Grassroots Business Fund

2004: GBF began as an initiative of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which piloted grassroots business investments and field-tested capacity-building approaches. 2008: GBF split from IFC and became an independent non-profit which continued investing in – and providing advisory services to – high-impact businesses in Latin America, Asia and Africa. GBF also wins the G20 SME Challenge. 2011: GBF further evolved its model by establishing a $49M for-profit private investment fund, GBI-I, for patient capital investment, and raising additional funds for the non-profit arm, GBP, to be used for business advisory services to the fund’s portfolio companies. Together the fund and non-profit make up GBF and provide powerful financial tools and business acumen to help strengthen and grow viable businesses that create lasting impact for low income people around the world. For contributing to the creation of solid, sustainable and responsible financial systems, GBF wins the IDB Beyond Banking award for best action in socially responsible and/or impact investment. 2017: GBI-I completes its investment period, and fully commits all of its capital, totalling more than $40 million invested in high impact businesses across Africa, Asia, and Latin