Risk Insights
Risk Insights is Africa's largest ESG data and ratings provider, offering AI-driven ESG ratings, analytics, and disclosure tools for listed and private companies across African and MENA capital markets via its ESG GPS and A-Cubed platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Risk Insights does
Risk Insights is a South African ESG data and ratings company founded in 2009, positioned as Africa's largest ESG data provider and the first female-owned data science boutique on the continent. The company built and operates a platform-plus-modules AI/ML architecture centered on two flagship products: ESG GPS™, which rates every listed company across 9 major African stock exchanges (JSE, NGX, NSE, BSE, SEM, RSE, USE, and additional venues), and A-Cubed™, which delivers 48-hour ESG readiness assessments for private companies, unlisted subsidiaries, and supply chains. Supporting modules — X-Ray (350+ ESG factors per company per year), Vision (intensity rankings), KaleidoScope (SWOT analysis), Rating Watch (real-time news sentiment), ESG GPS SCM, SOE, PM, and Reporting — extend coverage into portfolio management, state-owned enterprises, supply chains, and consolidated subsidiary reporting. Underlying technology applies machine learning and natural language processing against 200+ global ESG frameworks, glocalized to African regulatory contexts (ISSB, IFRS S1&S2, CBAM, Carbon Tax, PCAF).
The business model combines subscription-based enterprise SaaS licensing of ESG GPS and A-Cubed, data and research report subscriptions, enterprise platform deployment via stock exchange and federation agreements (including AFCM's 18 exchanges), and CPD-certified training programs. Go-to-market is primarily enterprise B2B field sales targeting listed companies, asset managers, regulators, and banks, executed through direct engagement and channel partnerships with African stock exchanges, PwC, OPTEL Group, IASSA, and academic institutions. Customer segments include listed companies on African exchanges, private/unlisted companies, stock exchanges and regulators, asset managers and investors, corporate supply chains, and state-owned enterprises.
The company is privately held and founder-controlled by Anushka Bogdanov (Founder and Executive Chair), with Andrey Bogdanov serving as CEO. A JSE contract rescission and public censure of the founder in August 2025 represent a material commercial and reputational event that the company has publicly disputed. Strategic expansion is signaled by 2024-2025 partnerships across additional African exchanges, AFCM in MENA, RAEX in BRICS/Global South, and GB2B as an Advisory Activation Partner, indicating an intent to evolve from a pan-African ESG data provider into a Global South ESG infrastructure platform.
Risk Insights firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Risk Insights
- Legal name
- Risk Insights
- Website
- https://riskinsights.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Risk Insights is Africa's largest ESG data and ratings provider, offering AI-driven ESG ratings, analytics, and disclosure tools for listed and private companies across African and MENA capital markets via its ESG GPS and A-Cubed platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Risk Insights industry classification
Industry- Product category
- ESG Data Analytics
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ESG Data, Ratings & Research (Providers, Methodologies, Analytics) (FSAAALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- ESG Data, Ratings & Climate Benchmarks (FSAFAIAI), ESG & Sustainability Research (FSACAGAH), Sustainable Finance & ESG Ratings/Benchmarking Support (EUAHAJAH)
Keywords
Where Risk Insights is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Risk Insights business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- ESG Ratings and Analytics SaaS: Subscription-based access to ESG rating platforms (ESG GPS, A-Cubed) providing ESG assessments, ratings, and analytics for listed and unlisted companies. Revenue generated through platform licensing and subscription tiers.
- Data and Research Reports: Sale of ESG sector-specific research reports (Banking, Telecommunications, Food & Beverage, JSE Top 40) and data subscriptions providing analytical insights into ESG performance across African exchanges.
- Enterprise Platform Deployment: Deployment of proprietary ESG tools (ESG GPS, X-Ray, KaleidoScope, Vision) to exchange members, asset managers, and stakeholders through B2B enterprise agreements with stock exchanges and financial institutions.
- Training and Education Programs: CPD-certified executive training programs such as Carbon Training Program (April 2026) and ESG education workshops delivered through academic partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise ESG Rating Platform |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | A-Cubed Private Company Assessment |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Carbon Training Program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Risk Insights product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Risk Insights builds and sells AI and machine learning-powered ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating and analytics platforms for African capital markets. Its flagship products — ESG GPS™ for listed companies and A-Cubed™ for private companies — provide ESG ratings, disclosure insights, supply chain assessments, and portfolio analytics across nine major African stock exchanges, serving stock exchanges, listed companies, asset managers, regulators, and state-owned enterprises.
Product overview
Risk Insights operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on two core AI-powered ESG analytics products: ESG GPS™ for listed companies and A-Cubed™ for unlisted companies. ESG GPS serves as the primary platform providing ratings, disclosure insights, and analytics for listed companies across African exchanges. The ecosystem includes specialized modules for supply chain management (ESG GPS SCM), state-owned enterprises (ESG GPS SOE), and portfolio management (ESG GPS PM). Supporting tools include X-Ray for comprehensive ESG factor databases, Vision for intensity calculations, KaleidoScope for SWOT analysis, Rating Watch for real-time sentiment monitoring, and ESG GPS Reporting for consolidated subsidiary reporting. The modular design allows organizations to select specific capabilities while maintaining integration through shared AI infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ESG GPS: AI-driven ESG sustainability rating tool for listed companies providing ratings, disclosure insights, and analytics
- A-Cubed
- X-Ray
- Vision
- KaleidoScope
- Rating Watch
- ESG GPS SCM
- ESG GPS SOE
- ESG GPS PM
- ESG GPS Reporting
- ESG Matters Podcast
Products and services
- ESG GPS™ Ratings Africa's pioneering machine learning and AI ESG sustainability rating tool for listed companies. Assesses and rates every company listed on major African exchanges (JSE, NGX, NSE, BSE, SEM) with sector-specific materiality factors, peer group comparisons, country regulation consideration, and ratings based on 200+ global ESG best practice frameworks.
- X-Ray Comprehensive ESG analysis platform featuring a database of over 350 ESG factors per listed company per year across major African exchanges. Provides intuitive dashboard with interactive charts and graphs for sector-specific and country-specific ESG factor analysis.
- A-Cubed™ AI-driven ESG readiness rating solution for private companies, unlisted subsidiaries, and supply chains. Delivers comprehensive ESG readiness assessment within 48 hours using AI algorithms evaluating climate change, human rights, labor standards, diversity, and inclusion against industry benchmarks.
- Vision Dashboard ESG intensity calculation platform that evaluates companies using metrics such as water usage, carbon emissions, diversity, and community engagement. Provides sector-wide rankings and customizable focus calculations for industry-specific ESG intensity comparisons.
- KaleidoScope World's first advanced ESG disclosure analysis tool providing SWOT analyses of ESG factors for listed companies. Offers a comprehensive dashboard comparing ESG performance of multiple companies within sectors using over 350 ESG factors for peer benchmarking.
- Rating Watch Real-time ESG sentiment analysis tool using an intelligent bot that continuously collects and analyzes news feeds to measure and analyze ESG sentiment of listed companies for precise ESG performance assessment.
- ESG GPS SCM (Supply Chain Management) AI-driven ESG guided supply chain management tool that assesses supply chain ESG risks and performance, evaluating across climate change, human rights, labor standards, and diversity, with 48-hour assessment turnaround for supply chain ESG risk and reporting.
- ESG GPS SOE (State Owned Enterprise) AI-powered ESG assessment tool designed exclusively for state-owned enterprises and their subsidiaries. Provides guided ESG evaluation against global standards considering local specifics, with unified reporting capabilities for SOEs and government entities.
- ESG GPS PM (Portfolio Management) AI-powered ESG portfolio management tool that evaluates ESG performance of credit and investment portfolios, focusing on sustainable alpha generation with 48-hour portfolio evaluation against industry standards and country specifics.
- ESG GPS Reporting ESG reporting tool providing data-driven insights into ESG performance of subsidiaries. Features real-time data analysis, materiality factor prioritization, and consolidated ESG reporting capabilities with a 360-degree sustainability outlook.
Quantifiable outcome
- All listed companies rated across 9 major African stock exchanges
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Risk Insights
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Risk Insights technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature10 records
Risk Insights partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Global Business2Brands (GB2B)flagshipStrategic collaboration establishing governed intelligence-to-activation framework. GB2B serves as Advisory Activation Partner translating ESG intelligence into structured implementation outcomes.
- RAEX International GroupflagshipStrategic MoU signed December 2025 for knowledge exchange, research, and thought leadership across emerging markets. Focus on BRICS and Global South economies.
- African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA)flagshipASEA collaboration to host inaugural Pan-Africa ESG Awards at Annual Conference in Kigali, Rwanda (Nov 2025). Partnership for recognizing ESG excellence across the continent.
- Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM)flagshipStrategic collaboration with AFCM to deploy AI-powered ESG tools (ESG GPS, X-Ray, KaleidoScope, Vision, A-Cubed) across 18 stock exchanges, 7 clearing houses, and affiliate members in Arab region.
- London School of Economics (LSE)coreMain sponsor of LSE Africa Summit, the largest Africa event in Europe. Participation in LSE Africa at LSE platform for thought leadership and market visibility.
- Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI)coreFounder Anushka Bogdanov appointed to CASI Steering Committee as rotating member. CASI focuses on capacity building in sustainable finance across Emerging Market and Developing Economies.
- Botho UniversitycoreCollaboration with Botho University (Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia) for ESG educational programs, public lectures, and undergraduate sustainability curriculum development.
- Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA)coreStrategic partnership to advance ESG and sustainability in risk management. Joint initiatives include education, public lectures, webinars, research, and curriculum development for risk professionals.
- Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)flagshipCollaboration to provide AI-powered ESG data and rating tools for JSE listed companies. Initiative provides comprehensive ESG ratings, disclosure insights, and analytics for sustainable investment decisions.
- Uganda Securities Exchange (USE)flagshipStrategic partnership to use RI's AI-powered ESG GPS and A-Cubed tools for issuers in Uganda/East Africa. Collaboration designed to improve ESG disclosure practices and enable sustainable capital access.
- INSEADflagshipPartnership to drive global ESG leadership and sustainability education in Africa. Focus on equipping leaders with ESG skills, pragmatic ESG training, and advanced analytical techniques.
- Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE)flagshipStrategic partnership integrating ESG GPS and A-Cubed platforms for comprehensive ESG ratings and disclosure insights for Rwanda and East Africa stakeholders.
- University of Johannesburg (UJ)coreStrategic partnership with UJ Department of Commercial Accounting for ESG skills development. Joint curriculum, public lectures, guest lectures, and academic research access.
- Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)flagshipOngoing strategic partnership for ESG excellence. BSE ESG Roundtable on leveraging ESG disclosures held May 2024. Growing corporate subscribers base in Botswana.
- DU Distinct Universal LimitedcoreStrategic partnership for ESG compliance in Nigerian markets. Risk Insights provides ESG analytics platform while DU Distinct contributes market knowledge and regulatory framework navigation.
- Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM)flagshipPartnership agreement to elevate quality of ESG reporting in Mauritius. Comprehensive suite of ESG rating tools, disclosure insights, and analytics for listed and unlisted companies.
- Fusion Asset Management (FAM)minorCollaboration on 'New Era of Capital Management in Green Banking' webinar bringing together senior global leaders to discuss ESG integration, climate risk, and financial stability.
- OPTEL GroupflagshipExclusive partnership for carbon counting and carbon credits across Africa. Both organizations recognized by WEF New Champions Community. Collaboration provides Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data plus carbon credits for African companies.
- TellimercoreStrategic relationship integrating ESG considerations into Tellimer's emerging markets research. Combined offering provides comprehensive analysis and ratings for frontier and emerging markets in Africa with ESG insights.
- Investment Analysts Society of South Africa (IASSA)coreESG GPS products and data made available to IASSA members via the IAS portal for investment analysis purposes.
- PwCcorePwC uses Risk Insights' ESG GPS tool to access ratings reports and leverage database for advising companies on ESG strategies, transformations, and reporting across South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya exchanges.
- World Economic Forum (WEF) - New ChampionscoreMember of World Economic Forum New Champions Community. Risk Insights is a proud member and founder of the World Economic Forum New Champions South Africa Chapter. Active participation in WEF events and initiatives.
- Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX)coreOngoing partnership for ESG data and ratings provision across Nigerian exchange markets as part of continental coverage.
- Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE)coreOngoing partnership for ESG data and ratings provision across Kenyan exchange markets as part of continental coverage.
- PUNUKA Attorneys & SolicitorsminorLegal advisory for Risk Insights and DU Distinct partnership, providing corporate governance and regulatory compliance guidance for Nigerian market.
- CbondsminorPartner for market research and ESG expertise distribution in fixed income markets.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Risk Insights competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EcoVadis: Provider of business sustainability ratings, particularly for supply chains and private companies. Directly comparable to Risk Insights' A-Cubed and ESG GPS SCM offerings for private/enterprise ESG assessments.
- CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Global disclosure system for environmental impact with growing African listed company coverage. Competes with Risk Insights in ESG disclosure and rating infrastructure for African enterprises.
- Tellimer: Frontier and emerging markets research, data, and analytics provider with established strategic partnership integrating ESG considerations with Risk Insights. Comparable in serving African capital markets with research and data products.
- RAEX International Group: Strategic partner of Risk Insights and itself a rating and analytics provider across emerging markets (BRICS, Global South). Comparable in being a regional/global ESG rating provider serving emerging economies, with which Risk Insights has overlapping coverage in Africa and emerging markets.
Broad incumbents
- Bloomberg ESG: Provides ESG data, scores, and analytics within the Bloomberg Terminal ecosystem. A dominant incumbent in the institutional ESG data market with growing African listed company coverage.
- ISS ESG: Institutional Shareholder Services' ESG business provides ESG ratings, research, and voting advisory services. Competes with Risk Insights in serving asset managers and institutional investors, with stronger global presence.
- MSCI ESG Research: Global ESG ratings, data, and analytics provider serving institutional investors. Overlaps with Risk Insights' rating and analytics offerings but operates globally with significantly larger scale and broader coverage.
- Sustainalytics (Morningstar): Leading global ESG and corporate governance research, ratings, and analytics firm. Direct competitor in ESG ratings for listed companies, with established emerging market coverage that Risk Insights competes against in Africa.
- S&P Global ESG: Provides ESG scores, data, and analytics as part of S&P Global's broader financial information platform. Competes with Risk Insights in ESG ratings for listed companies and increasingly in emerging markets.
Emerging players
- Arabesque: AI-driven ESG data and analytics provider for investors and corporates. Comparable in combining AI/ML with ESG data and analytics, albeit with broader global focus rather than Africa specialization.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Risk Insights social profiles
Digital presenceRisk Insights financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Risk Insights leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Risk Insights funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Risk Insights M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Risk Insights
What does Risk Insights do?
Risk Insights builds and sells AI and machine learning-powered ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating and analytics platforms for African capital markets. Its flagship products — ESG GPS™ for listed companies and A-Cubed™ for private companies — provide ESG ratings, disclosure insights, supply chain assessments, and portfolio analytics across nine major African stock exchanges, serving stock exchanges, listed companies, asset managers, regulators, and state-owned enterprises.
Is Risk Insights a public or private company?
Risk Insights is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Risk Insights founded?
Risk Insights was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Risk Insights based?
Risk Insights is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Risk Insights make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. ESG Ratings and Analytics SaaS are the primary driver. The others are data and Research Reports, enterprise Platform Deployment and training and Education Programs.
Who are Risk Insights's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EcoVadis, CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), Tellimer and RAEX International Group. Broad incumbents are Bloomberg ESG, ISS ESG, MSCI ESG Research, Sustainalytics (Morningstar) and S&P Global ESG. Arabesque is listed as an emerging player.
Does Risk Insights have an API?
No public API is recorded for Risk Insights.
What industry is Risk Insights in?
Risk Insights's product category is ESG Data Analytics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAALAJ, ESG Data, Ratings & Research (Providers, Methodologies, Analytics), with a secondary code of FSAFAIAI, ESG Data, Ratings & Climate Benchmarks. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.