C2FO accesses $30M investment with World Bank-backed IFC to expand KC firm’s working capital platform
April 14, 2025 | Startland News Staff
A just-announced capital infusion for Leawood-built C2FO reflects a shared commitment with global partners to boosting jobs and strengthening economic opportunities — notably for micro, small and medium enterprises in emerging markets worldwide.
The $30 million funding round features investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and existing shareholders.
“Having IFC as an investor is a great honor for us and a catalyst that will accelerate our shared mission to fully scale a global, durable, inclusive and sustainable platform for the world’s businesses,” said Sandy Kemper, founder and CEO of C2FO.
The company’s innovative platform leverages advanced technology to deliver dynamic funding, enabling suppliers — predominantly smaller businesses in such regions as India, Indonesia, Brazil and Africa — to access working capital faster and more efficiently than through traditional financing.
“C2FO believes when everyone has the capital they need to grow, everyone benefits. It fosters innovation, job growth and a more resilient economy,” explained Kemper. “That’s why we’ve created a platform where businesses can access low-cost, efficient working capital on demand without the burdens of traditional credit-based lending.”
The investment news comes about seven months after C2FO was named SME Financier of the Year-North America by the SME Finance Forum, which is managed by the IFC, and began working with the organization to enhance financing for local enterprises in Africa, starting with Nigeria. That initiative — with the potential to unlock tens of billions of dollars in annual financing for African MSMEs — is expected to launch later this year.
ICYMI: Worlds’ biggest financial leaders applaud C2FO for job-creating capital access
Sandy Kemper, C2FO, sits alongside Mohamed Gouled, vice president of industries for the International Finance Corporation, during a signing event in October 2024 for the organization’s strategic partnership with C2FO; photo courtesy of C2FO
“IFC provides more than capital — our expertise in supply chain finance and fintech is instrumental in scaling C2FO’s operations,” said Farid Fezoua, global director for disruptive technologies, services and funds at IFC. “This initiative will unlock the economic potential of smaller suppliers who cannot easily access needed working capital, driving growth and jobs.”
With operations around the globe, C2FO already facilitates a material amount of liquidity to emerging markets, the company said. In 2024, more than $13 billion in funding was provided to more than 20,000 businesses in developing nations across the globe through C2FO.
As C2FO continues to grow, it remains dedicated to its mission of providing accessible and efficient working capital solutions, empowering businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape, the company said, noting the strategic and financial support from IFC is a pivotal step in realizing this mission and expanding the impact of C2FO’s services on a global scale.
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Closing KCK’s Black-owned coffee shop opens opportunity for Kinship to brew bigger, owner says
When TJ Roberts posted on social media about closing Kinship Cafe, a Black-owned coffee shop in Kansas City’s Strawberry Hill neighborhood, he was surprised by the outpouring of support — a morale boost that not only gives him the spirit to keep fighting for the business, but expand it, he said. “When we posted about…
Kansas brothers launch speedy trial for app that eases reentry for the wrongfully incarcerated
Podcast host-turned-innovator Dylan Carnahan is a man built for talking, he said, but there’s a time when words aren’t enough — when action is needed in the face of injustice. For Carnahan and his brother, that moment is now. “While media spreads awareness, software facilitates action,” said Carnahan, teasing the tech he’s developing alongside Alex…
Restaurant’s nostalgia is only part of it’s recipe: How Paul’s Drive In sizzled a community staple by ‘doing good first’
Editor’s note: The following story was written and first published by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC). Click here to read the original story. In the heart of South Kansas City, Paul’s Drive In on Blue Ridge Blvd has been a cherished staple since the 1960s. Through ups and downs — including…
Meet six coalitions earning grants through Kauffman Foundation’s new ‘Collective Impact’ funding pathway
Systemic change happens when communities come together to drive transformation through collaboration, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, announcing a half-dozen grants to high-capacity organizations with strategies to close economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region. The “Collective Impact” planning grants of up to $500,000 are awarded to the winning coalitions are the first piece of…