-
Bharat Financial begins Aadhaar-based cashless loan disbursal in India
In a first of its kind move in the micro-finance and financial-inclusion space, Bharat Financial Inclusion on Wednesday launched Aadhaar-based instant and cashless loan disbursal. It took less than seven minutes for 30-year-old Guddi Devi to apply and receive ₹29,565 loan for a new grocery shop she intends to set up.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
-
M-Pesa: Kenya’s mobile money success story turns 10
Smartphone payments are gaining ground in the US, but mobile money is old news in Kenya. The majority of the East African country's population is subscribed to a mobile payment service, and the most popular choice is M-Pesa, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in March 2017. M-Pesa -- "pesa" means "money" in Swahili -- has made a dramatic impact over this time.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Grameen America, Citi and Mastercard Collaborate on Financial Inclusion for Female Entrepreneurs
Grameen America, a leading nonprofit microfinance organization, today announced a collaboration with Citi and Mastercard to introduce a number of financial technology solutions that will greatly enhance the organization’s ability to promote digital financial access and inclusion for more than 86,000 low-income minority women entrepreneurs across the United States.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
-
Harvard Business School’s Venture Competition to Offer a Record $300,000 in Prizes to Student Businesses, Social Enterprises, and Alumni Ventures
In April, Harvard students and alumni will compete for $300,000 in cash prizes to fund their startup dreams in the 20th Anniversary New Venture Competition. Past competition winners and participants will also return to campus for programs and a celebratory 20th Anniversary New Venture Competition Finale on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, HBS said in a statement.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Eat This Peanut Butter, Help Save A Child’s Life
If you order chocolate pretzel peanut spread from a tiny startup based in Boulder, Colorado, you could help save a toddler's life in South Sudan.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- nutrition
-
A highly preventable disease with a vaccine is silently killing Indian women in their prime
A cancer with an effective vaccine is killing thousands of women. Last year, nearly 70,000 Indians died of cervical cancer, more than anywhere else in the world. It’s the second-most common cancer among women in the country, accounting for 23% of all cases. It’s a hidden disease, often taking 20 years to show itself.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- public health
-
New Guide Helps Countries Assess Immunization Financing Options
Today, a new resource guide, Immunization Financing: A Resource Guide for Advocates, Policymakers, and Program Managers, was released to provide practical advice to low- and middle-income countries seeking to mobilize resources for immunization programs. The guide offers 26 briefs, including eight country case studies, to assist countries looking to sustainably finance immunization.
- Categories
- Health Care
-
These 3 Healthcare Startups Are Tapping Into India’s Soon-To-Be Booming IoT Market
Just like the dot com buzz, Internet of Things (IoT) has caught everyone’s attention in India. The excitement further spiked when the Indian government announced its plans to create a $15 billion IoT market in the country. IoT is an ecosystem of connected physical objects that are accessible through the Internet.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.