What is Savo?
Savo is on a mission to build a portfolio of sustainable businesses across Africa, aiming to unlock 1 million decent jobs. But it’s not your typical investment bank. Savo Investment Bank focuses solely on sustainable transactions and goes beyond just executing deals — it helps clients build businesses from the ground up. The approach? Create, launch, and scale ventures by partnering with individuals, organizations, and internal teams to design, build, own, operate, and eventually spin out these businesses as stand-alone entities. As Robbie Marwick, CEO & Founder, puts it, “Ideas are not enough. We need builders. That’s why Savo exists – to get stuff done.”
Main Benefits of Savo’s Approach
Here’s a quick snapshot of what makes Savo stand out:
- Mission to unlock 1 million decent jobs across Africa
- Award-winning BCorp status, emphasizing sustainability and impact
- Focus on sustainable ventures that combine strong returns with lasting impact
- Expertise in venture building, transaction advisory, and capital structuring
- Deep knowledge of Africa’s markets, especially East and West Africa
- Specialties include climate finance, blended finance, ESG integration, and impact investing
- Headquartered in London but deeply rooted in African emerging markets
Building Sustainable Ventures from Scratch
Unlike conventional investment banks that mainly focus on deal execution, Savo takes a hands-on approach. They don’t just advise or finance — they roll up their sleeves and build businesses from scratch. This means partnering closely with entrepreneurs and organizations to design business models, develop projects, and execute commercial strategies that work in complex African markets. The goal? To bridge the gap between high-potential ideas and the resources needed to scale them effectively.
Why Africa? Why Now?
Africa is buzzing with opportunity. With a rapidly growing young population, accelerating urbanization, and abundant natural resources, the continent is a hotbed for innovation. Yet, many promising ideas and businesses hit roadblocks — execution gaps, limited resources, and misaligned incentives often stall progress. Savo steps in to solve these challenges by aligning capital with ventures that deliver both strong financial returns and meaningful social impact. It’s about unlocking Africa’s potential in a way that’s sustainable and inclusive.
Specialties That Drive Success
Savo’s expertise covers a broad spectrum of services tailored to sustainable business growth. From venture building and transaction advisory to investment readiness and business model design, they cover all the bases. Their work includes project development, commercial strategy, deal execution, and fund strategy & structuring. Plus, they’re deeply engaged with investor relations and ESG integration, ensuring that sustainability is baked into every step. This comprehensive approach is what makes Savo a pioneer in sustainable investment banking in Africa.
Project Impact: Aligning with the SDGs
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Creating 1 million decent jobs
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Building sustainable businesses and ventures
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Promoting sustainable business models
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Integrating climate finance and low carbon solutions
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Collaborating with individuals, organizations, and investors
Contact and Location
Savo is headquartered at 110 High Holborn, London, England, WC1V 6AA, United Kingdom. For inquiries or more information, they can be reached via email at info@savo.earth. Their presence in London connects global capital with African markets, driving sustainable growth and innovation across emerging economies like Kenya and Nigeria.
