ABOUT US
Hura* Capital is an advisory boutique specializing in impact investing. We support start-up funds and innovative companies - mainly in the financial inclusion, agriculture and access-to-energy spaces - using a principal consultant and a network of project-specific talents.
We leverage our expertise and network in numerous emerging and frontier markets to help you. We design solutions that are tailored to your needs and context. These include:
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Structuring innovative funds and financial vehicles with the purpose of mobilizing capital toward projects in underserved communities and frontier markets;
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Advising financiers on their investment strategy, sourcing, deal structuring and due diligence;
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Helping companies identify capital needs and fundraise;
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Conducting training related to social businesses and impact investing.
We are technologically savvy. We have worked with fintech and blockchain-based projects. We understand the potential of those tools in doing good (and their limitations). We can advise you on assessing the opportunities in this fast-evolving market with impact and business lenses.
* Hura is a fast-growing tropical tree covered in spines. We saw in it an analogy for growing while protecting against risks, so we picked it as our name.
Principal
Hatem mahbouli, cfa
Founder & Principal
Hatem is an investment professional with extensive experience in private-sector development and impact investing in Asia and Africa. He has sourced and led various debt and equity facilities, including term sheet negotiation, due diligence, syndication of co-investors, financial analysis, contracting, hedging and design of ESG action plans. Transactions and projects have included: equity investment in a greenfield Microfinance bank in Rwanda; equity investment in the first global gender-focused SME debt fund with IFC; the first SME Guarantee Fund in Tajikistan with DEG; innovative finance for solar energy startups in West Africa; receivable finance facility for PAYGO kits in Kenya; EU-funded country line for the energy sector in Zambia, etc. He is very familiar with DFIs, the impact investing industry and impact-focused structures (development impact bonds, result-based finance). He has also contributed to several investment and electrification strategies for private and public organization (utilities, rural electrification agencies). He has held various board and investment committee memberships.
Hatem holds a master's degree in Information Science from Telecom SudParis and a master's in Business Administration from Georgetown University. He is also a CFA charterholder.
Resources
Hura Capital Agri Facilities Database
(Latest update: Oct 2020)
Prepared by Charlie Killingbeck
Despite its importance, Agri SMEs face a significant funding gap, estimated at $65 billion across Sub-Sharan Africa alone. Information asymmetries in the market remain a persistent barrier and have resulted in default rates double those found in other developing regions.
Guarantees are a de-risking instrument being used in the Agri sector to address the higher risk levels and incentivise private sector investment. Similar to an insurance policy, a guarantee provides the investor with protection against commercial and non-commercial risk. Providing the investor with limited recourse in a default event.
The Hura Capital Agri Facilities Database contains a comprehensive list of guarantee facilities available to Agri sector investors in Africa and other developing regions, along with each fund’s specific investment criteria.
Digital Currencies Adoption in Frontier Markets
(October 2020)
Prepared by Ekin Sezgen
What are the hindrances and limitations of Digital Currencies adoption in Frontier Markets? We have started this document, still work in progress, to gather the most significant patterns and bottlenecks observed in these markets.
Hura Capital Covid-19 Facilities Database
(Latest update: Oct 2020)
Prepared by Charlie Killingbeck
Covid-19 has presented unprecedented challenges for businesses around the world, disrupting operations and supply chains. Companies are now facing significant cash-flow shortages to ensure the safeguarding of their operations.
Focusing on the Access to Energy and Financial Inclusion, the Hura Capital Covid-19 Facilities Database presents a range of private sector responses, and their funding requirements, to the liquidity shortage. The database will continue to be updated as more facilities come to market.
Businesses should also consider contacting existing finance providers; many funds are extending additional liquidity lines to existing investee companies. Such facilities have been excluded from this database. Additionally, national government schemes are not presented. The World Bank has collated a global database of all national Covid-19 support schemes; this can be accessed here.
Off-Grid Energy Financing Solutions
(November 2020)
Prepared by Charlie Killingbeck
Access to Energy projects and companies are hungry for funding, and increasingly resorting to off-balance sheet financing schemes. We have tried to summarize the main solution and challenges in this presentation. We hope you find it helpful!
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