirty fuels like diesel and kerosene — and decentralised renewable energy, paired with mobile payments, can reach them faster and cheaper than the grid ever will.

The thesis

KawiSafi invests growth capital in proven, fast-growing companies addressing key market gaps across Africa's climate economy — energy transition, clean transportation and green productivity. It targets high-growth, ready-to-scale companies with proven business models, growing revenues and strong management teams, aiming for both ambitious impact and market-competitive returns. Earlier-stage ventures are directed to its parent, Acumen.

Fund size and status

The first KawiSafi fund was a $67 million clean-energy fund launched in 2016. The second fund, KawiSafi Fund II, announced $90 million in approved capital in late 2025, anchored by the Green Climate Fund and the Schmidt Family Foundation with funding from the Quadrature Climate Foundation; the African Development Bank's Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa approved a $10 million junior equity contribution. Reported ticket sizes run €1–3 million per transaction.

Notable portfolio

Fund I backed off-grid leaders including d.light, Bboxx and BioLite. Fund II is already deploying — its recent $2 million investment in Orb Energy supports commercial and industrial solar expansion across East Africa. The portfolio spans household and commercial solar, consumer financing, mini-grids, energy efficiency, e-mobility and clean cooking.

Programs and support

Fund II includes a $10 million technical assistance facility aimed at maximising climate impact and strengthening environmental, social and governance management across the portfolio. KawiSafi deploys patient capital and works hands-on to build talent, deepen markets and crowd in commercial capital — its blended-finance structure is designed so that each dollar of concessional funding absorbs early-stage risk and unlocks greater private participation. The team is active in Nairobi's climate ecosystem, including the Nairobi Climate Network.

Who runs it

(formerly IFC/World Bank and Shell), with Investment Director Michelle Haigh Osorio and Partner Marcus Watson on the Nairobi-based team. It is managed by Acumen Capital Partners, a wholly owned subsidiary of Acumen Fund, Inc.

How to apply for funding

KawiSafi publishes a direct contact: [email protected] (via kawisafiventures.com). Its stated criteria are clear — growth-stage companies with proven models and revenues in Africa's climate economy. If you are earlier stage, it explicitly directs you to Acumen instead.

Why it matters for founders

For African climate startups with traction, KawiSafi Ventures is one of the few growth-stage options on the continent — $90 million of approved capital, catalytic anchor investors, and a team that has spent a decade building the off-grid market.