Providing financial services for the modern day African ‘Gig worker’
ImaliPay
News
New Investment into ImaliPay
In February 2021, we invested in ImaliPay – a financial services company targeting Africa’s growing ‘Gig economy’
New Investment into Penda Health
Offering affordable and high quality healthcare in Kenya
News Investment into Zumi
Offering supply chain services supporting micro-businesses in the Kenyan apparel sector
Release of 2019 Impact Report
We are excited to share our 2019 Impact Report, which summarizes our approach and our progress as an organization
COVID-19 support to clinic Chain Access Afya
Providing healthcare in Nairobi’s informal settlements during the COVID-19 crisis
New Investment into South African company Instill Education
Improving educational outcomes by training teachers and school leaders across the continent
Access Afya
Providing affordable healthcare in Nairobi’s informal settlements
New Investment into Uganda-Based Numida
Supporting SMEs through mobile based financial literacy training and loans
New Investment in Kenyan Somo
Supporting entrepreneurs through access to business training, markets and capital
Release of 2018 Impact Report
We’re excited to share our 2018 Impact Report, which summarizes our progress as an organization, our guiding principles and priorities, and how those goals have shaped our investments. We also present the important impact that our investees have had so far, and how they will change the lives of children and youth in the future. Click here to learn more: …
Arifu
Taking quality education to scale through a new kind of platform
Kasha
Delivering women’s health products to women of all socioeconomic levels
Svenska tech-miljoner till sociala entreprenörer i Östafrika
Den svenska stiftelsen Optimizer Foundation har i dagarna gjort sin fjärde investering inom socialt entreprenörskap i Östafrika. – Vårt fokus är underfinansierade områden inom utbildning och hälsa. Vi vill gärna satsa på bolag som vi tror kan ha en stor positiv inverkan och lösa ett lokalt problem, säger styrelseordförande Helena Riese Harstad. – Titta, så mycket kraftigare och längre majsen …
Investering i Mensskydd Ska Få Flickor Tillbaka Till Skolan
Svenska Optimizer Foundation investerar 1,3 miljoner kronor i ett rwandiskt e-handelsbolag, som säljer hygienartiklar, mensskydd och preventivmedel via en sms-baserad handelsplattform. Nyligen utökades verksamheten även till Kenya. Optimizer Foundation investerar 150.000 dollar i det det rwandiska bolaget Kasha som säljer hygienartiklar, mensskydd och preventivmedel via en sms-baserad handelsplattform. – I dag är kvinnor tvingade att betala dyra pengar för preventivmedel, HIV-test och …
Acumen
Acumen makes patient longterm debt or equity investments in early-stage companies providing reliable and affordable access to quality education, healthcare services, formal housing, and safe drinking water to low-income customers.
Intellecap
Intellecap is a pioneer in providing innovative business solutions that help build and scale profitable and sustainable enterprises dedicated to social and environmental change.
Dasra
Dasra is India’s leading strategic philanthropy foundation focused on creating large-scale social change toward a transformed India with dignity and equity.
Helena Riese Harstad
Chairman & Co-Founder
Helena Riese Harstad is the Co-Founder and working Chairman of Optimizer Foundation. She leads the overall strategic direction of the foundation, including assessment of investment opportunities, and manages donor engagement
Anne Stubert Partridge
COO
Anne Partridge is the COO of Optimizer Foundation. She is responsible for developing and implementing the strategy of the foundation, identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, and managing the portfolio