Investment Approach
INI is a hands-on, active investor focused on making equity, debt, and mezzanine investments in independent Internet Service Providers (ISPs). We are often the first outside investor alongside the founding team. We provide financial capital, technical expertise, and strategic support to help our companies grow.
Jim currently sits on the boards of, AirJaldi Networks (Board Chair), Range Networks, Too Much WiFi, and Habari Node. The INI seal of approval, especially with regards to emerging market ISPs, provides significant benefit for portfolio companies from Board level strategic support to technical expertise, and additional funding for growth.
INI has a wide range of existing partnerships with leading technology companies (Microsoft, Facebook), development finance institutions (World Bank, IFC, USAID, OPIC), emerging market investors (George Soros’s impact fund, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc., Omidyar Network), and hundreds of technical and emerging markets experts.
INI has a long track record of working with portfolio companies to create new partnerships and provide the technical support, sales partnerships, and funding to take companies to the next level.
Partial Portfolio
Jim has over a decade of experience directly investing in emerging market Internet Service Providers (ISPs). INI is the only dedicated pool of early-stage impact capital focused on expanding Internet access through independent ISPs. INI has a portfolio of over six ISPs, alongside other technology investments, across Sub-Saharan Africa and India, including:
Habari Node Ltd.
Providing reliable services at affordable, competitive prices backed by dedicated, first class technical and customer support.
Converged Technology Networks
Delivering affordable premium internet to consumers in underserved Malawi.
Impact
INI is a double-bottom line investor – we are both Venture Capitalists and Impact Investors. We are deeply committed to bridging the digital divide in emerging markets and rigorous in working with our portfolio companies to achieve both healthy financial performance and positive social impact.
INI investments have been highlighted in several impact publications including Business Models for the Last Billion: Market Approaches to Increasing Internet Connectivity.
Photos From INI-Related Investments
