Charm – Platform statistics 2026
About Charm
Charm Impact specializes in financing clean energy projects to enhance energy access in emerging markets. By providing small-scale debt to locally owned enterprises, the platform focuses on supporting sustainable, socially impactful businesses that face financial exclusion. Charm's unique model combines private investment with concessional funding and first-loss provisions, allowing investors to achieve both financial and social returns. Investments are designed to support essential services, such as clean cooking and renewable energy distribution, in underserved areas.
Functionality
For Investors
Useful Information
Charm Impact’s operations involve extensive due diligence on clean energy startups and SMEs, primarily across sub-Saharan Africa. Projects undergo risk assessment, particularly for local and early-stage companies that lack access to traditional financing. While the platform lacks a secondary market, it has received grants for a first-loss pool to protect investors from potential loan defaults. This financing structure reduces risk and attracts private capital for socially impactful initiatives
Investing through Charm Impact entails risks common to early-stage debt financing in emerging markets, including default and currency risk. The platform leverages a first-loss provision fund to provide partial capital protection, reducing potential losses for investors. Despite this, Charm remains a high-risk investment environment, where total or partial loss of capital is possible. Investors are advised to assess risks carefully, given the platform’s focus on volatile markets and early-stage enterprises
Charm Impact focuses on debt investments in clean energy and sustainable development projects. Investments generally support enterprises in sectors like clean cooking, renewable energy, and productive-use energy solutions, all targeting underserved communities. Charm’s portfolio primarily includes loans to African-owned businesses that are pioneering local energy solutions, with a significant emphasis on gender equality and social inclusion
