4G Capital
Location
Kenya, Uganda
Sector
Financial Services
Type of Investment
GIF Growth debt investment
Length of Investment
2025+
Website
https://www.4g-capital.com
Investment overview
4G Capital is a leading financial technology company that provides ethical, sustainable financial services to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Africa. 4G Capital’s innovative lending model combines digital technology with extensive in-person support, enabling it to reach underserved micro-businesses, while strengthening livelihoods and local economies.
The development challenge
Informal businesses generate over 80% of employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 400 million people living on less than $5 a day relying on these enterprises for their livelihoods. However, many cannot access formal credit.
This is often because they lack a financial history, operate outside regulated financial systems, or are considered high-risk. Digital-only financial services can also exclude entrepreneurs who do not have smartphones or digital literacy. Limited financial literacy further restricts their ability to use credit effectively.
As a result, many small-scale entrepreneurs are unable to invest in inventory, equipment, or staffing, which limits business growth and the potential for job creation within their communities.
The innovation
4G Capital provides working capital in the form of small, short-term loans to informal businesses, alongside business and financial literacy training.
4G Capital’s ‘touch-tech’ model blends personal support with digital access. This hybrid strategy allows it to provide accessible, scalable finance to clients who lack traditional financial footprints - with 72% of whom are women. By bridging the digital divide with human connection, 4G Capital empowers informal businesses to grow where traditional lenders often fail.
Our investment
GIF has provided a loan of $2M through GIF Growth, to support 4G Capital’s growth.
The loan will enable the company to scale credit to both new and existing clients. By supporting on-lending to 4G Capital’s customer base, this investment promotes financial inclusion for GIF’s target beneficiaries, particularly underserved micro and small enterprises.
4G Capital in numbers
micro-businesses empowered across Kenya and Uganda
loans issued per month to informal businesses
of clients are women reflecting a strong focus on inclusion