Persistent Energy Capital LLC

Overview

About

Persistent Energy Capital (“Persistent”) employs a venture building model and invests financial and human resources in early-stage companies at the nexus of climate and technology. Persistent backs African companies that offer the competitive financial returns required to drive lasting impact.

Investment Details

Name

Persistent Energy Capital LLC

Tagline

Driving innovation in climate mitigation and adaptation: Making finance available to Africa’s climate ventures

Sector

Climate finance

Location

Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, DRC, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe

In portfolio since

2022

Our role

Committed capital: £2.5 M Instrument:
  • Equity

Our investment

  • FSDAi provided equity capital to Persistent’s series C round, serving to unlock co-investment from a Japanese utility. As a venture builder of technology-enabled businesses focused on climate adaptation, this funding round positioned Persistent to broaden its investment scope, enter new markets and innovate new technologies while attracting further institutional investment.
  • Our intention is to support Persistent in their ambition to raise a US$50-70m fund focused on climate finance innovations.

Purpose and target market

  • African entrepreneurs are innovating in renewable energy access solutions including clean cooking, refrigeration, e-mobility and home solar systems, among others. These businesses will contribute significantly to climate adaptation but face challenges in accessing venture finance.
  • By investing in Persistent’s venture model, FSDAi’s purpose is to mobilise and demonstrate opportunities for climate finance in Africa, and to prove the investment structures best suited for this asset class.
“Many more companies need to be started and built in order to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the next 10 years. Kyuden and FSDAi are committed to our entrepreneurial climate venture building model. By leveraging these powerful partnerships, we will be able to accelerate our most pioneering venture building investments, driving the transition to clean energy, promoting e-mobility and finding innovative business models and technological developments across the continent.” Tobias Ruckstuhl, Managing Partner, Persistent

Impact to date

280,000 Projected number of households and businesses with better energy access

28MWp Projected renewable energy capacity to be installed

6,305 Projected number of direct jobs created

772,064 Estimated total tonnes of CO2 equivalent to be avoided

Investee contacts

2nd Floor, Eaton Place,
UN Crescent Gigiri,
P.O.Box, 63946-00619, Muthaiga,
Nairobi, Kenya

www.persistent.energy
+254(0)727144842

FSD Africa contact

Riverside Green Suites (Palm Suite),
Riverside Drive,
Nairobi, Kenya

FSDAi-info@fsdafrica.org

Updated: September, 2023