We’re excited to share that Odyssey’s Managing Director Piyush Mathur joined The Mini-Grid Business Podcast with host Nico Peterschmidt (INENSUS) and guest Fernando Valda (Energise Africa) for a deep dive into one of the biggest hurdles in mini-grid development: financing the construction phase.
With Results-Based Financing (RBF), subsidies only arrive after connections are verified, leaving developers to cover $400–800 per connection upfront. This creates a serious funding gap at the most critical stage.
In this episode, we discuss how innovative financing models are addressing the challenge:
- Procurement-linked trade finance: How Odyssey helps developers unlock working capital
- Retail investor-backed loans: How Energise Africa channels UK investments backed by future RBF payouts
- Risk management without big balance sheets: Assessing track records, equipment choices, and connection verification rates
- The hard truths: Declining development aid and limited equity
- Alignment through RBF: Why outcome-based structures work for all stakeholders
As Piyush notes:
“At Odyssey, we look closely at the track record: What have you built? How fast? With what equipment? What’s your connection verification rate? That’s as important as the financial numbers on paper.”
If you’re working in the mini-grid sector, or simply curious about how impact finance is evolving, this conversation is essential listening.
🎧 Listen to the full episode below:
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