Session details

Date

Monday, October 12, 2026

Time

2:35 PM - 3:45 PM

Speakers

Teaser

The financing gap for the ‘missing middle’ in energy access is widening. Where ticket sizes once started at $1 million, investment thresholds now frequently reach €5 million or higher. This leaves smaller energy SMEs stranded without capital. Yet these are precisely the businesses that need access to finance most: to purchase inventory, invest in working capital, and expand their operations to reach more customers in underserved markets.

The urgency is real. Often funding needs arise at earlier stages of growth and before SMEs can meet the requirements of mainstream financiers. Without tailored financing, a generation of energy access SMEs risks failing before they can scale, placing broader international ambitions like Mission 300 out of reach. This panel will explore how to bridge the funding void and structure financial instruments that reach last-mile enterprises.