Lightrock announced the launch of Accelerate7 following the final close of a USD $500 million fund dedicated to supporting businesses advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). The London-headquartered investment platform said the strategy will focus on growth-stage companies across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Accelerate7 plans to invest across three primary sectors: access to electricity, clean cooking, and enabling technologies and solutions such as electric mobility and energy storage. The fund’s typical initial investment size will range from USD $10 million to USD $50 million. Deployment efforts in Southeast Asia will be supported by Singapore-headquartered TRIREC, which is partnering with Lightrock on the initiative.
The strategy has already completed four investments, including SolarSquare, a rooftop solar system provider; Sun King, an off-grid solar energy company; Euler Motors, an electric vehicle manufacturer; and ATEC Global, an IoT-enabled clean cookstove provider.
According to the company, more than 660 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, while around 2.1 billion people continue to rely on polluting or hazardous fuels for cooking. Lightrock said Accelerate7 is designed to back businesses that expand access to modern energy, improve livelihoods, and generate long-term returns while helping attract additional capital into the sector.
Each Accelerate7 portfolio company will regularly report on its impact performance, including contributions toward SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Portfolio companies will also receive support through Lightrock’s impact measurement and management framework, technical assistance resources, specialist value-creation professionals, and advisor network.
Accelerate7 is supported by a group of investors and energy companies, including Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, and LGT. With the launch of the strategy, Lightrock said its total capital dedicated to energy transition, energy access, and climate investments now stands at approximately USD $2 billion.
KEY QUOTES:
“Across the Global South, access to reliable energy and modern cooking solutions remains one of the clearest drivers of economic opportunity and improved quality of life. With Accelerate7, we are backing businesses that have already demonstrated strong execution and are ready to scale. Our focus is on finding proven operators with resilient business models that can deliver both meaningful impact and long-term value.”
Ademidun (Demi) Edosomwan, Partner & Head Of Energy Access At Lightrock
“The launch of Accelerate7 is an important milestone for Lightrock, and a strong example of how our platform continues to evolve. It builds on our broader commitment to supporting businesses at the forefront of energy transition and access, while bringing together the strength of our network, our investment expertise, and the conviction of our partners. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and excited to partner with impactful businesses as they work to expand access to modern energy and clean cooking solutions.”
Pal Erik Sjatil, Managing Partner & CEO At Lightrock
