ImpactAlpha’s deal news coverage for the week:
Agrifood investing. AgDevCo reupped its investment in EFAfrica Group, a Mauritius-based company that provides equipment leasing services to East Africa’s small farmers and agribusinesses… Cisco Foundation invested in the Fractal Farmer Agriculture Regenerative Management Fund, or FARM Fund, an equity fund to help farmers invest in sustainable practices and improve soil health.
Artificial intelligence. Anthropic, the AI public benefit corporation with impact investor backing, closed a $13 billion Series F equity round led by ICONIQ, Fidelity Management & Research Company and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Creative ownership. Guild scored $2 million to help music creators protect their IP and their revenues.
Electric vehicles. Deftpower, a Dutch EV charging charging developer and operator, raised €12.5 million ($14.6 million) from Endeit Capital, Proeza Ventures, 4impact capital and Rethink Mobility… Vision Ridge Partners led a $250 million investment in Mexico-based Vemo, which is supporting EV adoption in the country with cars, charging infrastructure and fleet management software.
Energy transition. Australian pension fund manager Aware Super, the UK’s National Wealth Fund and infrastructure investor Equitix will invest £500 million ($668.2 million) in Eelpower Energy, which is developing battery storage systems connected to the UK’s electricity grid… Koolboks raised $11 million for off-grid refrigeration and recycling in Nigeria… Mauritius-based private equity firm Inside Capital Partners invested in RDG Africa, a solar home system distributor working in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Low-carbon transition. Lowercarbon Capital and Gigascale Capital led an $11.5 million seed equity round for Terraton, which develops biochar carbon removal projects in Ghana, Kenya and other emerging markets.
Returns on inclusion. Standard Bank committed $10 million for Africa’s female fund managers.
Upskilling tech workers. Social Finance made a $3 million investment in Upright Education, a digital skills training company that works in partnership with employers, universities and colleges on high-demand tech skills training.
Waste to value. Green Create secured funding from Norfund to treat wastewater in South Africa and Mauritius and to process agricultural waste into biogas.
