-
The Fourth Industrial Revolution: How Big Data and Machine Learning Can Boost Inclusive Fintech
It's easier and cheaper to generate data than ever before, and the tools to turn data into insights are growing exponentially. So much so, according to Matt Grasser of BFA, that any organization dealing with data that does not apply machine learning will be left behind. He explores the experiences of Destacame.cl, a fintech startup, in using machine learning to help identify good and bad payers based on a score.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
-
Social Business Roundup: Scrutinizing a $30M Cookstove Study, the Limits of Silicon Valley and TV from the Sun
A $30 million study looking into using liquified petroleum gas in clean cookstoves has some 'stovers' heated up, why apps won't stop pandemics and why the time may be right for solar TV. It's all in our weekly roundup of social business news.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Health Care, Impact Assessment, Technology
- Tags
- climate health, solar
-
Helping Microfinance Clients to Save: Are Incentives a Solution?
La Ceiba is a microfinance institution that serves low-income clients in rural Honduras, where the combination of distance, cost and knowledge gaps discourages clients from opening and maintaining a savings account. The MFI decided to leverage small incentives and special training to address those challenges; here's how they did it and what they learned along the way.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
A Tale of Four IPOs: Is Public Investment in Microfinance Becoming OK Again?
Initial public offerings have long been a controversial topic in microfinance, and rightly so. The early IPOs of Compartamos and SKS Microfinance made a lot of money for investors and turbocharged the sector's growth, but also sparked hyper commercialization and debt crises that rocked the industry. But last year, two Indian MFIs had successful IPOs that have garnered a much more positive reception. We spoke with Daniel Rozas of the European Microfinance Platform and Anna Kanze of Grassroots Capital Management about how these four offerings differed, and what they could mean for the future of public investment in microfinance, in this podcast.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Microfinance for Refugee Populations: What We’ve Learned and Where to Go Next
Currently, 21.3 million people are registered with United Nations agencies as refugees, and their financial inclusion has become a matter of importance and urgency. The Social Performance Task Force has been working to identify the refugees' needs and recently compiled some guidelines, “Serving Refugee Populations: The Next Financial Inclusion Frontier,” for financial service providers.
- Categories
- Finance
-
TODAY at 10:00 AM EST: Twitter Chat on IPOs in Microfinance – Join at #MFICHAT
NextBillion is excited to announce our first-ever Twitter chat, which will take place at 10:00 AM EST on Jan. 30. The topic, Initial Public Offerings in microfinance, tends to inspire heated opinions, so the chat will follow a quasi-debate format, with Anna Kanze of Grassroots Capital Management, Daniel Rozas of the European Microfinance Platform, and Chuck Waterfield, formerly of MicroFinance Transparency, providing contrasting views. You can follow the conversation at #MFICHAT.
- Categories
- Investing
-
MobileODT’s Goal: Making Cervical Cancer Screening Available to Every Woman, Everywhere – at a Profit
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, but most of those deaths could be prevented through early detection. MobileODT has developed a low-cost colposcope that uses smartphones to replace more complex and expensive cervical screening systems. Here, CEO and cofounder Ariel Beery talks his company's plans to reach billions of people in both developed and developing countries.
- Categories
- Health Care
-
Social Business Roundup: An SDG Lovefest at Davos, a New Rival for M-Pesa and a Really Big Direct Investment Fund
Has the World Economic Forum in Davos lost its relevance? Not to the folks gathered there this week who were knee-deep in talk about sustainable investing and social enterprise. Those discussions are only the start of a jam-packed Roundup this week. There's also a new mobile platform by MasterCard that could rival M-Pesa in Kenya, plans for a $2 billion direct investment fund, and plenty more ...
- Categories
- Agriculture, Health Care
