Unlocking Local Growth
Ground Up Investing funds high-impact enterprises that deliver social, economic and environmental benefits for local communities.
44,000
hectares of land
under improved agricultural management
$35+ million
paid directly to farmers
800+
people employed locally
Putting more money into the hands of farmers and hardworking people
Small farmers and rural entrepreneurs feed the world yet face the most barriers to capital, climate resilience, and market access. Ground Up bridges that gap by pairing catalytic funding with on-the-ground expertise, ensuring growth starts from — and returns to — the ground up.
About Us – From Seed to Scale
What if the world’s most promising rural entrepreneurs had the same access to capital and expertise as Silicon Valley startups? In 2017, Lutheran World Relief and its parent organization, Corus International, decided to find out. Rather than delivering short-term aid, they launched Ground Up to channel patient, partnership-driven investment straight into the hands of farmers, processors, and rural tech innovators who fuel local economies but are routinely overlooked by traditional finance.
Investments
We back companies operating across rural value chains — from sourcing to processing, trading, direct-to-consumer brands, and tech service providers solving climate and market challenges. We combine:
- Flexible financing tailored to early- and growth-stage rural ventures.
- Deep local networks in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Technical expertise in agricultural market-systems development.
- Climate-smart insight to future-proof rural value chains.
Impact
We make investments that generate sustainable outcomes. Our primary impact objectives are to increase rural incomes and employment and to build resilient agricultural ecosystems.
Investing in Frontier Markets
Our portfolio companies work predominantly in rural communities in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Where our companies are based
- Countries in sourcing network
Partner With Us
Whether you’re an entrepreneur solving a rural challenge, an investor seeking measurable impact, or a foundation looking to scale change, we’d love to collaborate.