• Spark

  Led · Seed · Aug 2026

  Spark supplies modular, plug-and-play solar kits combined with pay-as-you-go technology and a digital management portal for distribution partners. Its modular approach lets households start with basic lighting and gradually add appliances as needs and finances grow. Spark distributes through local partners across more than 23 countries and estimates its systems have reached around two million people in markets including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Madagascar. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Breda, the company leverages distributor networks rather than selling directly to consumers. Spark plans to expand financial support for distributors through programs such as Spark Catalyse, Spark Connect and its existing Spark Invest platform. The company faces challenges from high borrowing costs and currency fluctuations in key markets.

• InspiraFarms

  Participated · Convertible Note · Jan 2024

  InspiraFarms Cooling designs, develops, and installs efficient precooling and cold‑chain technology for fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and animal protein supply chains. Its product set includes cold rooms, precoolers, freezers, packhouses, slaughterhouse solutions, long‑term potato storage and temperature‑controlled warehouses that are renewable‑energy compatible and can be 100% off‑grid. The company says its solutions cut energy costs, reduce post‑harvest losses, extend shelf life and can enable up to 25% energy savings. InspiraFarms has deployed hundreds of units across 15 countries and serves agribusinesses, exporters, third‑party logistics and food distributors. The business is piloting a Cooling‑as‑a‑Service model and prioritizes off‑grid energy cold‑storage projects across the continent. Management frames the offering as addressing Africa’s cold‑chain gap—only 5% of fresh produce enters the cold chain—contributing to reductions in food loss and related emissions. InspiraFarms designs, finances and supplies energy-efficient, solar-powered cold rooms to agribusinesses and food distributors across East and Southern Africa. Its technology aims to reduce post-harvest losses, cut energy costs and help customers meet international food safety certifications. The company offers remote performance monitoring and long-term asset financing to address scarcity of financing for African agribusinesses. InspiraFarms is partnering with the Shell Foundation and project finance partners to scale a leasing platform and expand offerings such as cooling-as-a-service, first-mile cooling for outgrowers, and medium-to-large cold storage for distributors and exporters. Co-founder and CEO Tim Chambers said the firm recently closed a Series B to expand operations in the region, though he did not disclose the amount. The business emphasizes solar power and financing solutions to expand cold-chain capacity in rural and intermittently electrified areas. InspiraFarms designs and supplies modular cold storage and food-processing units that run on off-grid renewable energy to reduce post-harvest losses and meet food-safety requirements. The company is a B‑Corp headquartered in Sevenoaks, England, with production in Italy and regional offices and sales agents in Guatemala, Kenya, and South Africa. Its units have been deployed since 2014 in Guatemala and in 2015 in Rwanda, helping producers increase output and comply with GAP and HACCP standards. InspiraFarms says its technology can increase annual farm income in target regions by about 40% by extending shelf life and enabling access to higher-value markets. The business plans to use new funding to substantially expand global reach, potentially selling up to five new units per month and offering interest-free loans to customers. Its modular, financeable platform targets smallholder farmers in off-grid and unreliable-grid areas to improve productivity, reduce losses, and create employment opportunities.

No current team members are available.