{"id":2000106822,"date":"2026-03-30T12:14:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T10:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/?p=2000106822"},"modified":"2026-03-31T10:57:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:57:39","slug":"connecting-europes-capital-with-rwandas-hidden-entrepreneurial-gems-enfas-niloufar-gharavi-speaks-out-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/connecting-europes-capital-with-rwandas-hidden-entrepreneurial-gems-enfas-niloufar-gharavi-speaks-out-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting Europe\u2019s capital with Rwanda\u2019s hidden entrepreneurial gems: ENFA\u2019s Niloufar Gharavi speaks out (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Persian-Norwegian with a background in architecture and systemic design, Gharavi recently spent two weeks in Kigali, scouting Rwanda\u2019s \u201chidden entrepreneurial gems\u201d and exploring opportunities to connect them with European and Nordic investors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRwanda is a bold and dynamic country,\u201d Gharavi told IGIHE during an exclusive interview. \u201cIt has fundamental elements for finance structuring and project development in place, which makes it a very good base to expand into Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that the country\u2019s commitment to entrepreneurship, strong institutions, and regional connectivity made it an ideal location for ENFA to establish a presence and test its model in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Euro Nordic Funding Alliance (ENFA) boss Niloufar Gharavi, during a recent meetup with startup founders and stakeholders in Kigali\u2019s entrepreneur community at Norrsken.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Founded three years ago, ENFA has grown from a concept into a presence in 21 countries, operating as a facilitator of cross-border business development and blended financing. Gharavi explains that the organization\u2019s core philosophy is not merely to introduce entrepreneurs to capital, but to become a development partner: providing training, advisory support, and strategic connections to ensure startups and SMEs thrive in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENFA has been active in Rwanda for nearly a year through local partnerships, guided by Regina Mukamusinga, the CEO of ENFA Rwanda and a former investment analyst with 14 years of experience at the Development Bank of Rwanda. The organisation has now formalised its presence by establishing a legal entity in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe reception has been overwhelmingly positive,\u201d Mukamusinga said. \u201cLocal entrepreneurs are eager to join our network, and we\u2019re seeing real progress in turning these SMEs into internationally connected businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gharavi highlights the impact of this approach using Rwanda\u2019s honey industry as an example. Through ENFA, women-led honey businesses that had previously operated independently were connected, advised on value chain development, and introduced to international partners. This collaboration not only enhances production capacity but also opens doors to broader markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A systemic designer by profession, Gharavi, says she approaches business through a lens of complexity and interconnectivity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For Grace Mbabazi, founder of M&M Sozo, producing and exporting honey, joining ENFA has shown her just how transformative the right support and connections can be for a growing business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore ENFA, our business was mostly local. Now we have access to training, strategic advice, and European partners. It\u2019s transforming how we operate and where we can sell our honey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond SMEs, ENFA is actively exploring larger projects across Rwanda in sectors such as affordable housing, health tech, and agriculture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initiatives include a state-of-the-art prefabricated housing factory, a network of 50-bed clinics to expand rural healthcare access, and digitised agricultural solutions to facilitate export and market expansion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gharavi also emphasised the potential for renewable energy projects, including Lake Victoria and Lake Kivu developments, as well as data centres that can tap into European and Nordic investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A systemic designer by profession, Gharavi approaches business through a lens of complexity and interconnectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything is a system,\u201d she explains. \u201cYour business, your product, your value chain; they\u2019re all interconnected. We don\u2019t just bring capital; we help entrepreneurs redesign and optimise their systems to generate sustainable growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENFA\u2019s funding model spans five brackets, from \u20ac500,000 to over \u20ac15 million, combining public grants, philanthropic funds, and private investments. But Gharavi underscores the importance of local equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInvestors want to see Rwandans actively putting their own capital into their projects. That\u2019s how trust is built and exploitation avoided,\u201d she explains, adding that this approach supports local ownership and ensures international support complements, rather than replaces, Rwandan initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Niloufar<\/strong> Gharavi was a panellist at the 2nd Rwanda Nordic-Baltic Forum, held in Kigali from March 9\u201311, 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, Gharavi was a featured speaker and panellist at the 2nd Rwanda Nordic-Baltic Forum, held in Kigali from March 9\u201311, 2026. In the interview with IGIHE, she reiterated ENFA\u2019s hands-on approach to connecting European and Nordic investors with African businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe actually become their partners. They join us, we give them the right advice and the right network, and support them as they grow,\u201d the founder explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last December, Gharavi launched her book, Save the World Before Breakfast<\/a><\/em>, introducing the concept of design-driven entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything we do is designerly,\u201d she stressed. \u201cDesigners see the world from scratch. We know that this chair, this building, this phone, even the lifestyles we live, they didn\u2019t exist naturally. They were all created over time. Once you realise that everything can be redesigned, that\u2019s when real sustainability and regeneration become possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Niloufar Gharavi’s book Save the World Before Breakfast challenges conventional notions of startups, innovation, and leadership.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She emphasised that this philosophy shapes ENFA\u2019s operations, from its internal code of conduct to member training programs. ENFA\u2019s newly established holding in Luxembourg, she added, will champion regenerative, fair-share economies built on design thinking, equipping entrepreneurs to approach challenges with \u201cfresh eyes on the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Gharavi, the journey from architect to global entrepreneur has been shaped by high-stakes decision-making and a design-driven mindset. Her experience as a professional rally driver also plays a role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRacing taught me to assess risks, make decisions quickly, and trust the team around me. Those same skills are vital when supporting entrepreneurs across continents,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Niloufar Gharavi<\/strong> is a former racing driver.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on Rwanda\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Gharavi is optimistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are becoming a fund ourselves, but primarily, we facilitate growth,\u201d she said. \u201cThe local teams and authorities play a central role. Rwanda has the readiness, the infrastructure, and the entrepreneurial spirit to become a gateway to the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gharavi envisions similar partnerships expanding across Africa, leveraging Rwanda as a model for design-driven, investor-backed entrepreneurial growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curious to learn more? Watch her full conversation with IGIHE below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n