Foundation or philanthropic investor
Shell Foundation
Shell Foundation is an independent, UK-registered charity that was established in 2000. It focuses on creating and scaling up business models that provide clean energy solutions to low-income communities in Africa and Asia. The foundation's approach involves deploying grant funding, business support, and its network to help social enterprises achieve scale and financial viability. It mobilises catalytic finance to de-risk opportunities and unlock commercial funding from other sources, aiming to raise incomes and improve livelihoods for millions of people.
Investment focus
- Sectors
- Energy and powerAgriculture and foodSMEsManufacturing and industrialsFinancial services
- Stages and strategies
- SeedGrowthFund investmentsPrivate creditPre-seedSeries ASeries B+
- Instruments
- EquityDebtMezzanine
- Regions
- Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, Pan-African, Asia
Fund commitments
- EchoVC Eco Pilot Fund I
- Equator Africa Fund I
- COVID-19 Energy Access Relief Fund
- Grofin Small and Growing Businesses Fund
- Angaza Distributor Finance Fund
- Catalyst Climate Fund Resilience I, L.P.
- Nithio FAIR
- FarmCarbon
- Lightrock Accelerate7
- Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF)
- Mirova Gigaton Fund
- responsAbility Access To Clean Power Fund
- Nomou Jordan Fund
Sources
- Partner Researchers, accessed 14 November 2026
- Partner Researchers, accessed 14 November 2026
- https://www.africaprivateequitynews.com/p/lightrock-launches-accelerate7-after, www.africaprivateequitynews.com. Accessed 14 November 2026.
- https://www.echovc.com/blog/11/28/2023/echovc-announces-close-and-launch-of-25m-pre-seed-climate-energy-amp-sustainability-pilot-fund-eco-pilot-fund-i, www.echovc.com. Accessed 14 November 2026.
- https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/05/equator-secures-40m-in-commitments-for-fund-targeting-climate-tech-startups-in-africa/, techcrunch.com. Accessed 14 November 2026.
- https://www.africaprivateequitynews.com/p/171m-first-close-for-mirova-gigaton-fund, www.africaprivateequitynews.com. Accessed 14 November 2026.
- https://acumen.org/news/coalition-launches-energy-access-relief-fund/, acumen.org. Accessed 14 November 2026; link checked 15 November 2026.