Founded in 2006 by Susanne and Peter Wuffli, elea was built on the conviction that the benefits of globalization are too unevenly distributed and that entrepreneurship could open new pathways for people to get out of absolute poverty.
Twenty years later, that conviction has been tested, refined, and deepened by hands-on experience across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as the entrepreneurs, philanthropic investors, colleagues, and communities who have shaped elea into what it is today. Since inception, our work has had a positive impact on the lives of more than 60 million people.
As we mark this milestone in 2026, we carry forward twenty years of learning and a deep, globally grounded understanding of how to scale entrepreneurial solutions to absolute poverty in the decades ahead.
Discover more about eleaAfter nearly two decades of building and leading elea, Founder and Chairman Peter Wuffli and Founding Partner and CEO Andreas Kirchschläger will hand over operational leadership at the end of 2026. Andreas Kirchschläger will become Executive Chairman, while Adrian Ackeret, Partner and Chief Investment Officer, and Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh, Partner and Chief Financial Officer, will take over as Co-CEOs.
We combine start-up and early-growth financing with strategic support over a long time horizon, with the goal of catalyzing a measurable reduction in absolute poverty. Our approach is professional and systematic – from selecting ventures to measuring and scaling their impact.
We back entrepreneurs across four focus areas – agricultural value chains, climate and livelihoods, employable skills, and last-mile retail and services – thereby creating access to employment, markets, and resilient livelihoods.
Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right and a catalyst for resilience. Valuable contributions from partners like elea have played a key role in enabling Elucid’s growth and impact.
What struck me was what elea brings beyond capital: mentoring, support, and a deep relationship with entrepreneurs. That discipline and willingness to stay through the hard parts, this is exactly what Southeast Asia needs.
Interacting with other people on the BluLever campus and on construction sites helped me so much to grow. Now, I feel in charge and know that my opinion matters.
What fascinates me is where capital, entrepreneurship, and purpose meet: working alongside founders who are building solutions for underserved communities and channeling capital into businesses that create opportunity, dignity, and lasting impact.
A growing circle of over 65 philanthropic investors – individuals, families, foundations, and corporates – contributes capital, expertise, and networks that multiply elea’s reach and impact.
