Featured in Spark of a yellow sun – 07-2022

Putting capital to work

Venture capital investment in solar and energy storage companies in sub-Saharan Africa brings with it considerable risk, but also holds the promise of making an outsized impact in delivering clean energy access. KawiSafi Ventures Managing Director Amar Inamdar says that venture capital investment in frontier markets will be a key part of the “capital stack” required to pursue the joint goals of leapfrogging fossil fuel energy development in the continent and lighting up African lives.

By

Jonathan Gifford

18 Jul 2022

Image: d.light

Solar and energy storage companies have long tapped venture capital (VC) as they develop market-ready products, and then roll them out to consumers. However, the history of VC engagement with solar and storage has not been a straight success. The list of VC-backed solar failures is a long one, with aspirant thin film manufacturers particularly …

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