With nine managers on four continents, Capria Network is now the leading global network of impact fund managers
News Summary
- Four fund managers have joined Capria Network after completing a 7-week “Intensive”
- Capria Network now the leading global network of impact fund managers
- Managers received investment commitments from Capria of ~$2M in aggregate
- Capria’s 4th investment cycle has opened and is connecting with managers now
Press Release – Seattle, Washington. March 12, 2017. Today Capria announced it has signed agreements to invest in four fund managers who have joined Capria Network, the leading global network of impact fund managers. New Capria Network members join existing managers from Africa, Asia, and Central America and include:
- Brightmore Capital, based in Dakar, Senegal and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Edge Growth, based in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa
- Odiseo, based in Medellin, Colombia
- Performa Investimentos, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil
“We’re excited to be increasing the flow of impact capital in emerging markets, expanding our engagement in Africa, and adding South America as a new key region for the Capria Network.” said Will Poole, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Capria. “The missing middle finance opportunity exists in all of markets where Capria Network fund managers are investing. High-growth businesses in these markets can deliver superior financial results and industry-leading social and/or environmental impact.”
Highly Selective & Collaborative Global Network of Fund Managers
In its most recent investment cycle, Capria connected with over 100 teams from 38 countries, carefully screened 37 teams and ultimately selected 4 who will have the opportunity to leverage extensive advisory and acceleration services in conjunction with gaining access to a growing global network. Experienced managers with deep investing and operational experience as well as first time managers want to join the Capria Network because they have the desire to be best in class, not just in their market, but globally. All teams selected to join Capria’s seven-week “Intensive” become part of the Capria Network and they make a deep commitment to work with one another over a multi-year process as they build their world-class investment firms.
“As experienced fund managers launching our third fund, our plans with Capria were a little different than others,” said Eduardo Grytz, managing partner of Performa Investimentos, a fund manager in Brazil with $75 AUM raising its third impact fund. “After meeting other Capria Network members and working together closely through the intensive program, we can clearly attest to the benefits to our firm of being a member of a global network of leading fund managers.”
“Capria accelerates the development of first-time managers, like us. In regions with a nascent venture capital and private equity industry, only a few established impact funds exist as role models”, said Dmitry Fotiyev, managing partner of Brightmore Capital. “We’re already six months ahead of where we would have been without the engagement of Capria.”
Deploying Capital and Expertise Where It’s Most Needed
In the second half of 2015, Capria announced its bold plans to accelerate the creation of 15 impact funds in emerging markets in the next five years, leading to the deployment of over US $500M into businesses and impacting the lives of more than 5 million individuals. The need for seasoned investment managers who know local markets and can effectively deploy capital and return profits for investors continues to grow; Capria is working to address that need.
To help new and existing managers advance their efforts, Capria has made capital commitments to each of the new managers in the network, in aggregate about $2M for this cycle. Capria provides smart, flexible capital in the form of seed funds for the management company and/or a fund investment. The managers use Capria’s risk capital to invest in their teams and set up their funds quickly. Capria Network funds can also start making initial portfolio investments even before they have received capital from other investors.
“We have been investing in high-growth, small and medium size businesses in South Africa since 2008, but we are always looking for ways to improve and adopt global best practices.” said Janice Johnston, principal at Edge Growth. “We’re excited to work with Capria and the network members to deliver both exceptional financial performance and world-leading social and environmental impact through our portfolio companies.”
“There’s no faster way to heal deep wounds in a country than sustained economic development, but that can’t happen without capital,” said Fernando Cardenas, managing director of Odiseo. “With the peace accord signed, now’s the time for Colombia to embrace rapid development. Joining Capria’s global network of impact fund managers will help us work faster and deliver superior financial returns to our investors.”
Fourth Investment Cycle Now Open
Capria has started its global search for another group of the best impact investment managers in emerging markets to invest in and join the Capria Network. If you are starting a new impact fund and would benefit from the assets and services of Capria and the Capria Network, please introduce yourself. We look for fund managers that can deliver superior financial returns, scalable impact, and contribute to the Capria Network. Please take a look at our selection criteria to determine if Capria is a good fit.
About Capria
Capria Ventures is a global financial services innovator investing in the “missing middle” finance opportunity in emerging markets. Capria manages multiple investment funds, a fund manager advisory and accelerator, and the leading global network of impact fund managers. Capria is focused on delivering superior profits to investors along with social and environmental impact at scale, with a goal of unlocking over USD $500 million in impact capital by 2021 and positively impacting the lives of millions. Capria has offices in Seattle and Bangalore. More at: http://capria.vc and http://usf.vc
