Malaik, an impact-focused equity crowdfunding portal, has test launched to connect investors interested in impact investment opportunities and entrepreneurs raising equity finance in Africa.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) are the primary job creation engine in Africa, accounting for over 95% of firms and 60%-70% of employment.

Yet, SME's on the continent report access to finance as the biggest obstacle to growth.

Neku Atawodi, Founder of Malaik, said: "Young companies all over Africa face a scarcity of funds to fuel their growth."

"Apart from banks and occasional angel investors, there is often nowhere to turn. Malaik is turning this crisis into an opportunity for startups and investors alike by offering stakes in young African companies to the crowd. Our unique impact tracker means that investors can track their investments impact on the platform," he said.

Malaik is targetted at sophisticated investors, who understand the risks of investing in start ups.

The platform uses a unique system of first identifying a lead investor before putting a company on the platform.

The lead investor sets the terms and valuations of the deal, and personally invests a minimum of 25% of the companies' asking round.

The lead investor negotiates a fair valuation and is required to conduct their own due diligence before putting their money in.

A lead investor may be an individual investing alone, or a representative for an investing group or institution.

The crowd receives the same class of share, and the same price per share, as the lead investor, except indicated otherwise.

Companies listed on Malaik decide how much money they want to raise in exchange for a certain percentage of equity, and each investor's equity interest is proportionate to the size of their investment.

Malaik will focus on high-impact companies that provide jobs and solve social and infrastructural issues in African nations while maintaining profitability.

The global portal will fund seed stage businesses requiring funding between $200,000 to $2,000,000.

Malaik has identified local partners in key regions around Africa that will source for high impact start ups locally, entrepreneurs can also apply to be listed on www.malaik.com.

"We believe that business with an impact should be profitable and that innovative entrepreneurs are the key to developing a more prosperous and equitable Africa. Malaik's unique job index will allow investors to view how many jobs are created by investing in the startups' scale up plans," added Atawodi.

Malaik is the first platform in the world to track impact as well as financial reports.

Malaik tracks a company's impact using its unique impact tracker that tracks the company's progress using measurable sustainable development goals and reports it in an easy to understand dial system.

"The needs of our age are building a more sustainable world, fighting global poverty, global health issues and climate change, among others. The innovation in finance that responds to this need in Africa is Malaik: democratising impact investing into impact-driven African startups," said Issam Chleuh, Malaik Impact Advisor and CEO Africa Impact Group.

Malaik charges no upfront or ongoing charges to investors, and receives nothing if a company does not make a profitable return.