GroFin
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBambous, Mauritius
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
GroFin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GroFin
- Legal name
- GroFin Managers
- Website
- https://grofin.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where GroFin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bambous
- HQ country
- Mauritius
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices16 records
Markets served
GroFin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SME Loan Interest Income: GroFin provides business loans to SMEs and earns interest income. They offer financing ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million for small and growing businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | SME Loans ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
GroFin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GroFin is a specialist, impact-driven SME financier that provides medium-term business loans ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million alongside continuous business advisory support to small and growing businesses across Africa and the Middle East. The company operates multiple fund vehicles targeting the 'missing middle' segment underserved by traditional financiers, offering integrated access to finance, business development skills, and market linkages.
Product overview
GroFin is a specialist, impact-driven SME financier offering a dual-product model combining business loans with continuous business support services. The core offering pairs medium-term loan capital ($100,000-$1.5 million range) with expert advisory services including business planning, financial management, and market linkages. The company operates multiple fund vehicles including the Small and Growing Businesses Fund (SGB Fund) established in 2014, the Aspire Small Business Fund, and regional programs like the Nomou Programme and Northern Iraq Investments (NII). Through the Orange Corners Innovation Fund partnership, GroFin provides startup financing with coaching and mentoring. The company focuses on underserved SMEs in Africa and the Middle East across sectors including education, healthcare, agribusiness, energy/water/waste, manufacturing, and key services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nomou Programme: A programme supporting entrepreneurs through access to finance, business development skills, and market linkages, particularly for Syrian refugees and migrants in Jordan.
- Northern Iraq Investments (NII)
- Small and Growing Businesses Fund (SGB Fund)
Products and services
- Business Loans SME financing providing medium-term loan capital to small and growing businesses across Africa and the Middle East. Loans range between $100,000 and $1.5 million to help entrepreneurs increase profitability, create jobs, and contribute to economic development.
- Business Support
- Small and Growing Businesses Fund (SGB Fund) Fund focusing on SMEs in the 'missing middle' segment that are typically neglected by traditional financiers. Integrates access to finance, business development skills, and market linkages to ensure job creation at scale, targeting high impact sectors including education, healthcare, agribusiness, manufacturing, and key services.
- Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) Through OCIF, GroFin Iraq provides coaching, mentoring, and financial assistance to local startups. The program offers two tracks: Track 1 provides prototype vouchers and monthly allowances with training in compliance, pitching, and financial management; Track 2 selects 3-5 entrepreneurs for larger seed capital investments via pitch competition. Combines grant and debt capital without requiring entrepreneurs to relinquish business ownership.
- Aspire Small Business Fund (ASBF) Provides funding to fulfill working capital needs and purchase equipment for small businesses. Used to support clients like Gold Box Foods for expansion of bakery operations.
- Nomou Programme A development programme supporting entrepreneurs across MENA region through dedicated fund vehicles. Includes Nomou Jordan Fund supporting Syrian refugee and migrant-owned businesses, and Nomou Iraq Fund.
- Northern Iraq Investments (NII) A sustainable, development-impact-orientated vehicle providing business support and start-up/early-stage growth capital for SMEs in northern Iraq. Offers concessionary loans to businesses, including those affected by COVID-19, to stimulate economic growth and create sustainable livelihoods.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% viability rate achieved vs 70-90% failure rate for SMEs in emerging economies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GroFin
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GroFin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
GroFin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Orange Corners ErbilcorePartnership to provide coaching, mentoring, and financial assistance through the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) to local startups in Kurdistan, northern Iraq. GroFin offers skills workshops and one-on-one coaching to nearly 100 entrepreneurs in the Orange Corners incubation programme. After completing the six-month programme, incubatees are selected for additional financial assistance from OCIF and continued business support over three years.
- The Station Foundation for EntrepreneurshipminorLocal co-working space in Mosul established to inspire entrepreneurs with a culture of cooperation and innovation. GroFin Iraq hosted entrepreneurs at a workshop at this venue to highlight funding opportunities and support for SMEs.
- Medical Credit Fund (MCF)coreHealthcare-focused partnership providing specialized healthcare financing expertise. GroFin has dedicated healthcare investment and business support expertise through both in-house industry experts and formal partnerships with specialist healthcare partners like MCF.
- Altron KarabinacoreTechnology partner that developed a data warehouse and business analytics platform for GroFin using the Microsoft platform. The platform enables automated reporting templates, eliminating manual data collation and greatly improving efficiency. Reduced time for quarterly investor reports from two weeks to minutes.
- International Trade Centre (ITC) - SheTrades InvestcorePartnership through the SheTrades Invest initiative which aims to increase investment in women-owned businesses in Ivory Coast and other countries where GroFin operates. Initiative aims to connect three million women to market by 2021.
- Vital Voices Global PartnershipminorPartnership allowing women leaders to participate in skill-building and network development efforts in economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
- MselectminorImplementation partner for Orange Corners incubation programme in Erbil. David Tannourji serves as Programme Manager for Orange Corners Erbil through Mselect.
- Netherlands Consulate General in ErbilcoreInitiator of the Orange Corners incubation programme. Deputy Consul General Maaike Keizer expressed support for the Orange Corners Innovation Fund in Kurdistan.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GroFin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Root Capital: Non-profit impact lender providing working capital and business support to SMEs and agricultural cooperatives in Africa and Latin America. Closely comparable to GroFin in combining credit with advisory services for under-served SMEs.
- responsAbility Investments: Swiss impact asset manager investing across emerging markets including SME finance, microfinance, and sustainable business. Comparable to GroFin in targeting missing-middle SMEs and offering integrated financial/non-financial support.
- Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P): Paris-based impact investor group focused on African start-ups and SMEs, providing capital and technical assistance. Comparable to GroFin's integrated finance-plus-support model and pan-African SME focus.
- Accion: Global nonprofit committed to financial inclusion, supporting microfinance and SME finance institutions across emerging markets. Closely comparable mission and customer segment to GroFin.
- BlueOrchard Finance: Switzerland-based impact investment manager managing funds that lend to financial institutions serving SMEs in emerging markets. Comparable emerging-market SME focus and institutional-fund structure.
Broad incumbents
- Triodos Investment Management: European sustainable investment manager with significant emerging-markets and financial-inclusion exposure. Comparable as a broad impact-investment incumbent with SME and microfinance themes.
- BRAC: Large international development organization operating microfinance and SME programmes across Africa and Asia. Comparable integrated support-plus-finance model for underserved entrepreneurs.
- Omidyar Network: Philanthropic impact investment firm backing financial inclusion and SME-focused ventures globally. Comparable mission and capital-provider role to GroFin's DFI/development funders.
- African Development Bank (AfDB) SME programmes: Continental development finance institution with major SME and missing-middle financing programmes across Africa. Comparable DFI mandate and SME target segment to GroFin's investor base.
Emerging players
- Medical Credit Fund: Healthcare-focused impact lender supporting SME health providers in Africa — directly comparable to GroFin's healthcare SME vertical and a named GroFin partner.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GroFin social profiles
Digital presenceGroFin compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
GroFin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GroFin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GroFin subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
GroFin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GroFin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GroFin
What does GroFin do?
GroFin is a specialist, impact-driven SME financier that provides medium-term business loans ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million alongside continuous business advisory support to small and growing businesses across Africa and the Middle East. The company operates multiple fund vehicles targeting the 'missing middle' segment underserved by traditional financiers, offering integrated access to finance, business development skills, and market linkages.
Is GroFin a public or private company?
GroFin is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was GroFin founded?
GroFin was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is GroFin based?
GroFin is headquartered in Bambous, Mauritius, in the Africa region.
How does GroFin make money?
One revenue line is on record: SME Loan Interest Income.
Who are GroFin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Root Capital, responsAbility Investments, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), Accion and BlueOrchard Finance. Broad incumbents are Triodos Investment Management, BRAC, Omidyar Network and African Development Bank (AfDB) SME programmes. Medical Credit Fund is listed as an emerging player.
Does GroFin have an API?
No public API is recorded for GroFin.