Investing in the
Blind Spots for Impact
in Frontier Markets

There is no equitable economy without funding.

Our transformation

By 2030 50% of all new entrants into the global workforce will be from sub-Saharan Africa (IMF). By 2050 the region's working-age population will continue to rise when it will be decreasing everywhere else. At that point Africa will be home to approximately 25% of humanity.

But socio-demographic change is not being supported by economic transformation. Instead, African economies are falling ever further behind the rest of the world.
Adjusted for the different costs of goods in different places (so-called purchasing-power parity, or ppp) the GDP of the rest of the world is steadily growing, while African GDP stagnates.

African economies account for about 3% of global GDP and yet receive only 1% of private capital. Foreign Direct Investments into the continent are equally stagnating in comparison to the rest of the world. In 2024 84% of startup funding went to four countries only - Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. Half of the continents overall funding even went to just 10 companies. (Source: Africa: The Big Deal).

The World Bank projects that by 2030, over 80% of people living in extreme poverty globally will be in Africa, with most low-income countries already located in Sub-Saharan Africa.

35-50% of global employment comes from MSMEs (ILO & OECD), yet especially these businesses struggle to grow in Sub-Saharan Africa due to limited financial access. They are either too large to be served by microfinance institutions or too small and high risk for the more formal banking sector, larger Impact Funds or Development Finance Institutions(DFIs). This leaves them without access to critical financial services despite the significant role they play in emerging economies. They are seeking what is called the missing middle in finance.

Redsalt is an impact-first angel investment nonprofit dedicated to supporting early-stage businesses in low-income countries.

Through patient capital investments, strategic support and governance, and mentorship, Redsalt aims to close the "Missing Middle in Finance", i.e. the financing gap faced by businesses that have outgrown microfinance, but remain too small and high-risk for banks and institutional investors.

Redsalt aims to demonstrate how engaged, long-term angel investment can help promising, purpose-driven businesses become sustainable and scalable, while contributing to job creation, stronger local economies and lasting economic value in frontier markets.

Creating lasting impact in underserved communities

Balancing financial returns with social and environmental goals

Solving complex challenges traditional investments can’t

We Provide

Equity Investment

Financing the startup with a cash investment in return for equity

Mentorship

Structured onboarding, operational support, expert guidance

Governance

KPI & Impact Measurement,
financial reporting, board meetings

Our Impact Investments fund the Agents of Change, the entrepreneurs who provide innovative solutions and services to the problems of their communities - scalable and self-sustaining.

You are one of those Agents of Change? You have an innovative and scalable business with a distinct social or environmental impact?