Lightrock, a London-based investment company, has announced the launch of Accelerate7, an investment platform targeting growth-stage companies in South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Following the close of $500m (£374.6m), Lightrock’s Accelerate7 with cut checks of between $10m to $50m across sectors including energy, mobility and enabling technologies.
The fund has already backed four firms, India’s SolarSquare and Euler, Kenya’s Sun King and Cambodia’s ATEC Global.
“The launch of Accelerate7 is an important milestone for Lightrock, and a strong example of how our platform continues to evolve,” said Pal Erik Sjatil, managing partner and chief executive of Lightrock.
“It builds on our broader commitment to supporting businesses at the forefront of energy transition and access, while bringing together the strength of our network, our investment expertise, and the conviction of our partners.
“We are grateful for the trust placed in us and excited to partner with impactful businesses as they work to expand access to modern energy and clean cooking solutions.”
Accelerate7 has been backed by a group of investors and energy corporates including Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, and LGT.
“Across the Global South, access to reliable energy and modern cooking solutions remains one of the clearest drivers of economic opportunity and improved quality of life,” said Demi Edosomwan, partner and head of energy access at Lightrock.
“With Accelerate7, we are backing businesses that have already demonstrated strong execution and are ready to scale. Our focus is on finding proven operators with resilient business models that can deliver both meaningful impact and long-term value.”
