How is your business helping to solve the health, social, or economic challenges created by COVID19?
In the medium to long-term, the economic challenges of COVID-19 mean that families will have less surplus financing to be able to support their children through higher education and technical training. Therefore, LEAP, will play an instrumental role by providing affordable financing to low and middle-income students in order to maintain a robust supply of future professionals from lower-income backgrounds. In this way, LEAP will be both promoting economic mobility, funding higher education institutions, and supporting the recovery of the post-COVID economy. Specifically, LEAP is equipping the next generation of technical professionals in East Africa, including with a strong focus on the health sciences (doctors, nurses, lab technicians, etc). These students will be key to ensuring that healthcare systems and hospitals have adequate human resourcing and capacity to handle the aftermath of COVID-19 in addition to any future pandemics. In addition, the economic recovery of the Kenyan and East Africa economy will be dependent on the ability of skilled workers to contribute to the economy. LEAP finances students that are pursuing degrees in health sciences, ICT, accounting, and engineering, which have all been identified as key sectors for the recovery.
Does your business contribute most to recovery, response, or resilience?
Recovery - we're positioned to support in the recovery of those directly affected.
What is the stage of your product development?
I have a market ready product/service. I have sold to customers.
What strengths does your team bring? Include skills and personal experience with the problem.
The LEAP program is managed by Volta Capital through a dedicated team of 20 Nairobi-based professionals and additional support from Volta’s senior leadership. At the management level, it consists of the Head of Credit, student support programme manager, partnership associate, Impact Manager, and head of IT development, supported by staff members across the various data analytics, software development, credit, programmatic, and accounting functions. LEAP is gender-balanced and diverse, with 80% of its team being African nationals. Team member CVs and the organizational chart for LEAP is available upon request. Volta Capital provides tailored solutions to deploy impact capital to high growth and high impact opportunities. The firm has an extensive track record in bringing investment funds and innovative financing mechanisms from concept to reality. Over the past 8 years, Volta has designed, structured, and set up over a dozen innovative financing mechanisms/investment vehicles, 5 of which are currently up and running with over USD 1.2 billion of assets under management. Volta is a women-owned and women-led firm. Our team and its key principals have been active in impact investing for over 15 years. Volta’s founder and CEO – Liesbet Peeters – has been shaping the impact investing sector since its inception and holds a number of leadership positions across the globe
What countries do you operate in?
Kenya, with potential expansion in East Africa (Uganda, Tanzania).
Is your company headquartered in a US "Opportunity Zone"?
No
