DGGF generates knowledge, findings, lessons learnt and best practices via its activities that stimulate entrepreneurship in frontier markets. To capture this, the SC&BD facility has a ‘Knowledge development and sharing’ component that supports the creation of practice-oriented studies and organises knowledge sharing events in close cooperation with relevant – local – partners. The objective is to actively share insights into financing SMEs in developing countries and emerging markets and systematise knowledge exchange to accelerate sector-wide learning.
This webpage gives an overview of all published knowledge products and outcomes of knowledge events. The reports are subdivided into three focus topics:
1. Understanding the 'missing middle'
DGGF actively builds partnerships to improve ‘missing middle’ finance. DGGF contributes its knowledge to collaborative efforts with like-minded field builders in the ‘missing middle’ finance sector. The goal is to develop frameworks that help with a common understanding of issues at stake and enhance cooperation opportunities.
Segmenting enterprises to better understand their financial needs
Small and growing businesses (SGBs) contribute to significant positive impact in emerging economies. Still, they struggle to access the capital they need to reach their full potential.
- DGGF has partnered with the Collaborative for Frontier Finance, Omidyar Network, and Dalberg Advisors to develop a segmentation framework. The aim is to help investors, intermediaries, and entrepreneurs better navigate the complex landscape of SGB investment in frontier and emerging markets.
- Segmenting enterprises to better understand their financial needs, Full report - October 2018 (pdf)
- Segmenting enterprises to better understand their financial needs, ES - October 2018 (pdf)
Closing the Gaps: Finance pathways for serving the missing middles
Small and growing businesses (SGBs) are vital for driving inclusive growth in emerging markets. Still, a wide range of financing needs have not been met. This report, commissioned by DGGF alongside the Omidyar Network, Argidius Foundation and Small Foundation, offers five alternative pathways for providing finance that meets the diverse needs of each SGB-segment and investor. The report provides insights into new approaches that innovate on traditional financing models, as well as the actions that ecosystem stakeholders can take to help support these approaches.
- Closing the Gaps: Finance pathways for serving the missing middles, Full Report - January 2020 (pdf)
- Closing the Gaps: Finance pathways for serving the missing middles, ES - January 2020 (pdf)
Image: © DGGF
ClosingTheGap is a tool to help and support local and international stakeholders’ efforts in setting the agenda in terms of SME development. Brought together, stakeholders identify possible solutions for the main gaps interfering with the growth of local enterprises.
The series researches local entrepreneur’s characteristics and needs. It also tests assumptions related to the current financial service offering and shares insights as to their impact on the usefulness of the overall ecosystem. Special attention is paid to women and young entrepreneurs, as well as entrepreneurs in fragile states. The ClosingTheGap series looks at several regions.
Through the Closing the Gaps series, DGGF and its partners have identified financing gaps and barriers to SME growth across multiple countries. DGGF also contributed to the WSME Segmentation Framework & Toolkit, helping stakeholders better understand and support women-led SMEs.
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2. Serving the 'missing middle'
DGGF plays an active role in establishing mezzanine finance as a new asset class for the ‘missing middle’:
- DGGF supports mezzanine finance providers through the investment portfolio and seed capital.
- DGGF has supported the development of a dedicated study, from which a ‘Masterclass’, combining in-person training and on the deal coaching, for professional investors was derived.
- DGGF leads a working group, gathering mezzanine finance providers and investors under the Collaborative for Frontier Finance.
Study on small-cap SME mezzanine finance
Mezzanine finance provides an extra offer in the SME finance ecosystem for ‘missing middle’ entrepreneurs. It blends elements from traditional Private Equity (PE) and debt financing into a unique product.
As a relatively young and rather complex segment in the impact investing space, the commissioned study 'Publication of new perspectives on financing small-cap SMEs in emerging markets: the case for mezzanine finance' provides an understanding of the specifics, diversity and complexities of mezzanine finance in the impact investing space. This study is the first of its kind and represents a first step for making small-cap SME mezzanine finance an asset class on its own.
- Publication of new perspectives on financing small-cap SMEs in emerging markets: the case for mezzanine finance - May 2016 (pdf)
Mezzanine masterclass
This executive training session is dedicated to investment professionals who are currently deploying capital. These professionals are looking to adjust their product offering to their target clients and are operating markets by adopting a differentiated approach from debt and equity.
The training session is focused on skill development through deal structuring. Case studies are used to help with this. The diversity of experiences among peers and the trainer help with the learning experience.
DGGF plays a leading role in furthering thoughts on building more sustainable early-stage finance models:
- DGGF supports many early-stage finance providers through the investment portfolio and the SC&BD facility. This includes accelerators, angel networks and early-stage VC funds.
- DGGF supported the development of a dedicated study. From which a cluster emulated under the Collaborative for Frontier Finance.
Scaling access to finance for early-stage enterprises in emerging markets: Lessons from the field
Many SMEs in developing countries have difficulty securing the financial backing they need to grow. These SMEs are often referred to as the ‘missing middle’. They have outgrown microfinance but do not yet have access to regular financial services. There are many challenges for ‘missing middle’ segments. However, early-stage enterprises face even bigger challenges, and the lack of financing limits their growth.
The report seeks to explore how to improve the scalability and viability of early-stage finance provision, thereby reducing the need for philanthropic capital and subsidies to the local providers of finance and support to early-stage enterprises.
- Study on scaling access to finance for early-stage enterprises - January 2019 (pdf)
Technical Assistance to support entrepreneurship programme Mella – Ethiopia
Mella is an entrepreneurship programme in Ethiopia. It was launched by Novastar Ventures, an Africa-based venture capital firm focusing on investment in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria. Mella has support from DGGF Financing Local SMEs. Mella’s virtual platform connects a young audience with successful entrepreneurs and inspires them in their ambitions of starting or growing their businesses.
- Entrepreneurship Programme Mella - Ethiopia - May 2020 (pdf)
Innovative approaches to angel investing in Africa
Investment from angel investors into African startups has grown rapidly in recent years. The fast development of startup ecosystems resulted in a strong increase in the number of investable opportunities, and some recent early signs of success have further spurred interest from angel investors around the world. This increased investment appetite is both enabled and accelerated by new approaches to organized angel investing. These new innovative approaches combine elements of traditional angel investing, crowdfunding and venture capital, and make it more cost-efficient and easier for angel investors to invest in African high-growth ventures. This is an important development, as such companies are key to stimulating (youth) employment, innovation and competitiveness of African economies. DGGF offers TA to several angel investors in Africa. This paper explores these new approaches to organized angel investing and aims to raise awareness around the continuous need to innovate and to make finance more accessible for African high-growth ventures.
African Angel Investment Survey 2022
This research, commissioned by DGGF and implemented by Briter Bridges in partnership with African Angel Business Network (ABAN) and African Angel Academy (AAA), explores the activities and demographic backgrounds of angels operating across Africa. This is the first edition of an annual series that has been discussed at the African Early Stage Investment Summit #AESIS 2022. The recording of the knowledge roundtable at the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit is available here.African Angel Investment Survey 2023
This research, commissioned by DGGF and implemented by Briter Bridges in partnership with African Angel Business Network (ABAN) and African Angel Academy (AAA), explores the the rapidly evolving realm of angel investing in Africa. The results of this report have been discussed at the African Early Stage Investment Summit #AESIS 2023.
African Angel Investment Survey 2024
This research, commissioned by DGGF and implemented by Briter Bridges in partnership with African Angel Business Network (ABAN) and African Angel Academy (AAA), explores the the rapidly evolving realm of angel investing in Africa. The results of this report have been discussed at the African Early Stage Investment Summit #AESIS 2024.
DGGF Emerging Markets Angel Report
Angel investors play a critical role in early-stage ecosystems across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, providing not only capital but also mentorship, strategic guidance, and networks that help startups survive and grow. Yet, angel investing in these markets faces structural challenges, from the prevalence of sunk costs to liquidity constraints.This report, developed by Briter Intelligence in partnership with the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), maps more than 220 angel networks and explores their motivations, investment behaviors, and support mechanisms. It highlights trends shaping angel investing, barriers to participation, and strategies to strengthen this vital source of early-stage finance.
DGGF has been building its own gender lens investing (GLI) understanding:
- DGGF supports a few GLI funds through the investment portfolio and SC&BD facility
- DGGF supported the development of a dedicated study. From the study, a definition for outreach to women entrepreneurs was created.
- DGGF is building a comprehensive TA offer around strengthening the gender awareness of local financial providers.
Serving the financial needs of women-owned businesses in emerging markets: Perspectives from the DGGF portfolio
The research focused on what could be learned from concentrating on the SMEs financed by the funds in which DGGF has invested. The analysis of the DGGF portfolio revealed that 20% of the underlying SMEs are majority or minority-owned by women. To be able to invest in women-owned businesses, fund managers need to proactively seek out female entrepreneurs and understand how they go about their work. Women may not actively seek external financing.
- Serving the financial needs of women-owned businesses in emerging markets: Perspectives from the DGGF Portfolio - August 2018 (pdf)
Technical Assistance to support Gender Lens Investing at Alitheia IDF Fund
DGGF supported Alitheia IDF Managers with technical assistance to clarify and strengthen their Gender Lens Investing fund proposition. One of the outcomes of this support is the study 'The Case for Gender Lens Investing: Alitheia IDF Fund', authored by MEDA.
- Case Study Gender Lens Investing - September 2018 (pdf)
Case study in Cambodia: Lessons From A Gender-Focused Entrepreneurship Incubator
The paper 'SHE Investments: Lessons From A Gender-Focused Entrepreneurship Incubator' centers on identifying SHE’s primary success drivers and how these strategies can serve as inspiration for similar incubators and accelerators in different countries or regions. This case study was a valuable learning model from a collaboration between SHE Investments and DGGF.
Advancing Gender Lens Investing through Technical Assistance
This report is intended for fund managers and other development finance institutions interested in understanding how gender lens investing (GLI) technical assistance (TA) can help them achieve their GLI objectives and advance the objective of increasing capital allocation to women-led SMEs operating in emerging markets.
Lessons from i2i Ventures
Since i2i Ventures is a bright example of a thriving capital fund despite a challenging context, DGGF decided to dedicate a knowledge paper to it. The paper centers on identifying the primary success drivers of i2i Ventures and how the fund’s strategies can inspire similar first-time early-stage venture capital funds in different countries or regions.
WSME framework and toolkit
As mentionted above this report presents the full research and analysis that underpin the WSME Segmentation Framework and Practitioner Toolkit. Developed by ConsumerCentriX with support from DGGF and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), it draws on extensive primary research conducted in Colombia, Uganda, and Pakistan.
It introduces a new way of segmenting women-owned and led small businesses, based not on size, but on projected growth, enabling stakeholders to design more effective, tailored interventions.
Inclusive Growth
To continue learning about the effectiveness of DGGF’s investment strategy and its contribution to inclusive growth, DGGF and MFA contracted Steward Redqueen to perform a deep dive study on this theme. The deep dive evolves around the key questions of “why, how and to what extent does DGGF contribute to inclusive growth?
- Deep dive on inclusive growth - September 2023 (pdf)
Demonstration effect and other catalytic effects
In 2023 DGGF commissioned a study to establish the demonstration and other catalytic effects it has achieved to attract further investment in the missing middle, and to provide DGGF with recommendations. This short paper summarises our findings, and provides lessons learned for DGGF, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other market players, together with a series of recommendations to DGGF for the way forward.
Climate risks and opportunities
DGGF also committed to supporting its investees in mitigating climate impacts and adapting to climate change, while promoting entrepreneurship in frontier markets. The climate portfolio assessment involved four DGGF investees and 13 of their portfolio companies, identifying climate risks, needs, and solutions for effective climate business development and financing in the SME sector.
SC&BD actively shares insights into financing SMEs in emerging markets to accelerate sector-wide learning but actual knowledge transfer requires structured peer to peer learning exchanges. The DGGF Academy is a way to scale DGGF’s capacity to demonstrate new models of SME finance provision and accelerate the replication of demonstrated innovations.
- DGGF Academy - December 2023
3. Scaling 'missing middle' finance
Enabling entrepreneurship in frontier markets
DGGF’s impact report ‘Enabling entrepreneurship in frontier markets’ shares the success stories and lessons learned of five years of DGGF investments (2014-2019). Inspiring case studies from local entrepreneurs demonstrate the positive impact of DGGF’s contribution so far. In those five years, DGGF – Financing local SMEs has been able to create a positive impact in 60 countries by, among other things, supporting 33,316 jobs and financing more than 4,500 SMEs through its support to local finance providers.
- ‘Enabling entrepreneurship in frontier markets’ - June 2019 (pdf)
Roadmap to scaling the SME finance
On 1 October 2019, Triple Jump and PwC hosted the conference 'Closing the SME Finance Gap: Empowering Young & Women Entrepreneurs in Frontier Markets' at the Compagnietheater in Amsterdam. This was done on the behalf of the DGGF Financing Local SMEs initiative. In this conference report, you can find a roadmap to scaling the SME finance offer as well as insights from each of the break-out sessions during the event.
- ‘Closing the SME finance gap’ - October 2019 (pdf)
Catalytic capital
Catalytic capital can help emerging market fund managers reach a first close and attract commercial investors. Drawing on DGGF’s ten-year track record, it combines portfolio data, interviews, and case studies to identify patterns in instrument design and deployment - highlighting what works and what to avoid when enabling first closes without distorting markets.
Lessons for first-time SME finance providers
Over the past decade, DGGF has played a catalytic role in backing primarily first-time SME finance providers across emerging and frontier markets through its fund of funds and seed capital investments, committing more than €400 million to SME risk capital across 55 countries.
This paper below includes lessons learned from that experience, drawing on internal data, interviews and portfolio analyses to explore how SME finance providers move from concept to first investments, together with what enables them to build lasting models. It highlights four pathways identified by fund managers to get to first close - bootstrapping, seed-funding support, cornerstone investors and spinouts - and examines the factors that shape long-term success. The goal is to offer practical insights for local SME finance providers, their investors, and ecosystem enablers supporting the next generation of emerging market SME financiers.
Mobilizing local capital
This paper draws on DGGF’s and its partners’ portfolio of SME fund investments across Latin America, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to explore what conditions are necessary to mobilize local capital for SME finance vehicles in practice. The picture is not uniform: local capital mobilisation varies from country to country, and is shaped by the maturity of capital markets, regulatory frameworks, and the appetite of domestic investors. But across these differences, patterns emerge in how fund managers structure their approach to local investors, in the conditions that enable or constrain mobilisation, and in what it takes to move from intent to commitment.
10 years of DGGF
The 2024 impact report of DGGF Financing Local SMEs reflects on the past decade of facilitating SME finance in emerging markets.
Highlight of the month
Mobilizing local capital
This paper draws on DGGF’s and its partners’ portfolio of SME fund investments across Latin America, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to explore what conditions are necessary to mobilize local capital for SME finance vehicles in practice. The picture is not uniform: local capital mobilisation varies from country to country, and is shaped by the maturity of capital markets, regulatory frameworks, and the appetite of domestic investors. But across these differences, patterns emerge in how fund managers structure their approach to local investors, in the conditions that enable or constrain mobilisation, and in what it takes to move from intent to commitment.