Organization · Grant Maker
Swedfund International
Swedfund International is Sweden's state-owned Development Finance Institution, established in 1979. It focuses on reducing poverty in developing countries through sustainable investments that foster viable businesses and improve access to essential services.
Overview
What Swedfund International does
What Swedfund International is
Swedfund International is Sweden's state-owned Development Finance Institution, established in 1979. It focuses on reducing poverty in developing countries through sustainable investments that foster viable businesses and improve access to essential services.
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 1979
- Approximate age
- About 47 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Grantor
- Last reviewed
- March 19, 2026
Official channels
Find Swedfund International elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Swedfund International as a funder
Investment thesis
Swedfund aims to reduce poverty through sustainable investments in developing countries, focusing on businesses that foster growth, job creation, and access to essential services.
Focus narrative
Swedfund invests primarily in three sectors: Energy & Climate, Financial Inclusion, and Food Systems. The organization targets investments in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Ukraine. Swedfund employs two main tools: direct investments in the private sector and funding feasibility studies in the public sector through the Project Accelerator.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $600,000–$7,500,000
Focus and fit
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Not published
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 5
Portfolio context
Notable investments include Jacaranda Maternity, which received a USD 600,000 investment to expand affordable maternal healthcare in Kenya; Arya.ag, an Indian agritech company that received USD 7.5 million for resource efficiency and climate resilience; Gondwana, which received EUR 15 million for nature-based climate projects; the Ukraine Phoenix Tech Fund with EUR 3.5 million to support Ukrainian tech companies; and Phatisa Food Fund 3, which received USD 15 million to strengthen sustainable food systems in Africa.
Capability profile
Swedfund International as a grantor
Grant thesis
Swedfund aims to reduce poverty through sustainable investments in developing countries, focusing on sectors that promote growth and access to essential services.
Focus narrative
Swedfund primarily invests in three key sectors: Energy & Climate, Financial Inclusion, and Food Systems. The organization targets its investments in developing countries, with a particular emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Ukraine. By financing and developing businesses, Swedfund contributes to sustainable growth, job creation, and improved access to essential products and services.
Value and support
Beyond funding, Swedfund offers strategic support and expertise to help businesses grow sustainably, ensuring that investments lead to meaningful social and economic impact.
Grant economics
- Grant range
- $600,000–$7,500,000
- Typical grant
- $1,000,000
- Dilutive
- No
- Nonprofit only
- No
Eligibility and fit
- Stages
- Seed · Seed+ · Series A · Series B
- Audience
- Founders
Process and recipient context
Application process
Swedfund employs two main tools for its investments: direct investments in the private sector and funding feasibility studies in the public sector through the Project Accelerator. The organization provides financial and strategic support to Swedish SMEs looking to establish or expand in Ukraine through the Swedfund Business Accelerator.
Recipient context
Notable past investments include Jacaranda Maternity, which received USD 600,000 to expand affordable maternal healthcare in Kenya; Arya.ag, which secured USD 7.5 million for agritech solutions in India; and Phatisa Food Fund 3, which was granted USD 15 million to strengthen sustainable food systems in Africa.
Common questions
What to know about Swedfund International
Upseed classifies Swedfund International 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 19, 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.