Founded in 1989 as the private equity investment subsidiary of the international development organization CARE, SEAF (“Small Enterprise Assistance Funds”) evolved in 1995 into an independent organization specializing in the sponsorship and management of investment funds targeting growth-oriented, emerging enterprises located in countries underserved by traditional sources of capital. SEAF pursues high impact economic development through the investment of risk capital in entrepreneurs, coupled with active business partnership and the transfer of knowledge and networks developed over 30 years of operation.
SEAF has an extensive track record of establishing local fund management capacity, and in investing in SMEs in emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. A global leader in SME finance, SEAF has managed or is managing 38 Funds and 14 Centers for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED) centers across 33 countries. SEAF has made more than 400 risk capital investments in entrepreneurs whose products and services improve the lives of people in a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable manner. SEAF requires that such investments generate returns for our investors, as that forces efficiency, accountability and sustainability of the process.
For over two decades, SEAF has been investing in growth-oriented SMEs in emerging markets. Launched in Central and Eastern Europe, we have since expanded our operations to Africa, Latin America and Asia and have invested in more than countries to date.
Our team of professionals represents over 20 nationalities around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, our investment management teams and CEED entrepreneurship programs operate in more than 20 offices in emerging markets.