About Us

Our Values

Mandate

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is an initiative of the AKDN in Central and South Asia, offering formal structures to support and catalyze sustainable small and growing businesses.

Started in 2016 as a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s Industrial Promotion Services (AKFED IPS), AP aims to inspire entrepreneurship, facilitate innovative business models, coach promising entrepreneurs, create networks and mentorship opportunities, and accelerate business growth.

Vision

An inclusive and prosperous society powered by entrepreneurs. In 5-7 years’ time:

● Global leader on enterprise growth acceleration in fragile states, with a niche in supporting youth and women entrepreneurs, and Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) that link rural and urban areas.
● Lead player in the startup and SME ecosystem in rural and semi urban areas of Pakistan, that generates investable entrepreneurs and businesses.
● Central place for investable youth specially women entrepreneurs.
● Key advisor and partner for government, donors and development finance institutions (DFIs) on issues around rural entrepreneurship.
● Facilitator of regional trade in Tajikistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Mission

To inspire rising entrepreneurs in emerging regions to grow new markets, create sustainable employment, and strengthen communities.

To create high growth high impact businesses by promoting entrepreneurship and creating space to facilitate more appropriate technical expertise, mentoring and creative financial solutions, which can bridge the gaps between investors, government, donors and entrepreneurs, and spur dialogue between stakeholders in the business ecosystem. Its long term mission is to create inclusive economic growth and empowerment, with a focus on youth and women in rural and semi rural areas.

Accelerate Prosperity at a Glance

Launched

October 2016

Countries

Tajikistan (2016)
Pakistan (2017)
Kyrgyz Republic (2019)
Afghanistan (2021)

Services/Products

Tailored business coaching and mentoring to support entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses
Networking opportunities and access to market linkages to
unlock growth potential of startups and SGBs
Provide patient-debt financing to selected businesses and post-financing technical assistance services

Loans & Investments

Startup capital: Up to $20,000

Growth capital: Up to $50,000

Intermediated capital: <$200,000

Impact Promoted

A thriving entrepreneurial culture
Innovative, profitable and investment-ready business models
Improved access to patient capital
Jobs for youth, women and men

Sector Focus

Innovative and disruptive ideas from any industry are accepted, with a focus on high potential sectors such as agriculture, ICT, health-tech, ed-tech, early childhood development, textiles, adventure tourism, and green-tech.

Founders

Aga Khan Development Network

Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) works to improve the quality of life for tens of millions of people in 30 countries. Many of its institutions have been operating in the

developing world for over 50 years. Today, the Network employs over 80,000 people. Its budget for non-profit social and cultural activities stands at US$ 950 million. The Network’s economic development arm, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, generates annual revenues of US$ 4.3 billion, and all of its surpluses are reinvested in further development activities, usually in fragile, remote or post-conflict regions.

Industrial Promotion Services (IPS)

AKFED works with governments, international corporations, international financial institutions and donors to create solutions to pressing infrastructure needs,

including power generation and telecommunications. AKFED has invested in, and manages, over 40 industrial project companies in Africa and Asia.

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)

Established in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) brings together human, financial and technical resources to address the challenges faced by the poorest and

most marginalised communities in the world. Special emphasis is placed on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity and improving the overall quality of life.