-
Franchise model ideal to ensure financial inclusivity in Africa – Zoona
There are regions in Africa where money merchants trade on the side of the road, armed with huge stacks of both US dollars and their local currency, where cash is exchanged so rapidly, so effectively that it barely gets noticed. People go about their business - hardly acknowledging what to many foreigners would probably seem somewhat unusual. But this is the reality of Africa's unbanked, informal but money-intensive market in 2017 - one that mobile payments firm Zoona is looking to target with infrastructure and services.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
It’s Amazon versus Alibaba versus Softbank in world’s fastest-growing e-commerce market
Recently published a piece headlined 'India’s e-commerce battle is not Indian anymore' that highlighted the battle between Amazon and China's Alibaba Group in the world's fastest-growing e-commerce market.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
-
World Bank Group Launches New Program to Support Africa’s Top Digital Entrepreneurs
The World Bank Group (www.WorldBank.org) launched XL Africa (www.XL-Africa.com), a five-month business acceleration program designed to support the 20 most promising digital start-ups from Sub-Saharan Africa. Start-ups will receive mentoring from global and local experts, learn through a tailor-made curriculum, increase their regional visibility, and get access to potential corporate partners and investors. With support from prominent African investment groups, XL Africa will help the 20 selected start-ups attract early stage capital between $250,000 and $1.5 million.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech
-
IntelleGrow in talks to raise $100m via debt, equity in next few months
With its eyes set on doubling its assets under management to Rs 640 crore ($99 million) this year, venture debt firm IntelleGrow is in talks with investors to raise $100 million through debt and equity.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
-
Ex-Safaricom chief Joseph set to leave Vodafone
Former Safaricom #ticker:SCOM chief executive Michael Joseph is set to step down as Vodafone’s director of mobile money later this year as part of a wider plan to disengage from all his full-time roles at the telecom giant. Mr Joseph, who is the chairman of Kenya Airways #ticker:KQ, is also set to relinquish his non-executive director positions at Vodafone’s African subsidiaries — Vodacom Mozambique, Vodacom Tanzania and Vodacom Group South Africa.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
India: Hero Enterprises to invest $15.5m in Aavishkaar Bharat Fund
Hero Enterprises today announced a Rs 100 crore ($15.5 million) investment in impact investor Aavishkaar’s new fund, the Aavishkaar Bharat Fund. Aavishkaar Bharat Fund is the investor’s sixth fund, and is a SEBI registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund. The firm is aiming to raise Rs 2,000 Crore ($310 million) for this fund, through which it will invest in businesses engaging with the underserved population in sectors.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- fintech
-
How Liberia’s New Generation Of Female Entrepreneurs Is Revitalizing The Economy
As a child, Odelia Acolyte fled her home of Liberia to neighboring Nigeria to escape the bloodshed of civil war. But she returned home frequently to visit family and always felt that what would help people in her country most would be to give them a job. “When I would go home, I would always find people sitting around,” says Acolyte, “I wanted to be part of change in society.”
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Accion Report Shows How Leveraging Data Can Lead to Greater Financial Inclusion
Accion released a report that charts a path for FSPs to use data to accelerate financial inclusion and improve their business operations. This report, developed by Accion with the support of the Citi Foundation, details the steps providers can take to lay the groundwork for big data and advanced analytics by improving their ability to generate, analyze, and respond to data of any size – starting with the information and data they already have – to help extend high-quality financial services to the underserved.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- data, financial inclusion
Subscribe to Our 'Business in Global Development' Newsletter!
Our new weekly LinkedIn newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with curated news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage of impact-focused business in emerging markets.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.