Organization · Grant Maker
Grassroots Business Fund
Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) is a global investment organization focused on providing patient capital and technical assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises in Eastern Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It aims to support high-impact businesses that create jobs and improve local standards of living.
Overview
What Grassroots Business Fund does
What Grassroots Business Fund is
Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) is a global investment organization focused on providing patient capital and technical assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises in Eastern Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It aims to support high-impact businesses that create jobs and improve local standards of living.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and grantor capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Grant Maker
- Founded
- Founded in 2004
- Approximate age
- About 22 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Grantor
- Last reviewed
- March 7, 2026
Official channels
Find Grassroots Business Fund elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Grassroots Business Fund as a funder
Investment thesis
Grassroots Business Fund focuses on financing and supporting enterprises that create jobs, strengthen value chains, and reach underserved markets, particularly in Eastern Africa.
Focus narrative
GBF provides patient capital and hands-on technical assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture, manufacturing, and climate solutions across Eastern Africa. The organization targets businesses that are often overlooked by traditional lenders, particularly those led by women and youth. GBF employs a flexible investment model, offering loans ranging from $100,000 to $3 million, with terms designed to align with the growth cycles of the enterprises it supports.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $100,000–$3,000,000
Focus and fit
- Sectors
- Climate & Sustainability
- Regions
- Global
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 80
Portfolio context
GBF has managed over $80 million in its portfolio, with more than 80 investments since 2008. The organization has achieved 21 portfolio company exits and reports that 80% of its portfolio companies have shown operational improvement. Notable initiatives include the Grassroots Business Investors Fund I, which invested $41 million in 33 companies, and the Blooming Roots Fund, which supports the reconstruction of businesses in Colombia affected by Hurricane Iota.
Capability profile
Grassroots Business Fund as a grantor
Grant thesis
Grassroots Business Fund focuses on financing and supporting enterprises that create jobs, strengthen value chains, and reach underserved markets, particularly in Eastern Africa.
Focus narrative
Grassroots Business Fund provides patient capital and hands-on technical assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture, manufacturing, and climate solutions across Eastern Africa. The organization targets businesses that are often overlooked by traditional lenders, particularly those led by women and youth.
Value and support
Beyond funding, Grassroots Business Fund offers hands-on technical assistance to help enterprises improve their operations and achieve sustainable growth.
Grant economics
- Grant range
- $100,000–$3,000,000
- Dilutive
- No
- Nonprofit only
- No
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
Eligibility and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
- Audience
- Founders
- Inclusion focus
- women-founded and first-time-founder
- Sectors
- Climate & Sustainability
Process and recipient context
Application process
For pitches or applications, interested parties can visit the Grassroots Business Fund website at gbfund.org. The organization employs a flexible investment model, offering loans designed to align with the growth cycles of the enterprises it supports.
Recipient context
Grassroots Business Fund has managed over $80 million in its portfolio, with more than 80 investments since 2008. Notable initiatives include the Grassroots Business Investors Fund I, which invested $41 million in 33 companies, and the Blooming Roots Fund, which supports the reconstruction of businesses in Colombia affected by Hurricane Iota.
Common questions
What to know about Grassroots Business Fund
Upseed classifies Grassroots Business Fund under the Grant Maker organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and grantor capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 7, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.