NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Electric Mobility Startup Yulu Raises $82 Million in Series B Funding

Electric mobility startup Yulu has raised $82 million in a Series B funding round, led by mobility technology company, Magna International.

Source

Business Insider India (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Technology

Region

Asia Pacific

Tags

electricity, funding, mobility, startups, technology, transportation

Globacom’s Payment Service Bank Primed to Boost MSME Ecosystem in Nigeria

Central Bank of Nigeria has proposed Payment Service Banks aimed at deepening financial inclusion in Nigeria.

Source

The Will Nigeria (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Tags

financial inclusion, financial services, mobile money, MSMEs, small business, technology

Facebook Parent Meta Launches Startup Accelerator With India’s It Ministry in Metaverse Push Manish Singh

Meta Platforms is looking at India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem as it bolsters its bet on the metaverse.

Source

Tech Crunch (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Asia Pacific

Tags

accelerators, financial inclusion, innovation, startups, technology

‘Nearly Every Indicator of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals Is off Track’: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Report

This year's report, "The Future of Progress," especially noted the impact of the pandemic, wars in Ukraine and Yemen.

Source

The Hindu (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Coronavirus, Education, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Finance, Health Care, Investing, Technology, WASH

Region

Global

Tags

climate, poverty, SDGs, social impact, sustainability

Estonia and Ukraine to Collaborate on Digital ID Development

Estonia and Ukraine have signed a new cooperation agreement in Kyiv focused on fostering an exchange of knowledge in the field of digital transformation.

Source

Biometric Update (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Technology

Region

Europe & Eurasia

Tags

blockchain, crisis, digital identity, digital inclusion, fintech, technology

Colombian Fintech Start-Up Plurall Bags $20 Million Debt Funding

Plurall, a Latin American fintech start-up aiming to provide financial services for entrepreneurs, has raised $20 million in debt financing.

Source

Fintech Futures (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Latin America

Tags

digital, financial inclusion, fintech, funding, MSMEs, small business, startups

Press Release: Mesh-Grid Energizes Community in Nasarawa State at 30% Cost Saving Compared With Mini-Grid

Creeds Energy has energized 50 households in Bassa, Nasarawa State, with 24-hour solar energy access using mesh-grids from Okra Solar.

Source

Okra (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

clean energy, electricity, scale, solar, technology

R2 Closes $15 Million Series A Round to Provide Frictionless Credit to Small Businesses

87% of credit demand by small businesses in Latin America is unmet, and R2’s goal is to change this reality through an embedded lending infrastructure.

Source

LatamList (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Entrepreneurship, Finance, Technology

Region

Latin America

Tags

artificial intelligence, financial inclusion, funding, lending, small business