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Investing today for a better tomorrow

Frankfurt Start-up Fund LogoFrankfurt Start-up Fund Logo
GLS Microfinance Fund LogoGLS Microfinance Fund Logo
Seed Capital Assistance Facility II LogoSeed Capital Assistance Facility II Logo
Crowdinvesting – frankly.greenCrowdinvesting – frankly.green
Walking In The Frankfurt School Lobby

We are FS Impact Finance,

a specialised investment firm, regulated by the German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and registered with the Luxemburg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Our team consists of global investment professionals with a particular focus on developing countries and emerging markets. With a strong foothold in micro and SME finance, we provide a variety of financing solutions seeking to reduce poverty, promote economic growth and have a positive impact on our environment.

What sets us apart is our openness to testing new ideas and our lean organisational structure.

FS Impact Finance Meeting

As an independent group company

of the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, one of Europe’s leading business schools, we share the same vision as our shareholder: delivering excellence in management and finance. Our investment priorities are centred around Frankfurt School’s focus topics, going beyond education: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, renewable energy and climate finance, and forward looking to blockchain and artificial intelligence.

We see ourselves as a complementary pillar to fulfilling Frankfurt School’s academic and consultancy missions, with FS Impact Finance pursuing the highest standards in professional impact investment, offering custom-made investment solutions at the forefront of today’s topics.

With its projects FS Impact Finance tackles 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These Goals, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goals – No Poverty
Sustainable Development Goals – Clean Water and Sanitation
Sustainable Development Goals – Affordable and clean energy
Sustainable Development Goals – Decent work and economic growth
Sustainable Development Goals – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Sustainable Development Goals – Reduced Inequalities
Sustainable Development Goals – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Sustainable Development Goals – Responsible Consumption and Production
Sustainable Development Goals – Climate Action
Sustainable Development Goals – Life on Land
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renewable energy projects supported
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German start-ups currently supported
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total AUM in micro- and SME finance

Newsroom

News
Titelstory

Crowdinvesting Campaign for Translight Solar successfully completed

News
Titelstory

GLS AI – Microfinance Fund receives the LuxFLAG Microfinance Label

News
Titelstory

FS Impact Finance becomes a signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management

Technical Contributions
Titelstory

Quick introduction to Credit Risk, Evaluation and CVaR Calculations – Part 1

Impressions

Partner & employee feedback

An inspiring environment

At FS Impact Finance we don’t go down the easy route. We take on some of the most pressing issues of our time – issues for which there is no quick fix or standard toolbox. And we are given the time it takes to develop new ideas and concepts. It’s inspiring to work in such an environment, especially with people who really want to change things for the better.

Torsten BeckerSenior Portfolio Manager at FS Impact Finance

Multi-cultural, versatile and cooperative

The work environment at FS Impact Finance is excellent, and very well designed for employees’ development both professionally and personally. The company’s culture is based on shared commitment and motivation, with an attitude to reach a strong performance while still keeping the work-life-balance. I really enjoy working in this very multi-cultural, versatile and cooperative team.

Oumy SarrTransaction Manager at FS Impact Finance

A reliable partner

Start-ups are of great importance for the development and the business community of the City of Frankfurt am Main. In recent years, we have implemented and accompanied many projects to foster the start-up scene and to make Frankfurt an attractive location for new companies. In particular, our Frankfurt Start-up Fund has been established as a success model.

One of our programme’s special advantages is the free-of-charge consulting before the customers’ bank interview and over the whole credit period. For almost ten years the Fund has been providing dedicated support for founders and young companies in the financing and realisation of their business ideas.

We appreciate the trust and good cooperation with FS Impact Finance, which has always been a reliable partner for us over the years. We are looking forward to supporting many new and interesting companies getting started in our city.

Oliver SchwebelWirtschaftsförderung Frankfurt

Hands-on and flexible approach

As a first-time fund manager, setting up a private equity fund focused on sustainable and high impact small and medium enterprises in Ethiopia was challenging. We went through a lot of ups and downs during our fund-raising efforts to reach first close. Andrea Bode and Martin Cremer believed in our approach and our team from very early on. This enabled us to get access to crucial financing from the Seed Capital Assistance Facility.

Thanks to their continued support we were able to close our fund at USD 75 million in early 2018 and reimburse all grants, to be re-used for other start-up funds. The hands-on and flexible approach by the whole FS Impact Finance team was pivotal in getting us off the ground.

Jacop RentschlerZoscales Partners

Finding solutions

I like finding solutions. It’s not about thinking outside the box, it’s about changing the parameters of the box. At FS Impact Finance, we truly strive for the triple bottom-line: finding the business solutions that can make the world more sustainable for people and planet. I’ve been given the freedom to work where I most want to. Unsurprisingly, it’s a region with many problems, but I’m given the patience, the support, the encouragement to learn and grow, which is great because I have a bigger box of tools with which to work – finding those solutions.

Michael CrayneInvestment Manager at FS Impact Finance

Whole heartedly-recommended

SMART CREDIT is a very development-orientated microfinance institution based in Ungheni, Moldova. For a young organization like ours that traditionally does not have access to the deep pockets of international shareholders, refinancing support at an early stage of the development is of utmost importance.

Luckily, I came across FS Impact Finance, that has an in-depth understanding of microfinance and the needs of institutions like SMART CREDIT. In a very professional manner, the whole FS Impact Finance team supported us as one of the first international lenders and enabled us to further grow our portfolio. Beyond their direct funding support, I was given useful insights for acquiring further refinancing. I can whole-heartedly recommend the entire FS Impact Finance team a as trustful partner for cooperation.

Sergiu CozmoliciSMART Credit

A continuous process of learning

Continuous learning and personal improvement are my main sources of motivation; and my job at FS Impact Finance fulfills these core needs. My role as a Risk Manager is a continuous process of learning about the macroeconomic, political, financial as well as cultural and social environments of countries around the globe where the company makes investments. At the same time the process of identifying opportunities and risks in potential investments, while being a challenge, is something I very much enjoy about my job. The small but international team at FSIF is another aspect I appreciate. The multinational work environment allows for interesting discussions broadening my understanding of cultural perspectives. FSIF is also committed to the growth and development of its employees as demonstrated through their support during my master’s studies and adequate on-the-job training.

Anahit KirakosyanRisk Manager at FS Impact Finance

Straight-forward and solution-oriented

We became a beneficiary under the Seed Capital Assistance Facility in late 2011, after our first renewable energy fund was raised. Martin and his team helped us get started when we set up operations in Nairobi. With the support of the facility we were able to hire our first local project director in Kenya.

Moreover, we received essential support during the early stage development phases for several geothermal, wind and hydropower projects in East Africa. Particularly the development grants received for our 5.4MW Lubilia run-of-river hydropower project in Western Uganda to perform early stage environmental assessments and feasibility studies were paramount in getting the project across the finish line. The straight-forward and solution-oriented approach of the FS Impact Finance team makes this one of the rare public-private financing mechanisms that actually works for us.

Lars Tejlgaard JensenFrontier Energy

Ensuring positive social impact

FS Impact Finance has been a reliable partner since setting up our Microfinance Fund in 2015. As Fund Manager they provide our investors a high investment ratio and an excellent portfolio quality – while always ensuring positive social impact.

As Germany’s leading social bank, we are very pleased working with a team that completely shares our mission and vision. I personally appreciate their integrity, sincerity and hands-on mentality. GLS Bank looks forward to many more years of successful cooperation.

Karsten KührlingsGLS Bank

All our work is based

on the demands of a client base that is committed to socially, environmentally and financially sustainable practices.

Martin Cremer, Managing Director at FS Impact Finance

Initiatives

Bundesinitiative Impact Investing

Partners

FS-UNEP Collaborating Centre
Buergschaftsbank Hessen logo
Wirtschaftsfoederung Frankfurt Logo
Logo GLS Bank

Financing Tomorrow.

We are looking forward to the future. There are a million projects all over the world and we are continuously looking to find the ones suiting our mindset. If you are interested in participating, please feel free to contact the project manager.

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