DOB Equity, a leading impact investment fund focused on East Africa, has made a significant comeback with a fresh strategy. After navigating challenges in its previous portfolio, the fund has shifted its focus to sustainable investments with long-term impact.
The fund’s latest investment is in Spouts International, a Ugandan company pioneering affordable and sustainable ceramic water filters under the Purifaaya brand.
Founded in 2014 by Kathy Ku and John Kye, Spouts uses locally sourced materials to produce filters that provide a safer, greener, and more affordable alternative to boiling water.
Spouts’ innovative solution tackles pressing issues such as indoor air pollution, deforestation, and high carbon emissions caused by burning firewood or charcoal.
The company has already distributed nearly 300,000 filters, benefiting approximately two million people and reducing over 1.5 million tons of carbon emissions.
Under the leadership of Karen Serem Waithaka, who took over as CEO last year, DOB Equity has refined its investment strategy to focus on critical areas such as sustainable food systems, renewable energy, and water and sanitation services.
Waithaka emphasized that less than 25% of East Africa’s population has reliable access to safe drinking water, making investments like Spouts crucial.
This strategic shift marks a departure from DOB Equity’s earlier, more diversified investment approach, which included over 30 companies.
The fund’s new direction prioritizes long-term impact and sustainability, with a focus on backing companies that address infrastructure and climate-related challenges.
Spouts CEO Daniel Yin welcomed the partnership, citing the investment as a crucial boost to scale manufacturing, strengthen distribution, and expand the company’s reach across East Africa. This investment follows a $3 million funding round from Incofin’s Water Access Acceleration Fund (W2AF) last year.
Embarking on this new chapter, DOB Equity’s investment in Spouts International is poised to make a meaningful impact in East Africa’s impact investing space. The world waits for the outcome.
