Inclusive Business Partners

What Inclusive Business Partners does

Inclusive Business Partners (IBP) is a Gothenburg-headquartered, Sweden-registered non-profit organization founded in 2012 that supports private sector firms, impact investors, and development agencies in scaling inclusive business models for underserved communities. Operating across Sweden, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Cambodia, IBP delivers advisory consulting, challenge fund management (notably the Sida- and EU-backed Innovations Against Poverty programme), accelerator work (Inclusive Ventures for West Swedish SMEs), and an international membership network (the Inclusive Business Partners Network, IBPN, launched in 2022). The organization serves three primary customer segments: impact-driven startups and SMEs scaling solutions to global challenges, impact investors requiring vetted opportunities and impact verification, and development donors (Sida, EU, Vinnova, EUTF, foundations) seeking implementation partners with inclusive-business expertise.

IBP's core intellectual property is the proprietary 32-tool inclusive business methodology, adapted to local contexts by implementing partners, and its Impact Measurement Framework aligned with SDG, IRIS+, and SROI standards. Through a technology partnership with Open Impact (a University of Milano-Bicocca research spin-off), IBP offers the Impact Manager and Impact Call digital platforms, providing access to a repository of over 5,000 impact chains, 4,000 indicators, and 3,800 financial proxies for Theory of Change design, KPI selection, SROI calculation, and donor-side selection workflows. The methodology and tooling underpin named programs including Green Economy Ghana (youth vocational training), the CAVEC Colombian coffee EUDR compliance project, and the IECE+ Uganda initiative (2025-2028).

IBP's revenue model is grant-driven rather than commercial. Funding is sourced primarily from institutional donors (Sida, the European Union, Vinnova, the EU Emergency Trust Fund, Addax & Oryx Foundation) and supplemented by project-based advisory fees (e.g., the GIZ SCALE digital platform assignment). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and does not follow traditional SaaS or unit-pricing structures; engagements are program-funded. The go-to-market is network-led: IBP is the Swedish representative of BoP Global Network, holds a strategic partnership with SNV covering 45+ countries, and reaches prospective beneficiaries through the 260+ businesses it has supported since 2012, plus a partners-only LinkedIn community and direct outreach to development donors. Day-to-day execution relies on a multinational core team of approximately 1-10 employees drawn from Sweden, Kenya, Mexico, Spain, and Ghana, with on-the-ground delivery delivered through consortium partners.

Name

Inclusive Business Partners

Legal name

Inclusive Business Partners

Website

https://inclusivebusiness.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inclusive Business Partners is a Gothenburg-based non-profit founded in 2012 that advises impact-driven startups, impact investors, and development donors (Sida, EU, Vinnova) on scaling inclusive business models across 45+ countries, using a proprietary 32-tool methodology, SDG/IRIS+/SROI-aligned impact measurement, and digital platforms delivered via its Open Impact partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Advisory Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Inclusive Trade (Gender, Youth, Marginalized Groups) (BPADAMAM)

Keywords

• Inclusive business advisory
• Impact measurement consulting
• Development sector advisory
• Impact investment matchmaking
• Inclusive entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Göteborg

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Public Support: As a non-profit organisation, IBP is primarily funded through grants from development agencies, governments, and international organisations including Sida, EU, Vinnova, and Addax & Oryx Foundation
2. Advisory and Consulting Services: Providing consulting services to organizations including GIZ Scaling Platform project, IBP delivers market research, investor profiling, and impact framework design for development partners

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Inclusive Business Partners is a Sweden-based non-profit advisory organization that supports impact-driven startups and SMEs in scaling commercially viable solutions to global challenges, and equips impact investors with vetted opportunities. It delivers advisory services, challenge fund management, accelerator programming, impact measurement, and an international network membership, primarily funded through grants from development agencies.

Product overview

Inclusive Business Partners is a non-profit advisory organization offering consulting services and project management for impact-driven businesses and investors. The portfolio consists of advisory and consulting services for businesses and investors, the Inclusive Business Network membership, and impact measurement services powered by their partnership with Open Impact (Impact Manager and Impact Call platforms). Their work spans multiple international projects including IECE+ (Uganda), CAVEC (Colombia), Impact West (Sweden), Innovations Against Poverty (Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia), Inclusive Ventures (Sweden), and Green Economy Ghana. They utilize their proprietary 32-tool inclusive business methodology adapted to local contexts for entrepreneurship training and mentoring programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inclusive Ventures: An accelerator programme open to West Swedish SMEs looking to expand to new and fast-growing markets in developing countries.
• Innovations Against Poverty (IAP)
• Impact West
• Inclusive Entrepreneurship & Civic Empowerment (IECE+)
• CAVEC

Products and services

• Impact Measurement Services Advisory service that combines international standards (SDGs, IRIS+, SROI) with practical tools for businesses, investors and organisations, including Theory of Change design, KPI selection, forecasting, tracking, and Social and Environmental Return on Investment calculations.
• Inclusive Business Network International network membership service connecting organisations and individuals committed to inclusive business and global development, providing access to strategic connections, knowledge sharing, and partnership opportunities.
• Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) Challenge fund program offering business development assistance, investment readiness support, and non-reimbursable funding for impact-driven businesses operating in Energy, Agri-Food, WASH, and ICT sectors across Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia.
• Inclusive Ventures Accelerator programme for West Swedish SMEs looking to expand into developing country markets, covering water, sanitation, digital solutions, energy, transport, textiles, drones for healthcare, nutrition, and waste management.
• Green Economy Ghana Initiative addressing youth unemployment and gender inequalities in Ghana through technical and entrepreneurial training in Plastic Waste Management, Organic Waste Management, and Sustainable Forestry, supporting sustainable growth and certified vocational outcomes.
• Inclusive Entrepreneurship & Civic Empowerment (IECE+) Three-year initiative implemented in collaboration with SSPP in Uganda to strengthen local institutions and empower young people and women entrepreneurs across five districts through inclusive entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and civic engagement.
• CAVEC Project Project ensuring Colombian specialty coffee value chains are sustainable and comply with EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), recruiting and training 100+ MSMEs in sustainable and EUDR-compliant coffee production.
• Impact West Program supporting foodtech companies and investors in West Sweden to grow their business and grow positive impact in the food system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 million people gained access to essential goods through Innovations Against Poverty
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Students Support and Philanthropy Program (SSPP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Ugandan implementation partner for Inclusive Entrepreneurship & Civic Empowerment (IECE+) project, adapting IBP's methodology to local contexts.
• SNVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic global partnership covering 45+ countries. SNV is a Netherlands-based international development organization working in agriculture, energy, and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors.
• BoP Global NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBP is the Swedish representative for BoP Global Network which brings together global leaders to share knowledge and disseminate information regarding sustainable business at the Base of the Pyramid.
• Open ImpactcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital innovation and accredited research spin-off from University of Milano-Bicocca. Provides Impact Manager platform with 5,000+ impact chains, 4,000 indicators, and 3,800 financial proxies for rigorous impact measurement.
• BoP Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) challenge fund, implementing alongside SNV with IBP contributing to MLE and investment readiness components.
• GIZcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGIZ Scaling Platform consulting assignment where IBP supports GIZ in developing a service offer to facilitate investments in agricultural innovations via SCALE digital platform under i4Ag Fund.
• Ghana-Sweden Chamber of Commerce (GSCC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConsortium partner in Green Economy Ghana project involving Scandinavian and Ghanaian companies in sustainable sectors.
• YMCA GhanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Green Economy Ghana project addressing youth unemployment and gender inequalities.
• Social Enterprise Ghana (SEG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Green Economy Ghana project for youth employment and entrepreneurship support.
• ForumCivcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner in CAVEC Colombian coffee project alongside IBP and Government of Huila, with EU and Sequa funding.
• The Accessibility Institute (TAI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for Livelihood Platform project providing vocational training and assistive technology (SafariSeat wheelchairs) for youth with mobility impairments in Kenya.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SNV: SNV is a Netherlands-based international development organization that is both IBP's closest strategic partner and a direct peer — both deliver inclusive business and challenge fund programming across agriculture, energy and WASH in developing markets, often as implementation partners to the same institutional donors (Sida, EU).
• ANDE (Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs): ANDE is a membership network of organizations that support small and growing businesses in developing countries — directly analogous to IBP's Inclusive Business Partners Network, with shared members (donors, accelerators, investors) and overlapping capacity-building mandates.
• Bopinc: Bopinc (BoP Innovation Center) is a Dutch-based inclusive business advisory that operates challenge funds and acceleration programs targeting low-income markets — closely comparable to IBP's IAP and Inclusive Ventures offerings, with shared origins in the BoP Global Network ecosystem.
• BoP Global Network: BoP Global Network is the international consortium of which IBP is the Swedish node — it convenes inclusive business practitioners globally, runs shared knowledge dissemination, and effectively operates as a federated peer coordinating the same donor-funded BoP agenda.

Broad incumbents

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): GIZ is a German federal development agency that both funds and implements inclusive business and challenge fund programs (e.g., Scaling Platform/i4Ag) — overlapping with IBP's portfolio but at vastly larger scale and breadth; IBP subcontracts to GIZ on several mandates.
• TechnoServe: TechnoServe is a US-headquartered non-profit that works with entrepreneurs and SMEs in developing markets across agriculture, coffee and inclusive business — substantially larger than IBP but addressing overlapping challenges (capacity building, investment readiness, impact measurement) for similar SME segments.
• Acumen: Acumen is a global impact investor and advisory organization focused on entrepreneurs serving low-income communities — comparable in mission (inclusive business at the Base of the Pyramid) and methodology (investment readiness, impact measurement using SROI/IRIS+), though structured as a fund-backed non-profit at much larger scale.
• Shell Foundation: Shell Foundation is a UK-registered impact organization that supports inclusive businesses in energy, mobility and digital sectors — comparable to IBP in mission and SME-support methodology, but with significantly larger financial resources and corporate backing.

Emerging players

• Challenges Worldwide: Challenges Worldwide is a Scotland-based inclusive business advisory that delivers challenge funds and enterprise development programs in Africa and South Asia — comparable in scale and donor-funded challenge fund model to IBP's IAP and Inclusive Ventures work.

Others

• SEforALL: SEforALL is a global multi-stakeholder partnership that channels donor and philanthropic funding into inclusive clean energy and development businesses — operates adjacent to IBP's WASH/energy challenge fund mandates and shares donor relationships (Sida, EU) but focuses on a narrower thematic remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/inclusivebusinesspartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inclusive-business-partners
• Xx.com/InclBusiness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Inclusive Business Partners