
Investing today for a better tomorrow
We are a specialised investment firm, regulated by the German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and registered with the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Our team consists of global investment professionals with a particular focus on emerging markets.
With a strong foothold in micro and SME finance, we provide a variety of financing solutions seeking to reduce poverty, promote economic growth, and have a positive impact on our environment.
As an independent group company of the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, one of Europe’s leading business schools, we share the same vision as our shareholder: delivering excellence in management and finance.
FS Impact Finance is a complementary pillar to fulfilling Frankfurt School’s academic and consultancy missions, pursuing the highest standards in professional impact investment, offering custom-made investment solutions at the forefront of today’s topics.

Investing today for a better tomorrow: At FS Impact Finance, we foster and facilitate money flows from public and private sources to design and implement innovative financing solutions. We build bridges between responsible investors who, in addition to generating financial returns, are looking for a positive impact on people and our planet. Our mission is to offer meaningful investment opportunities addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We are a dynamic and outcome-oriented finance provider with unequalled access to a network of academic, advisory, and investment professionals. Being embedded in one of the leading European business schools, we are in a unique position to constantly develop our skills and expertise further and be among the first-movers on future market trends. Shunning off-the-shelf solutions, we offer innovative approaches that are tailored precisely to the needs of our customers and the desired impact.



When asking myself the question what makes the job ideal for me, there are two key words that come to my mind first: creativity and improvement. FS Impact Finance offers me the environment where I can improve and bring positive changes to my work both individually and as part of a great team of amazing people whom I’m happy to work with. I work with the team based in Yerevan, Armenia, and for me remote working creates additional opportunities to combine creativity with focused effort to make growth happen in my daily work and to aspire to new achievements.

At FS Impact Finance we don’t go down the easy route. We take on some of the most pressing issues of our time – issues for which there is no quick fix or standard toolbox. And we are given the time it takes to develop new ideas and concepts. It’s inspiring to work in such an environment, especially with people who really want to change things for the better.

With FS Impact Finance I found an attractive employer who offered exactly what I was searching for: a challenging and exciting job in the sector I am passionate about, with huge potential to grow and flexibility at the same time. I joined FS Impact Finance coming from an industry sector which is highly attractive for impact investing in emerging economies. Without major financial expertise, but a strong background in consulting, I quickly grew into the role as Investment Manager for the Restoration Seed Capital Facility. Supported by the right training and learning on the job, I benefitted from a steep learning curve and quickly adopted the new role and responsibilities within a pleasant environment. Things I enjoy most are the flexibility, the possibility to actively drive change and impact and the team spirit.

The work environment at FS Impact Finance is excellent, and very well designed for employees’ development both professionally and personally. The company’s culture is based on shared commitment and motivation, with an attitude to reach a strong performance while still keeping the work-life-balance. I really enjoy working in this very multi-cultural, versatile and cooperative team.

I like finding solutions. It’s not about thinking outside the box, it’s about changing the parameters of the box. At FS Impact Finance, we truly strive for the triple bottom-line: finding the business solutions that can make the world more sustainable for people and planet. I’ve been given the freedom to work where I most want to. Unsurprisingly, it’s a region with many problems, but I’m given the patience, the support, the encouragement to learn and grow, which is great because I have a bigger box of tools with which to work – finding those solutions.
At UN Environment we developed the Seed Capital Assistance Facility in 2010 with the aim of mobilising private sector investment in early-stage low-carbon projects in developing countries. We were then looking for a proactive and committed partner to implement it. Derek, Andrea and Martin have been instrumental in making this facility operate effectively for the last nine years, successfully covering all tasks, ranging from identification of local partners, to due diligence, contracting as well as monitoring and oversight. Today, the facility has been refinanced and expanded, emphasising the success and necessity for this unique kind of project support in challenging markets. The achievements of the team are underlined by considerable interest to replicate in other sectors, such as forestry or clean oceans.
The earthquake of April 16, 2016 that hit the Ecuadorian coast was a very tough test that made us at Fundación ESPOIR emerge from the downturn in a stronger position thanks to our great team of employees, the resilience of our clients in the affected areas and the invaluable support received from our international funders. FS Impact Finance played a very important role, not only because it invited all the lenders to reach an agreement and sign a memorandum of understanding, but also collected monetary support for our staff that suffered damages to their homes, in total 46 families working at ESPOIR benefited from it.
Throughout our business relationship, FS Impact Finance firmly demonstrated that it is not only our partner in fighting poverty through the provision of microcredit, but also in helping hands-on during the toughest moments.

When asking myself the question what makes the job ideal for me, there are two key words that come to my mind first: creativity and improvement. FS Impact Finance offers me the environment where I can improve and bring positive changes to my work both individually and as part of a great team of amazing people whom I’m happy to work with. I work with the team based in Yerevan, Armenia, and for me remote working creates additional opportunities to combine creativity with focused effort to make growth happen in my daily work and to aspire to new achievements.
As a first-time fund manager, setting up a private equity fund focused on sustainable and high impact small and medium enterprises in Ethiopia was challenging. We went through a lot of ups and downs during our fund-raising efforts to reach first close. Andrea Bode and Martin Cremer believed in our approach and our team from very early on. This enabled us to get access to crucial financing from the Seed Capital Assistance Facility. Thanks to their continued support we were able to close our fund at USD 75 million in early 2018 and reimburse all grants, to be re-used for other start-up funds. The hands-on and flexible approach by the whole FS Impact Finance team was pivotal in getting us off the ground.
SMART CREDIT is a very development-orientated microfinance institution based in Ungheni, Moldova. For a young organization like ours that traditionally does not have access to the deep pockets of international shareholders, refinancing support at an early stage of the development is of utmost importance. Luckily, I came across FS Impact Finance, that has an in-depth understanding of microfinance and the needs of institutions like SMART CREDIT. In a very professional manner, the whole FS Impact Finance team supported us as one of the first international lenders and enabled us to further grow our portfolio. Beyond their direct funding support, I was given useful insights for acquiring further refinancing. I can whole-heartedly recommend the entire FS Impact Finance team a as trustful partner for cooperation.

At FS Impact Finance we don’t go down the easy route. We take on some of the most pressing issues of our time – issues for which there is no quick fix or standard toolbox. And we are given the time it takes to develop new ideas and concepts. It’s inspiring to work in such an environment, especially with people who really want to change things for the better.

I like finding solutions. It’s not about thinking outside the box, it’s about changing the parameters of the box. At FS Impact Finance, we truly strive for the triple bottom-line: finding the business solutions that can make the world more sustainable for people and planet. I’ve been given the freedom to work where I most want to. Unsurprisingly, it’s a region with many problems, but I’m given the patience, the support, the encouragement to learn and grow, which is great because I have a bigger box of tools with which to work – finding those solutions.
We became a beneficiary under the Seed Capital Assistance Facility in late 2011, after our first renewable energy fund was raised. Martin and his team helped us get started when we set up operations in Nairobi. With the support of the facility we were able to hire our first local project director in Kenya. Moreover, we received essential support during the early stage development phases for several geothermal, wind and hydropower projects in East Africa. Particularly the development grants received for our 5.4MW Lubilia run-of-river hydropower project in Western Uganda to perform early stage environmental assessments and feasibility studies were paramount in getting the project across the finish line. The straight-forward and solution-oriented approach of the FS Impact Finance team makes this one of the rare public-private financing mechanisms that actually works for us.

The work environment at FS Impact Finance is excellent, and very well designed for employees’ development both professionally and personally. The company’s culture is based on shared commitment and motivation, with an attitude to reach a strong performance while still keeping the work-life-balance. I really enjoy working in this very multi-cultural, versatile and cooperative team.
We had a discussion with Utpal at FS Impact Finance for raising funds and also establishing a new relationship. Post liquidity crunch in India in late 2018, we were able to secure our first Rupee loan through FS Impact Finance which was of great support. Furthermore, we also concluded our first USD debt transaction with FS Impact Finance. I appreciate the simple documentation process.
Apart from timely debt fund support, the relationship with FS Impact Finance also adds value in terms of our internal capacity building of team members. Our product head and institutional head gained from the trainings of Frankfurt School as well as interaction and networking with other global MFIs and banks.
FS Impact Finance has been a reliable partner since setting up our Microfinance Fund in 2015. As Fund Manager they provide our investors a high investment ratio and an excellent portfolio quality – while always ensuring positive social impact. As Germany’s leading social bank, we are very pleased working with a team that completely shares our mission and vision. I personally appreciate their integrity, sincerity and hands-on mentality. GLS Bank looks forward to many more years of successful cooperation.

With FS Impact Finance I found an attractive employer who offered exactly what I was searching for: a challenging and exciting job in the sector I am passionate about, with huge potential to grow and flexibility at the same time. I joined FS Impact Finance coming from an industry sector which is highly attractive for impact investing in emerging economies. Without major financial expertise, but a strong background in consulting, I quickly grew into the role as Investment Manager for the Restoration Seed Capital Facility. Supported by the right training and learning on the job, I benefitted from a steep learning curve and quickly adopted the new role and responsibilities within a pleasant environment. Things I enjoy most are the flexibility, the possibility to actively drive change and impact and the team spirit.