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Brazilian Consumer Credit Startup Open Co Raises $115m in SoftBank-led Round
Open Co, a São Paulo-based consumer credit company, announced today that it has raised $115 million in a round led by SoftBank Latin America Fund.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Latin America
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Santander to Invest $6 Billion in Digital Transformation in Latin America
Spain’s Santander will invest around $6 billion between 2022 and 2024 to promote digital transformation of its Latin American operations.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Latin America
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Accelerating Digital Transformation: Why Technology is the Key to Eliminating the MSME Finance Gap in Emerging Markets
According to the IFC, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging markets face a finance gap of $5.2 trillion every year. Since MSMEs are responsible for 70% of job opportunities in these countries, this gap must be addressed. According to Brian Pallas at Opportunity Network, that’s where digital technologies can offer a solution. He explores how emerging innovations offer alternative, tech-enabled means of financing for MSMEs, and how business leaders and policymakers can support these enterprises' digital transformation.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Bhub Secures $20 Million to Become LatAm Companies’ Back-Office Administrator
BHub announced Tuesday that it took in a new round of capital just three months after receiving $4.4 million in pre-seed investment to offer full back-office SaaS for small and medium businesses in Latin America.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Latin America
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Visa and Belvo Combine Efforts To Develop New Open Finance Capabilities in LataAm
Belvo, the open finance API platform in Latin America has partnered with Visa, the global paytech, to drive open finance in the region. The announcement follows Visa’s investment in Belvo’s Series A funding round which saw $43million raised.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Latin America
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India’s Unconventional COVID-19 Recovery: How Platformization and Digitalisation Can Build an Inclusive Post-Pandemic Economy
Most of India's labour force is employed in the informal sector, and these workers have faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: Over 78% of them lost their livelihoods in the initial lockdown, and many remain unemployed or underemployed. But Chhavi Banswal at Ola Mobility Institute highlights a silver lining behind these dark clouds – accelerated digitalisation and platformization. She explores how gig/platform workers have become a key part of the country's economy, and discusses a recent report showing how digital platforms can expand employment opportunities for all.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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The Ins and Outs of Launching a Digital Savings Product in Kenya: Regulatory Guidance for Fintech Startups
Kenya is among the most advanced markets in the world in terms of fintech innovation and digital financial services. But according to Abby Butkus at BFA Global's Catalyst Fund, this innovation has yet to extend to digital savings, where the uncertain regulatory environment requires startups to be creative in their approach. She discusses four ways startups are approaching the regulatory process for their digital savings products, and shares a set of guides Catalyst Fund has released to aid founders in navigating the regulatory environments in Kenya and other countries.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Indonesian Fintech Flip Secures $48 Million in Series B To Support Expansion
Flip, an Indonesia-based fintech startup, announced it has raised $48 million in a Series B to accelerate its growth.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia