Lightrock, a private equity firm headquartered in London, has announced the launch of its $500 million fund named Accelerate7, aimed at scaling companies dedicated to energy access and clean cooking solutions. The fund will target growth-stage businesses in regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, investing between $10 million and $50 million per company. Key focus areas include electricity access, clean cooking, electric mobility, and energy storage. Notably, Accelerate7 has already made investments in several innovative companies, including SolarSquare, which specializes in residential rooftop solar systems, and Euler Motors, known for electric commercial vehicles. Ademidun Edosomwan, partner and head of energy access at Lightrock, highlighted that reliable energy access is crucial for economic development and quality of life improvements in the Global South. The fund has garnered backing from prominent investors and energy companies such as Shell, TotalEnergies, Equinor, and LGT, contributing to Lightrock's total climate-focused capital, which now nears $2 billion. Pal Erik Sjatil, managing partner and CEO of Lightrock, stated that the launch of Accelerate7 aligns with the firm's commitment to advancing energy transition and climate-focused investments.