Title: Consultancy for designing an Agri-Food Tech Impact Investing Fund for Start Ups in Emerging Markets 

Submission Instructions: 

Please see the full PDF of the Request for Proposals linked here, with instructions for submission. Please submit by emailing your full proposal to buy US P0012902@tns.org by Thursday, September 8, 2022. 

Background and Objective

TechnoServe (www.technoServe.org) helps people lift themselves out of poverty by harnessing the power of the private sector. A leading nonprofit organization operating in almost 30 countries, we work with hardworking women and men in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. Our mission is to fight poverty by helping people build regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase income. By linking people to information, capital,
and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities. In 2021 alone, we estimate that TechnoServe work benefited over 407,000 farmers and businesses resulting in over $200 million of new revenue.

In its pursuit for developing new impact models, TechnoServe (TNS) is looking to engage an experienced consultant to structure and support core fundraising (~20% of total fund size) for its first impact investing fund focused on Agri and food tech startups in emerging markets.
The fund will aim to address critical challenges in Agri-Food markets that are being disrupted by
several major conflating trends (increase in food demand, reductions in rural workforce, climate
change, etc) thus producing and distributing food as we do it today is leading to significant
environmental and socioeconomic consequences.

The fund should be designed to leverage on multiple TechnoServe strengths including relevant know-how in agriculture and food production in emerging markets, extensive presence in relevant countries and access to key networks of investors and philanthropies.

Some initial design characteristics to be reviewed/confirmed during the consultancy include:

• USD $30 million total fund size
• An anticipated focus on TNS’ regions of business: Africa and/or Latin America
• Focus on Round A and B investments
• Triple bottom line: profits, social and environmental impact.

Contractor Tasks
Over a 6-month period, the Consultant will advise TechnoServe to design a proof-of-concept for a FoodTech impact investment fund with a thoroughly vetted investment thesis, proposed structure and governance, and fundraising strategy. This work will include research, analysis, and presentation materials for each component of the Fund listed below. Throughout this engagement, the Consultant will work in close collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship
Director and his designees at TechnoServe and be available to interact with other key stakeholders as needed. The Consultant will perform reasonable efforts to include feedback from potential investors in the design of the fund leading to securing funding for at least 20-30% of the fund designed.

Deliverables

• Fund structure and design (see minimum details below)
• Overview 2 pager Document (Teaser)
• Pitch Deck used to pitch prospective investors (~15 slides appendix)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from prospective investors and answers
• Preliminary Set of Target Investors with an evaluation of their interest
• Roadmap for Launch Phase

Components of the fund design

Rationale for Fund & Investment Thesis

• TechnoServe’s mission and the problem TechnoServe is trying to solve
• Reasons why the Fund helps solve this problem
• Economic and social impact of the Fund (and follow-on funds)
• Related market trends, dealflow, success stories, competitive market landscape
• TechnoServe’s relevant expertise and network
• Benefits to TechnoServe as a result of the Fund

Structure
● Type of fund (e.g. closed-end, open-end, SPVs, evergreen, etc.)
● Type of investments (e.g. equity, debt, hybrid)
● Legal domicile options
● Geographic scope of portfolio
● Fund economics
● Target investors
● Potential collaborating partners
● Portfolio support (e.g. accelerator, technical assistance facilities)
Operations & Governance
● Fund administration platform including financial tracking and reporting
● Governance structure and team (fund manager, analyst, advisors, investment committee, etc)
● Impact tracking and reporting

Deliverable Acceptance Standards

The Consultant will engage with TechnoServe Global Entrepreneurship Director and/or a designee who will review each deliverable and be the sole judge of adequacy. The contractor will be responsible for rectifying any reasonable requests from TechnoServe for changes, clarification, corrections, etc.

Location

Consultant can be based in any location. Work will be remote. The consultant will be
collaborating with our Global Entrepreneurship Director based in Chile, and should have some
availability to work during office hours in Eastern daylight time (EDT).

Proposals should include:

● Consultant(s) relevant experience
● Anticipated work plan and LOE
● Cost of consultancy in US$

Profile of the Consultant

TechnoServe welcomes proposals from individuals or companies for this consultancy role.
● Individuals who apply should provide a resume/CV.
● Companies who apply should provide a breakdown of the team, stating TechnoServe’s primary point of contact with the firm, and the structure for project management and quality assurance.

All applicants should provide 3 references, with contact details for each.

#LI-Remote