Upscale Consulting

Upscale Consulting was commissioned by Power Up to carry out a study on the 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗟𝗙𝗜𝘀) 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 (𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗘). This culminated in a validation workshop last week at Mövenpick, bringing together banks, MFIs, SACCOs, DFIs and clean energy enterprises to interrogate the findings and refine actionable recommendations.

The study assessed financing flows between 2021–2025 and examined trends, barriers, instruments, and opportunities within the sector. Findings show clear momentum: LFI participation grew from minimal levels in 2021 to over USD 300M+ in 2025, supported by DFI-backed credit lines, guarantees, and risk-sharing facilities. Large-scale securitisations and syndicated green transactions have strengthened market confidence.

However, significant financing gaps remain. Achieving universal clean cooking access requires an estimated USD 1.14B by 2030, while PURE requires approximately USD 1.94B. Despite this need, both subsectors are often embedded within broader “energy access” categories, masking asset-specific risks, cashflow patterns, and true capital requirements.

Key barriers validated during the workshop included:
• Affordability constraints and weak end-user finance
• Under-capitalized SMEs and limited growth capital
• Perceived technology and demand risk
• Thin margins and small ticket sizes
• FX exposure and carbon revenue volatility

Encouragingly, the ecosystem is evolving. Innovative models such as PAYGo-linked lending, partial credit guarantees, blended finance, first-loss facilities, and receivables-backed structures are unlocking private capital. MFIs and SACCOs are increasingly financing solar irrigation, biodigesters, cold storage, LPG kits, and efficient cookstoves.

The key takeaway:
Clean cooking and PURE are transitioning from donor-driven pilots to emerging bankable asset classes. With the right risk mitigation, data transparency, and product innovation, LFIs can play a catalytic role in scaling Kenya’s energy transition.

🚀 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 spotlighted some of Africa’s brightest 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, showcasing the continent’s rising leadership in sustainable tech.

🌱 Over 20 founders building scalable startups across 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗛, 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 participated in a powerful bootcamp — culminating in high-energy pitch tracks that demonstrated Africa’s green innovation prowess.

🧠 During the session on 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀, our CEO Stephanie Nguku shared practical insights to help startups unlock funding:-
🔹 Develop a solid business model with clear revenue logic
🔹 Prepare robust financial projections, anchored in realistic unit economics
🔹 Craft a compelling impact story—emphasizing climate and social outcomes
🔹 Showcase proof of concept and pilot traction to validate the model
🔹 Leverage blended finance (grants + equity + debt) for early growth
🔹 Forge strategic partnerships with corporates for funding and tech adoption
🔹 Explore results-based financing (payment tied to impact achieved)
🔹 Engage strategic customers as early co-investors

🌍 We celebrate these bold founders as they build ventures that drive climate resilience and inclusive growth across Africa.

✨ One of the most common questions we get from entrepreneurs is:

“𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?”

From 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 to 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 to 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀, we’ve seen SMEs unlock growth through financing options that better fit their stage and goals.
✔️ A 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 began with a grant, then attracted angels.
✔️ An 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶-𝗦𝗠𝗘 used accelerator funding to access export markets.
✔️ A 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 business secured an impact fund after proving its model.

The lesson? 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲-𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀-𝗮𝗹𝗹. The right match depends on your 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

That’s why we help entrepreneurs 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 - because when 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 🚀

🔗 Check out our simple visual below on 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀

👉 Which of these have you 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱—𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘄? Share in the comments!

🚀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? 🚀

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗠𝗘 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

Join our 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 – a practical, high-impact program designed to 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀.

✅ Assess and close gaps that hinder investment
✅ Prepare compelling fundraising material
✅ Get expert support to position your business for funding
✅ Pitch to selected investors and funders

📅 Limited slots available – don’t miss this 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹!

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/SMEInvestorReadinessAccessToFinanceBootcamp
📩 Tag a founder or share with someone who needs this!

🚀 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁! 🚀

Did you know that 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 #𝟮𝟬-𝟯𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗠𝗘𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 when seeking funding? The rest struggle, not because of lack of potential - but due to gaps in structuring their business for investment.

At hashtag 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, we are thrilled to have successfully launched the 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 - a comprehensive, end-to-end program designed to 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 hashtag 𝗮𝗻𝗱 hashtag 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Through this Bootcamp, we’ll equip entrepreneurs with the critical tools, frameworks, and mentorship needed to:
✅ Build bankable and investor-ready business models
✅ Structure compelling investment proposals
✅ Engage with the right-fit investors who align with their growth journey

This is more than a training - it is a 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.
We are excited to walk alongside visionary entrepreneurs, bridging the gap between great ideas and sustainable financing!

Whether you're preparing for 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, this Bootcamp is hashtag to hashtag you for 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.

Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/SMEInvestorReadinessAccessToFinanceBootcamp to 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡!

In our recent session under the HerPotential Entrepreneurship Programme by Regenesys, we guided women entrepreneurs through the fundamentals of investor readiness and pitch development.

🚀 In this session, participants gained a clear roadmap on how to prepare their business and successfully unlock funding, from gap analysis and documentation to pitch delivery and confidence-building techniques.

At Upscale Consulting, we believe access to finance begins with structured preparation, and we’re committed to walking that journey with entrepreneurs across Africa.

👩🏽‍💼 Are you a ladypreneur looking to position your business for growth and investment? Join the HerPotential Programme here: https://lnkd.in/ejxB-Fy9

Stephanie Nguku Kimani Sarah Karingi

Are you a growth-stage business looking for capital to scale?

Join us on Thursday, 29th May 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM to explore a unique funding opportunity and learn how to access it for your business growth.

🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dDfp7Brs

Women in Business Kenya

Upscale Consulting We empower businesses to become bankable and investment-ready!

Through our Investor Readiness Clinic, we identify and close business gaps, develop compelling fundraising material, and position firms to attract and secure funding for sustainable growth.

Where are the Deals Hiding ⁉️

Investors are on the hunt for “the one” — that perfect business to back.
Meanwhile, entrepreneurs are out here speed-dating capital providers, hoping to find their match made in funding heaven.

So, why the constant mismatch?

The truth is, investors have criteria — hard numbers, clear structures, and compelling narratives. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs haven’t quite cracked the investor code yet.

With over 14 years of experience helping enterprises access finance, we’ve learned one key thing: businesses that understand how to think like investors stand a far better chance of securing funding.

It takes more than passion — it takes structure, clarity, and a story worth betting on.

Here’s the plot twist: There’s no shortage of funding. But there is a shortage of businesses ready to receive it. That’s why aligning with investor expectations isn’t optional — it’s essential.

We’re on a mission to change that. Helping businesses become investor-ready isn’t just what we do — it’s what we love.

Feeling stuck on the road to investment readiness?
No worries — we’re here to guide you. Fill in this short form: https://tinyurl.com/Investee-KYC-Requirements, and let’s get your business capital-ready!

Clean cooking energy in Kenya is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by government initiatives and innovative private sector solutions. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to reduce reliance on polluting fuels, improve public health, and mitigate environmental degradation

Our CEO, Stephanie Nguku was invited as a guest speaker at the 2025 Cooking Association of Kenya CCAK members engagement meeting 🙌

During the session on , we had the opportunity to delve into business development and capital raising processes, helping CCAK members strengthen their ability to hashtag and enhance their growth strategies.

The day provided an incredible platform to discuss and explore ways of improving capacity building and service delivery within the clean cooking sector. It was truly inspiring to engage with such passionate and committed members working to drive positive change.

Thank you to the team led by Chairman Daniel Wanjohi for the warm invitation, and I’m grateful for the connections made and insights shared during this impactful event.

Why 90% of African Entrepreneurs Fail at Funding

🚨 90% of entrepreneurs say they need funding. But guess what?
Only 2% of African women ever get it. The reason isn’t the pitch. It’s the foundation of the business. If your business isn’t fundable, you’re not getting the money — no matter how good your idea is.
That’s why we’re hosting a free webinar on How to Unlock Funding along with business titan Flora Mutahi as she shares her business journey. It’s not just about chasing investors — it’s about building a business they’ll want to fund.
🔥 Join us and find out:
· Why most women-led businesses are invisible to funders
· What investors and funders really look for
· How to fix your funding gaps now
🗓 Thursday | 3:00 PM EAT
💻 Free to attend | Seats limited
📍 Where: https://lnkd.in/d6rmwnD8

P.S. Looking for funding? Our investors are ready to support credible businesses. Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/Investee-KYC-Requirements

AfricArena 2025 Joburg Summit

Our CEO Stephanie Nguku attended the AfricArena Johannesburg Summit, reaffirming Africa’s position as a rising hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment. The summit brought together visionary leaders, startups, investors, and ecosystem enablers dedicated to accelerating sustainable growth across the continent.

Key Highlights:

*PPP-Driven Incubation Models: I-Hub showcased how public-private partnerships can drive self-sustaining incubators through rental revenue, equity support, and subsidized services.

*SME Growth & Innovation: emphasized structured SME support via export programs, mentorship, and market access.

*Digital Economy Innovation: mLab underlined mobile tech’s role in bridging socio-economic gaps and the importance of branding and business development.

*Sustainable Finance: Accelerator called for de-risking strategies to unlock early-stage capital for startups.

*Investor Networking: VC networking and Summit.deals' AI-driven M&A platform stood out in streamlining deal flow and investor matching.

*PPP for Ecosystem Growth: workshop explored impact funding, cross-border investments, and commercialization of research.

The summit was a powerful reminder of the need for ecosystem coordination, investment readiness, and inclusive funding models.

Gratitude to ASSEK and fellow for a transformative experience driving Africa’s innovation journey forward. 🚀