History
Founded in 1989 as the private equity investment subsidiary of the international development organization CARE, Small Enterprise Assistance Funds ("SEAF") evolved in 1995 into an independent organization specializing in the sponsorship and management of investment funds targeting growth-oriented, emerging enterprises located in countries underserved by traditional sources of capital. SEAF has managed or is managing 36 Funds across more than 30 countries with over US$1 billion in aggregate committed capital, of which over US$600 million has been invested through over 400 investments in SMEs, with more than 300 completed exits (through December 31, 2017). Investors in SEAF-sponsored funds represent a cross section of public and private institutions, including multilateral financial institutions, private foundations, pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, banks and other independent financial institutions. SEAF employs over 140 investment professionals worldwide within a network of 20+ regional offices.SEAF International Funds
Below is a list of SEAF's active and historic funds and the countries in which they operate:Global
* SEAF Flex Fund * SEAF SME Debt Facility * SEAF Global SME FundCentral and Eastern European Funds
* Caresbac Polska (Closed) ** Poland * Baltics Small Equity Fund (Closed) ** Estonia ** Latvia ** Lithuania * SEAF Macedonia (Closed) * SEAF Macedonia II Fund * Central/Eastern Europe Growth Fund * SEAF Trans-Balkan Fund (Closed) ** Bulgaria through the Trans-Balkan Bulgaria Fund (Closed) ** Romania through the Trans-Balkan Romania Fund (Closed) ** Croatia through the SEAF Croatia (Closed) * SEAF South Balkan Fund ** Serbia ** Montenegro ** Macedonia * Georgia Regional Development Fund * SEAF Impact Serbia Fund * SEAF Caucasus Growth Fund ** Armenia ** Azerbaijan ** GeorgiaLatin American Funds
* SEAF Colombia Agribusiness Fund (Dual Fund Structure) * Trans-Andean Fund (Closed) ** Peru through the Fondo Transandino Peru Fund (Closed) ** Colombia through the Fondo Transandino Colombia Fund * Latam Growth Fund (Closed) * Latam Peru Fund (Closed)Asian Funds
* Central Asia Small Enterprise Fund (Closed) ** Uzbekistan ** Kazakhstan ** Kyrgyz Republic ** Tajikistan ** Turkmenistan * Sichuan Small Investment Fund ** China * SEAF India Investment Growth Fund (Closed) * SEAF India Agribusiness Fund (Dual Fund Structure) *SEAF Bangladesh Ventures LLC * SEAF Blue Waters Growth Fund Limited ** Vietnam ** Cambodia * Afghan Growth Finance ** AfghanistanImpact on development
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often overlooked and therefore referred to as the "missing middle" in the developing world. Recent data results, analysis and case highlights (reports can be found below in the "Publications" section) demonstrate how SMEs can generate employment opportunities in their local communities, serve as links to regional and international markets for smaller local suppliers, and address market deficiencies and customer needs that would otherwise go unaddressed.SEAF and CEED
In 2006, the SEAF family grew larger with the creation of Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED), a legacy institution ofLeadership
SEAF is led by a Corporate Board of Directors, an International Advisory Council, and a Management Team based in Washington, D.C. The board and the council include business leaders, editors of periodicals, academics, and other international experts. Below is a list of senior management at SEAF: SEAF LeadershipUnited States headquarters
* Hubertus van der Vaart, CEONotes and references
{{Reflist Organizations related to small and medium-sized enterprises