Africa’s Great Doubling: How Vital Capital Seizes PE Profits & Purpose in Overlooked Opportunities Providing Essential Services (#056)

SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing

Today, I'm speaking with Nimrod Gerber, Managing Partner of Vital Capital, a private equity firm that is redefining impact investing in emerging markets, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Vital Capital focuses on providing essential services such as healthcare, food production, water, and sustainable infrastructure, often through "overlooked opportunities" – greenfield projects that carry higher risks but also promise financial returns and deliver meaningful societal impact.

With over $400 million assets under management, Vital Capital has made a significant impact, improving the lives of more than 22 million people by providing first-time access to critical resources like clean water and healthcare. Their investments have also created nearly 65,000 jobs and supported over 50,000 smallholder farmers.

In addition to Africa, Vital Capital has extended its reach to other emerging markets, including India, where they’ve focused on rural water access projects serving millions, and Latin America, bringing their expertise to diverse regions with complex challenges.

Nimrod’s journey from managing agricultural projects in Israel to becoming a leader in global impact investing spans two decades and over 28 countries. His hands-on experience enables him to navigate challenging greenfield investments that many others might pass up.

Join me as we discuss how Nimrod and his team are using their operational expertise to identify high-impact investments that are transforming lives in Africa, India, and beyond.

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About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes. In my interviews, I cover everything from their early personal journeys to insights into how they developed and executed their investment strategies and what challenges they face today. Each episode is a chance to go way below the surface with these impressive people and gain additional insights and useful lessons from professional investors.
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Key Takeaways:
Nimrod Gerber's background (00:00)
Early career and transition to impact investing (19:17)
Joining Vital Capital (29:50)
Vital Capital's mission and theory of change (35:19)
Investment process and impact assessment (47:44)
Examples of Vital’s end-to-end investment process and results (01:14:52)
Post-investment impact assessment and key KPIs tracked (01:28:48)
Correlation between impact and financial returns (01:32:00)
Vital Capital's unique approach to risk (01:34:21)
What sets Vital Capital apart and its key success (01:43:12)
Rapid fire questions (01:48:32)
Connect with Nimrod Gerber (01:58:22)
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Additional Resources:

Nimrod Gerber LinkedIn

Vital Capital LinkedIn

Vital Capital Website