Businesses have the power to create opportunities, strengthen industries and contribute to thriving local economies.
The Impact Finance Network (IFN) connects businesses with the support, networks and investment needed to grow. Launched in South Africa in 2021, the programme has expanded across southern Africa and South America, helping businesses access opportunities to scale, create jobs and contribute to the long-term strength and resilience of the regions in which they operate.
Launched in South Africa in 2021, the Impact Finance Network has since expanded its reach across eight countries in Africa and Latin America.
Across South Africa, businesses are developing innovative solutions, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. Yet many face challenges accessing the right support and investment at the right stage of their journey.
The Impact Finance Network helps address this challenge by connecting businesses with expertise, investors and innovative financing solutions that can accelerate growth and unlock new opportunities.
The programme remains deeply committed to supporting inclusive growth in the Northern Cape while continuing to expand its reach across Africa and into Latin America. Through a partnership between Anglo American and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), IFN is strengthening its support for businesses in South Africa and helping more enterprises access the resources they need to grow.
Our Kumba Iron Ore business is a key partner in this work through its commitment to economic diversification and resilience in the Northern Cape. Together, IFN and the Impact Finance Facility (IFF) help unlock investment, strengthen value chains and support the growth of a more diverse regional economy.
Tailored support helps businesses strengthen their investment readiness, refine their growth plans and prepare to engage with investors.
Access to local and international investor networks creates opportunities to secure funding and build strategic relationships that support long-term growth.
Recognising that technical assistance alone is not always enough to unlock growth, Anglo American launched the Impact Finance Facility (IFF).
Funded by Kumba Iron Ore and the UK Government, the IFF provides flexible, concessional and repayable funding that works alongside commercial investors and financial institutions. By helping reduce investment risk and address specific financing barriers, the facility enables businesses to access capital that may otherwise be out of reach.
Rather than replacing commercial finance, the IFF is designed to help transactions move forward by addressing funding barriers that often prevent businesses from accessing investment. In doing so, it helps crowd in additional third-party capital and create a multiplier effect that expands access to growth funding.
The IFN brings together impact investors and businesses through the following process:
The IFN team work with networks in target geographies to identify eligible businesses and interested impact investors.
Businesses apply online and are screened by the IFN team against eligibility criteria.
Eligible businesses are invited to complete an assessment and share key business documents for review. The IFN team reviews these to identify investment readiness gaps, and to see if the IFN is the right fit. The final decision on progressing a business in the IFN is made by the IFN Selection Committee.
Selected businesses are matched with the right technical assistance to meet their needs for the relevant stage in their investment journey
Pitch prep TA helps businesses prepare to pitch to investors and become ready for due diligence.
When ready, businesses are matched with aligned impact investors, and introductions are made. Interested investors are invited to provide feedback.
Deal close technical assistance helps address information gaps highlighted by investors to move deals towards closure.
IFN continues to provide strategic support to businesses as they engage with investors and progress towards deal closure.
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How do I apply?
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1. Check that your business meets the Impact Finance Network eligibility criteria.
2. You can apply for the Impact Finance Network by contacting [email protected].
Please provide as much detail as possible.
What types of businesses can apply?
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Any business that meets all of the eligiblity criteria can apply. If you do not deliver a positive environmental or social impact through your products, services or business model, then you will not be eligible for the Impact Finance Network.
Is there a cut-off date for applications?
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There is currently no due date or cut-off date for applications as the IFN is ongoing. We encourage you to compile the necessary information and apply as soon as you are ready.
How long will it be until I hear back about my application?
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We aim to respond to every application, whether successful or unsuccessful, within 4 weeks of submission. Once you have submitted your application, you should receive an email confirming receipt of your application.
Can I apply more than once?
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We are only able to process one application for your business at a time. If you experience technical difficulties, or do not receive a confirmation email, please complete the form again. If your application is not accepted at this time, you are welcome to apply again in the future if your circumstances change.
What is TA?
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‘TA’ stands for Technical Assistance. In the Impact Finance Network, Technical Assistance is tailored support provided by experts to assist eligible businesses on their investment journey and to help them in closing information gaps as highlighted by investors.
What will the Initiative cost me?
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There is no cost for businesses selected to participate in the Impact Finance Network. If selected for TA, you will need to commit to the IFN and engage with the support provided to increase the likelihood of getting interest from investors.
What will I have to do if my business is selected?
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If your business is selected for the IFN the level of engagement will depend on your business’s investment readiness and existing information gaps.
If you business is in need of Technical Assistance (TA), you will need to dedicate time to meet with our team at regular intervals over the engagement period and you will need to actively participate in implementing the assistance given. You may need to complete data collection and further readiness assessment surveys to support the process.
All businesses selected for the IFN will need to engage actively in the investor matching phase, in order to effectively showcase your business and promptly follow up with investor questions.
In order to demonstrate the impact of the IFN, Anglo American will require businesses to complete questionnaires on the impacts that a business creates and the role that the fundraise will play in growing these impacts. It is essential that businesses engage proactively in this process.
How long will I be involved in the Impact Finance Network?
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If your business is selected for Technical Assistance (TA), the duration of your involvement is dependent on the level of support your business needs. For the delivery of the TA this is usually 3 to 12 months. After the TA and investor matching concludes, the IFN team may contact you for updates on your deal, development progress, milestones, and impact reporting for up to 36 months.
Will my company data be shared with investors?
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If selected for the IFN, a summary of your business profile will be shared with investors to gauge initial interest. This summary will be shared with you for review and approval prior to sharing with investors. If an investor wants to know more, we will engage you for your permission before sharing additional information.
What data will be collected during the IFN?
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During the initiative, we will collect the data that you provide to us including your contact details, information about your business and capital raising plans.
What if I don’t get interest from IFN investors?
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If your business does not receive investor interest, we will inform you and share any feedback from the investors.
Will the Impact Finance Network give me the opportunity to work with or sell my products to Anglo American?
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No - although the Impact Finance Network is an Anglo American initative, the objective is to support businesses to grow by connecting them with investors. This does not include providing market access or entry to the Anglo American Supply Chain.
What do I get if I register?
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By registering you are confirming that you want to join the Impact Finance Network investor cohort. As we build our pipeline of businesses we will:
If you have an existing deal where the target company needs support to prepare for investment, you can recommend this business for Technical Assistance (TA). We will then engage with you to consider the business for TA support.
How do I register?
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You can confirm your participation in the Impact Finance Network by contacting [email protected].
What will be required if I register as an investor?
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By registering you are confirming that you would like to join the IFN investor cohort. The IFN intention is to be investor-led i.e. providing selected businesses with targeted, investor-informed Technical Assistance (TA) to assist in addressing risk areas. To this end we ask that you:
Is there any cost to me as an investor?
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There is no cost to you as an investor.
What role does Anglo American play in the Impact Finance Network?
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Anglo American has developed the Impact Finance Network to break down barriers between impact businesses and investors to accelerate impact investment deals. In this regard, Anglo American are managing and funding the initiative.
Will Anglo American be investing in any of the businesses?
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Anglo American is covering the costs of company origination and agreed Technical Assistance provided but at this time will not be investing directly into any of the businesses.
Can I invest in multiple Businesses?
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Yes, there is no limit to the number of businesses that you can engage with or invest in.
What types of technical assistance will be available for businesses that are selected?
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Technical Assistance (TA) is dependent on the gaps identified. The main types of TA available are:
Pitch Prep TA helps prepare businesses for pitching to investors and due diligence. This may range from light-touch to in-depth, and may include one or more of: investment summary or business plan, pitch deck, financial model, support in setting up a data room.
Deal Close TA helps businesses to address gaps highlighted by investors after pitches, which are obstacles to deal progression and closure.
Who will deliver the technical assistance to selected businesses?
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Our delivery partners are 10X-Entrepreneur (10x-E) and Impact Capital Africa (ICA). Both are experienced enterprise development consultants, specialising in supporting African businesses in preparing for investment, growth and scale.
How can I help a business I recommend get selected for the IFN?
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If you refer a business, you can help their screening and assessment process by engaging with the IFN team at defined points. This will help us understand your level of engagement, interest in the business, and insight you may have into their investment readiness. See touchpoints below: 1. If a business applicant lists you as a referring investor we will contact you to confirm level of interest / engagement. If this is a deal you need to support to close, we will discuss how the IFN may be able to support progressing the deal 2. When IFN businesses are ready to engage with investors, we will ask you to confirm your interest by completing a Feedback Form, or providing confirmation of interest.
