Author: Tami Pashtan

Vital Head of Impact Highlights Blended Finance Solutions at COP29

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, shone a spotlight on climate finance and the urgent need to unlock capital for underserved regions. In an interview with Environmental Finance article on the eve of the conference, Tamar Pashtan, Senior Director and Head of Impact at Vital Capital, outlined key priorities for negotiators to address, emphasizing the important role of blended finance in mitigating risks and increasing impact.

“Pooling and scaling blended finance for climate outcomes in the Global South will be one of the greatest levers to attract private capital in our markets,” said Tamar.

Tarmar highlighted the unique ability of blended finance vehicles to de-risk investments, attract new investors, and expand limited partner commitments, all of which are essential to meeting the ambitious climate finance goals being debated at COP29.

Read the full piece in Environmental Finance here.

Vital Managing Partner Shares Insights with How we made it in Africa

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

Vital Capital Managing Partner, Nimrod Gerber recently sat down with Jaco Maritz at How we made it in Africa for a wide-ranging interview covering everything from Vital’sbeginnings right through to where we’re currently seeing opportunities to invest. Nimrod shared his journey to becoming a private equity investor in Africa, insights on the deals that got away, along with mistakes made and lessons learned. Nimrod also dived deep on the markets where Vital sees the greatest opportunities:

 

“Where we invest, in this emerging consumer class and tapping into this demographic shift, I think we want to be in countries with real economies. Smaller countries are harder to invest in and get to scale unless you can do it at a regional level… so we look for the bigger economies. Francophone Africa is very interesting. First, because of the currency, and also because of the real markets and real growth opportunities; it’s less saturated.”

You can watch the full interview here.

ESG Investor Features Vital Head of Impact’s Perspective on Driving Transformative Change

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

In a recent ESG Investor article, Vital Capital’s Head of Impact, Tamar Pashtan, shared her insights on the evolution of private equity’s role in impact investing in sub-Saharan Africa, incentivising local institutional investors and Vital’s approach to creating its own deal flow.

 

 

“Zeroing in on basic needs is a winning strategy because it drives real transformative change, such as first-time access to potable drinking water and essential nutritional improvements in the form of proteins and dairy products.”

Check out the full article here.

Vital Discusses Disproving the Perceived Risks of EM investing with Environmental Finance

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

Vital Capital Managing Partner Nimrod Gerber recently caught up with Environmental Finance. Nimrod discussed the challenges of disproving perceived risk of emerging market investing, why the typical private equity playbook fails to work in sub-Saharan Africa, and what the continent’s pending demographic shift means for investors.

“Africa is entering an outstanding demographical shift, as its 1.4 billion population is expected to increase to 2.5 billion people in less than 25 years. There has not been a demographic shift like that anywhere during the history of mankind. We believe that the companies that cater to the most basic needs and services, delivering them in an affordable and accessible way, are bound for success,” shared Nimrod.

 

Read the full interview here.

Vital Capital included in Financial Times list of impact investors

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

Vital Capital has been included in a list of 100+ impact investors published by the Financial Times in collaboration with The Global Impact Investing Network.

The searchable list highlights our impact assets under management and our strategic focus across key sectors and global regions. The initiative marks a significant milestone for impact investing, providing a useful resource for investors to align their portfolios with impactful and sustainable solutions.

The initiative also includes reporting on the GIIN’s trend analysis by journalist Sarah Murray and an insightful op-ed from the GIIN’s co-founder and CEO Amit Bouri.

By contributing our data, we’re advancing transparency and driving momentum in impact investing, supporting a sustainable future across energy, housing, food, healthcare, education, nature and more.

Click here to check out the list.

Vital Honored on the 2025 Real Leaders of Impact Investing List

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

Vital is pleased to be recognized with the 2025 Real Leaders of Impact Investing award. Now in its sixth year, the list is a compilation of investors dedicated to reshaping business practices globally through impact-driven capital.

The award celebrates Vital’s commitment to transformative impact in Africa and other emerging markets, positioning our work among firms “making a tangible difference in the world by funding businesses that matter.”

 

 

 

View the full list here.

Vital Selected as Prestigious “Private Equity Manager of the Year” by Environmental Finance

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

Vital Capital is pleased to once again be named as Private Equity Manager of the Year by Environmental Finance’s Sustainable Investment Awards. These awards recognize the work of the world’s leading impact investors and, according to the judges, “highlight emerging pockets of best practice.” This prestigious recognition underscores Vital’s leadership and innovative approach to impact investing, particularly in the emerging markets of sub-Saharan Africa.

“A growing number of investors today are aligning their activities to the Sustainable Development Goals – not just to generate positive impact, but also to maximize the performance of their investments. So, this recognition for the second consecutive year as Private equity manager of the year by Environmental Finance’s prestigious Sustainable Investment Awards is a true honor,” Nimrod Gerber, managing partner at Vital Capital, expressed.

“From delivering first-time household tap water access in India’s drought-plagued Karnataka region to unlocking the potential of local smallholder farmers in East Africa, everything we do has the potential to transform millions of lives.

 

“With this win, we reaffirm our focus on impact-led value creation, so that we can build more future-proof companies that will bring transformative impact to the underserved communities who need it most.”

Read more about Vital’s win here.

Financial Times Features Vital Managing Partner’s Insights on Africa’s Untapped Market

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

Vital Capital Managing Partner Nimrod Gerber recently offered his insights for a Financial Times article about the relationship between impact investing and ESG. Among other leading sustainable investors, Gerber shared his perspective on the significant untapped opportunities for impact investing across Africa.

“You’re going to have a billion new consumers very soon consuming potable water, basic healthcare, better food, infrastructure, and education,” Gerber explained. “Silicon Valley is not looking at how to solve these huge challenges in Africa. Creative, smart African entrepreneurs that live the problems are developing the solutions. It’s a winning formula.”

Read the full article here.

A uniquely African playbook for investment success on the continent: AltAssets features Vital Capital opinion

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

As we settle into 2024, we consider the outlook for private equity investment in Africa. Among the factors attracting investors to the continent are its rapidly growing population of 1.4 billion people – of which 60% are below the age of 25 – and an increasing demand for essential services such as infrastructure, agriculture, education, and healthcare.

 

There are rich and varied opportunities in Africa, with the promise of strong financial returns and social impact, but a key stumbling block continues to trip up General Partners and limits further investment: the failure to understand that a foreign strategy will not work here.

In an article for AltAssets, Vital Capital Managing Partner Nimrod Gerber shares his views on why Africa requires its own private equity playbook – one that accounts for the economic, legal, and cultural diversity on the continent, and involves a custom approach to greenfield opportunities, controlling stakes, and investment exits.

Read the full article, available here: https://www.altassets.net/knowledge-bank/by-pe-focus/large-buyouts/why-africa-requires-its-own-private-equity-playbook.html

 

Vital receives two Environmental Finance IMPACT awards

Posted on by Tami Pashtan

The Vital Capital team is delighted to receive two Environmental Finance IMPACT awards: one for Asset manager of the year – mid-size and the second for impact measurement and metrics (in-house IMM framework). These awards recognize the work of the world’s leading impact investors and, according to the judges, “highlight emerging pockets of best practice.” At a time when investors across the globe are increasingly seeking to align profit with purpose, these honors are all the more meaningful.

 

 

The recognition is testament to Vital’s dedication to our investees and to ensuring their future sustainability – as well as our thoughtful impact measurement and management, which drives tangible outcomes for our investors, communities and the environment.

We are proud to continue to move the dial forward towards greater accountability and standardization. Find more information on our award wins here.