GAIA Impact Fund

GAIA Impact Fund is a venture capital firm that specializes in renewable energy, focusing on building long-term partnerships with startups in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. With a strong environmental and social focus, the firm supports businesses that provide sustainable and affordable energy to local communities. GAIA Impact Fund also works to promote technological innovations and business models that facilitate the widespread adoption of renewable energy in regions where energy mixes are highly carbonized.

Helene Demaegdt

Partner and President

Past deals in Sub Saharan Africa

Beacon Power Services

Series A in 2024
Beacon Power Services, established in 2013 and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, specializes in designing and implementing energy management solutions for commercial and industrial facilities. The company's core offering is its AI-enabled grid management platform, Adora, which provides real-time visibility into network performance for electric utilities, enabling them to anticipate outages, identify network losses, and distribute electricity more efficiently. Additionally, Adora empowers consumers with control over their energy infrastructure, facilitating invoicing, installations, and logistics. Beacon Power Services aims to enhance the quality and duration of electricity supplied in African cities by building smart grids and leveraging data to reduce inefficiencies in power distribution systems.

Nuru

Series B in 2023
Nuru is a company based in Goma, Nord-Kivu, Congo, focused on enhancing connectivity and providing affordable energy solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded in 2015, Nuru specializes in solar energy and storage micro-grids. It made a significant impact in 2017 by deploying the country's first solar-based mini-grid and is currently working on constructing a 1.3MW solar hybrid site in Goma, which is set to become the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa. Nuru's mini-grids utilize solar photovoltaic technology combined with battery storage, allowing commercial and industrial users to access renewable energy effectively.

Oolu

Series B in 2020
Oolu Inc. is a solar energy company based in Dakar, Senegal, with an additional office in San Francisco, California. It specializes in the installation of solar home systems and provides technical support and maintenance services to households in West Africa. Oolu's offerings include solar systems equipped with adjustable lights and USB ports, powered by batteries that can hold a charge for up to six hours. The company aims to improve energy access for rural and peri-urban communities by implementing a monthly payment model that reduces financial barriers. This model not only allows customers to benefit from affordable and reliable energy but also includes maintenance, parts, and battery replacements within the service package. By fostering trust within local communities, Oolu seeks to expand its impact and become a leading provider of energy and financial services in the developing world.

Nuru

Series A in 2019
Nuru is a company based in Goma, Nord-Kivu, Congo, focused on enhancing connectivity and providing affordable energy solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded in 2015, Nuru specializes in solar energy and storage micro-grids. It made a significant impact in 2017 by deploying the country's first solar-based mini-grid and is currently working on constructing a 1.3MW solar hybrid site in Goma, which is set to become the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa. Nuru's mini-grids utilize solar photovoltaic technology combined with battery storage, allowing commercial and industrial users to access renewable energy effectively.

Oolu

Series B in 2018
Oolu Inc. is a solar energy company based in Dakar, Senegal, with an additional office in San Francisco, California. It specializes in the installation of solar home systems and provides technical support and maintenance services to households in West Africa. Oolu's offerings include solar systems equipped with adjustable lights and USB ports, powered by batteries that can hold a charge for up to six hours. The company aims to improve energy access for rural and peri-urban communities by implementing a monthly payment model that reduces financial barriers. This model not only allows customers to benefit from affordable and reliable energy but also includes maintenance, parts, and battery replacements within the service package. By fostering trust within local communities, Oolu seeks to expand its impact and become a leading provider of energy and financial services in the developing world.

Easy Solar

Seed Round in 2018
Easy Solar is a prominent energy distribution company focused on providing solar solutions to off-grid communities in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The company specializes in financing high-quality solar products, including solar lanterns and home systems, aimed at individuals with limited or no access to conventional electricity sources. Easy Solar offers flexible payment plans, allowing customers to make an initial deposit followed by weekly or monthly installments, payable through cash or mobile money. Since its inception, the company has positively impacted over 400,000 beneficiaries by leveraging a vast network of agents and outlets, thereby facilitating the transition to eco-friendly and affordable energy solutions.
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