CERISE

What CERISE does

CERISE is a French non-profit organisation founded in 1998 and headquartered in Bordeaux, operating under the Cerise+SPTF partnership with the Social Performance Task Force. Its core product is SPI Online, a self-serve web-based platform that provides tools and resources for evaluating and improving the social and environmental performance of impact-focused organisations. The platform serves microfinance institutions, impact investors, development finance institutions, and NGOs operating in the inclusive finance sector across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, with thousands of registered users globally.

The platform's technical architecture is a web application offering a suite of audit tools covering ESG risk management, social audit, client protection certification, responsible investment selection, and sustainability reporting. Key features include guided evaluation with definitions and scoring guidance, dashboard visualisations, alignment with international standards and sustainable development frameworks, and benchmarking against peer organisations. CERISE is developing automated data review methods to enhance benchmark quality. Distribution is primarily self-serve with supplementary expert accompaniment services and training programs (free and certifying pathways).

CERISE operates as a non-profit under a public-goods model, with all audit tools made freely available to create standardised social performance measurement norms. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the platform offers free account creation, while monetisation (if any) appears to derive from training programs, expert accompaniment, and grant funding rather than SaaS subscriptions. Leadership is led by Executive Director Cécile Lapenu.

Name

CERISE

Website

https://cerise-spm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CERISE is a French non-profit operating SPI Online, a self-serve web platform for social and environmental performance evaluation. It serves microfinance institutions, impact investors, DFIs, and NGOs across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe under a public-goods model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Performance Management Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability Reporting & Compliance (BPAEAPAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO), Third-Party Risk, Vendor Due Diligence & Supply Chain Compliance (BPAEAPAG)

Keywords

• Social performance management
• ESG risk assessment
• Microfinance audit tools
• Client protection certification
• Impact measurement platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. SPI Online Platform Access: Platform provides tools and resources for evaluating and improving social and environmental performance. While registration is available, specific pricing tiers and revenue model details are not publicly disclosed on the website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CERISE, through the Cerise+SPTF partnership, operates SPI Online, a web-based platform that provides tools for evaluating and improving the social and environmental performance of impact organizations. Offerings include ESG risk management, social audit, responsible investment selection, client protection certification, and reporting aligned with international standards, complemented by training programs and expert accompaniment services. All tools are positioned as public goods intended to create shared social performance measurement standards.

Product overview

SPI Online is a unified platform for tools and resources to evaluate and improve social and environmental performance of impact organizations. The core product SPI Online offers a suite of tools for ESG risk management, reporting, responsible investment selection, social audits, and client protection certification. Additional services include training programs (Formation), expert resources (Ressources), and expert support/accompaniment (Accompagnement) to help users maximize the value of their audits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SPI Online Web-based platform providing tools and resources for evaluating and improving the social and environmental performance of impact organizations, including ESG risk management, reporting, responsible investment selection, social audit, and client protection certification, with guided evaluation, dashboards, and benchmarking features.
• Training Programs (Formation) Self-paced and certifying training pathways designed to build competency in the social audit tools available through SPI Online, targeted at practitioners at impact financial institutions and development organizations.
• Expert Accompaniment Services Personalized expert support services delivered through a directory of professionals to help organizations apply SPI Online tools, interpret results, and improve their social and environmental performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tools developed as public goods available to all stakeholders
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Incofin Investment ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncofin worked with Cerise+SPTF as technical partner in the AGTAF facility between 2020-2024, implementing a multi-country technical assistance program across nine partner institutions in Africa and Asia to strengthen social performance management and outcomes management. Incofin references Cerise+SPTF tools as sources of inspiration and public goods for creating social performance measurement standards.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SocialPerformanceTaskForce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cerise-association
• Xx.com/cerisespm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CERISE