Capital Raising Advisory for Growth Businesses in Kenya

Debt is borrowed capital you repay with interest, usually with security and covenants; it does not dilute ownership but adds fixed obligations and risk if cash flow tightens. Equity is investment in exchange for a share of the business; it does not require repayment but dilutes ownership and gives investors rights and expectations of returns. Many growth businesses use a mix. The right balance depends on your cash flow, growth plans, risk appetite and how much control you want to retain.

Expect requests for historical financial statements, management accounts, a financial model with assumptions, a business plan or investment memorandum, details of ownership and governance, key contracts, tax and statutory compliance records, and a data room bringing these together. Lenders focus on cash flow, security and repayment ability; equity investors focus on growth, returns and risk. Preparing these to a professional standard before you engage signals that the business is well run and reduces friction during due diligence.

Not always, but they help. Audited or independently reviewed financials increase credibility and reduce the questions investors and lenders raise during due diligence. For larger raises, institutional investors and banks often expect them. Where audited accounts are not yet available, reliable management accounts, clean records and a credible financial model can still support a raise. Part of readiness work is establishing the level of financial assurance appropriate to the capital you are seeking and the providers you are approaching.

It varies widely depending on readiness, the amount and type of capital, the providers involved and market conditions. Well-prepared businesses move faster because diligence is smoother. Raises can take several months from preparation to close, and equity processes are often longer than debt. We do not promise timelines, because they depend on factors outside our control, including investor decisions. The most reliable way to shorten the process is to be genuinely ready before you engage.

No. We provide advisory support and do not guarantee that capital will be raised, that any transaction will complete, or on what terms. Funding decisions rest with investors and lenders and depend on the opportunity, market conditions and factors beyond our control. What we do is materially improve how prepared, credible and well-positioned your business is — which is what gives a raise the best possible chance. Any firm that guarantees funding should be treated with caution.

Valuation draws on income-based methods (such as discounted cash flow), market-based methods (comparable companies or transactions) and asset-based approaches, selected according to the business and the purpose. The result is a defensible range supported by assumptions and judgement, not a single guaranteed figure. Valuation informs negotiation but does not dictate the final price, which is agreed between you and the investor. We prepare a clear valuation rationale so you can negotiate from an informed, credible position.

Yes. Confidentiality is fundamental to how we work. Sensitive information is shared only with your authorisation and, where appropriate, under non-disclosure arrangements with prospective investors and lenders. Data rooms are structured to control access, and we are deliberate about what is disclosed and when during a process. Discretion protects your competitive position, your relationships and the integrity of the raise.

Where a business is genuinely ready, we support structured engagement with relevant capital providers, including through our Capital Hub. Introductions are made on the basis of fit, not volume, and we focus on quality of preparation so that each conversation reflects well on you. We do not represent that any particular investor will participate. The goal is to put a credible, well-prepared opportunity in front of providers for whom it is relevant.

More ready than most businesses assume. Approaching investors prematurely — with incomplete financials, an unclear structure or a weak narrative — often results in rejection or poor terms, and it can be hard to re-approach the same investors later. We recommend completing a readiness assessment and closing the priority gaps first. Being properly prepared not only improves your chances; it also strengthens your negotiating position and protects the founders during the transaction.