Disrupt Africa: ''Meet the Investor'' with Hugues Vincent-Genod from I&P

Disrupt Africa recently published an interview of Hugues Vincent-Genod, Investment Officer at I&P. He presents I&P's investment thesis and the project IPDEV 2, consisting in launching ten investment funds in ten African countries.

► Read the interview online

Extracts

• About I&P

I&P’s investment thesis aims to answer the financing and support needs of SMEs in Africa’s “missing middle”, with the firm believing SMEs are facing three major obstacles that are impeding their growth. These are limited access to long-term finance, limited access to skills, and low governance and management practices.

“As an impact investor, I&P endeavours to achieve economic, social, and governance impact through its investments,” says Vincent-Genod.

Vincent-Genod says these are promoting African entrepreneurship and contributing to the development of the private sector, ensuring better working and living conditions for African workers, reducing carbon footprint, ensuring integrity and good governance, and raising awareness about the dynamism of African entrepreneurship.

• About IPDEV2

I&P’s IPDEV2 intiative, established in 2015, is the first network of African fund managers dedicated to early-stage and small growing businesses. IPDEV2 will incubate and sponsor 10 impact funds in 10 African countries over the next 10 years.

“Each fund will be managed by a first-time investment team supported by I&P and will invest equity and quasi-equity into 50 high-potential SMEs over 10 years,” Vincent-Genod says. “Lean teams and high proximity will allow them to finance the neglected segment of early stage and small growing businesses with investment needs below EUR500,000 (US$540,000).”

Thanks to a strong leverage effect on local fundraising, IPDEV2’s network is also aiming to unlock EUR100 million (US$108 million) of African and international capital to finance 500 SMEs and directly create 15,000 formal jobs. Investors include large institutional funders such as the West African Bank of Development and private foundations such as the Lundin Foundation and Caritas.

About

Disrupt Africa is a one-stop-shop for all news, information and commentary pertaining to the continent’s tech startup – and investment – ecosystem. With journalists roaming the continent to find, meet, and interview the most innovative and disruptive tech startups, Disrupt Africa is a true showcase of Africa’s most promising businesses and business ideas.