E20 - Carolyne Kirabo, Founder and CEO of M-Kyala Ventures (Uganda)

What does it mean to build a gender-smart investment fund in East Africa, and what makes it work? In this episode, Carolyne Kirabo, an investor based out of Uganda and the founder of M-Kyala Ventures, is transforming how capital flows to women-led businesses across East Africa. From funding a plastic recycling business to supporting a million-dollar eco-footwear brand, Carolyne shares what’s working and what’s not in inclusive finance. We dive into why many women don’t get funded, and why funders need to change how they show up. Carolyne talks about the gap between women’s repayment behavior (much better than some may think) and their access to capital, and how she’s bridging the gaps. If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond good intentions to real outcomes in gender lens investing, this conversation is for you. And it’s a call for all of us to always start with listening deeply to women’s needs and experiences. Please review the episode, share your feedback, and subscribe to the podcast! You can also: Visit our website: womenchangingfinance.org Read Carolyne's full bio Follow Carolyne on LinkedIn To go further, here are some of the references mentioned during the episode: Gender Action Collective https://mkyalaventures.com/service/convening-for-collective-impact/ M-Kyala 5 Year Impact Report https://mkyalaventures.com/2025/10/16/m-kyala-impact-report-celebrating-five-years-of-walking-with-women-entrepreneurs/ Gender Smart Lending Toolkit https://www.gslafrica.org/our-drivers Shona Group – https://shonacapital.co/ FindingXY – https://findingxy.com/ Helton Traders – https://heltontraders.com/ Uzuri K&Y – https://www.uzuriky.com/ Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) – https://www.andeglobal.org The Testaments by Margaret Atwood Women Changing Finance is part of the Impact Alpha Podcast Network.