Strengthening an Indian company committed to gender equality

Lighthouse Capital is the first Indian private equity firm to bring a source of capital to already established businesses, in a context of exponential growth in consumption on the Indian market. Founded in 2007 by Sachin Barthiya, Sean Sovak and Mukund Krishnaswami, Lighthouse has been active in India for more than 15 years.

Proparco has made a USD 15m equity investment in Lighthouse Funds, India’s leading private equity firm. Lighthouse applies the 2X Challenge criteria to its portfolio companies and to its own structure, with a third of its senior managers being women (100% 2X Challenge). Proparco’s investment will enable the fund to strengthen its gender impact in India. 

Proparco will be the first investor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Lighthouse, confirming its alignment with the principles of the 2X Challenge. The 2X Challenge initiative, which was launched by the G7 Development Finance Institutions, aims to mobilize USD 15bn for investments in women.

In terms of impacts, 3,375 jobs have been created and/or maintained within the client company and its value chain.  

In addition to gender equality (SDG n° 5), this project contributes to four other SDGs: SDG n° 1 (No poverty), SDG n° 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG n° 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG n° 10 (Reduced inequalities).