-
Verdant Capital Expands Investment in LOLC Africa to $13.5 Million, Boosting MSME Financing Across the Continent
"Recognised as one of the world’s leading microfinance groups, LOLC targets customers at the “bottom of the pyramid” by improving access to financial services and increasing customer deposits across underserved communities."
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Ending the Vicious Circle in PAYGo Solar: How Companies and Investors Can Move the Sector Toward ‘PAYGo 2.0’
The Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) solar industry is facing decreases in both sales and investment capital, as rising customer default rates are driving a vicious circle of worsened unit economics and higher product prices. However, as Dan Murphy and Willem Nolens at PAYGo Lab explain, some companies are thriving by implementing systems to improve customer selection, education and support — an approach often referred to as "PAYGo 2.0." They analyze the industry’s challenges and share key lessons and best practices that can enhance its operational efficiency, financial resilience and sustainable growth.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Finance, Investing
-
Beams Fintech Fund Joins Infinity Fincorp’s USD $40 Million Funding Round
With a pan-India presence spanning 127 branches across eight states, Infinity Fincorp claims to have grown its loan book to INR 1,100+ crores as of January 2025.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
Cambodia, Malaysia Launch Phase 2 of Cross-Border QR Payment System
According to the NBC, the launch is expected to enhance cross-border payment options, particularly for Malaysians travelling to Cambodia.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
-
Flutterwave CEO Targets Profitability ‘This Year’
Flutterwave, which has secured investment from Visa and US firm Tiger Global, among others, has built its success on processing payments for clients such as Uber and Nigerian airline Air Peace.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Ex-network International Execs Raise $6.75 Million for Enza, an African Fintech Serving Banks
The fintech, which has raised $6 million in seed funding, is building infrastructure for banks and fintechs, offering a range of local payment solutions, from cards to wallets to real-time payments.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech, infrastructure, MSMEs, scale, startups
-
Fueling Change: The Multiple Impacts of Increasing Liquefied Petroleum Gas Usage in Rural India
To address the negative impacts of cooking with biomass fuel, the Indian government launched a program in 2018 that offers free access to a clean gas cookstove and a refillable cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). But as Shobhit Mishra and Vaishaly Shrimall at MSC explain, the program faced logistical challenges that limited uptake among rural households. They explore the barriers that hinder the adoption of gas cooking in rural India, and discuss the impact of an MSC program that leverages self-help groups to boost LPG uptake while creating entrepreneurship opportunities for local women.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Finance
-
Analysis: AI’s Promise: A New Era for Financial Inclusion
Leveraged properly, this AI revolution holds immense promise for financial inclusion.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Global
The Best of NextBillion in Your Inbox Each Week!
Subscribe to NB Notes for news, jobs & on-the-ground insights from the world of emerging markets business.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.