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PayPal Participates in $30m Round in Acorns Micro-Investing App
Acorns, the micro-investing app that allows users to invest their ‘spare change’ or ‘acorns’ in an automated manner, has today announced a $30 million round of financing. It was obtained from PayPal and with participation from the Rakuten Tech Fund and existing investors e.ventures and Greycroft Partners to help the company expand its partnerships and automated investment features, according to a company press release.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Tags
- fintech
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Microlender Ujjivan Eyes $375M Valuation in IPO
Bengaluru-based microfinance firm Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd is seeking a valuation of as much as Rs 2,500 crore ($375 million) in an initial public offering that opens on April 28.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- microfinance
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Tanzania Deploys the First Mobile Money Monitoring Solution for Regulatory Authorities in the World
As Mobile Money services continue to grow in popularity in the United Republic of Tanzania, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has had the foresight to implement a technological platform to enable the monitoring of mobile money services in the country. The Mobile Money Monitoring (M3) platform provided through the joint efforts of SGS-Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) and Global Voice Group (GVG) and inaugurated in 2015 by the Hon Prof Makame M. Mbarawa, Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, is making this possible. Tanzania is now the first country—in the East African region, and also in the entire world—to implement a Mobile Money monitoring solution.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech, regulations
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Guadalajara Startup Kueski Scores Largest Fintech Investment in Mexico History With $35 Million
Guadalajara microloan startup Kueski announced a massive funding series over the weekend, bringing in $35 million with the potential to increase that to $100 million. The Series A round was led by Richmond Global Ventures, Rise Capital, the CrunchFund and Variv Capital. It also included Victory Park Capital, Angel Ventures Mexico, Core Ventures Group and Auria Capital.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Latin America
- Tags
- fintech, lending, microfinance
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The Quest for a Malaria Vaccine Continues
The 2016 World Malaria Report estimates that there were approximately 215 million cases of malaria and 438,000 deaths in 2015. The majority of deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and among young children, and malaria remains endemic in around 100 countries with over three billion people at risk. Over the past 15 years there have been major gains in reducing the global burden of malaria; however, it continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity globally. The 25th of April marks World Malaria Day, highlighting key issues in the fight against this major disease. Plasmodium falciparum causes the bulk of malaria, with P. vivax being a second major cause. World Malaria Day 2016 highlights the need for innovation to develop effective vaccines, new drugs, and better diagnostics to ensure continued success towards malaria elimination.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- vaccines
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Yunus Centre Trashes Report on US Fund
Yunus Centre in a statement yesterday protested a news article, saying neither Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus received funds from the USAID personally, nor the Grameen companies got funds because of his friendship with former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
- Categories
- Investing
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#WorldMalariaDay: Report – Six African Nations Could be Malaria-free by 2020
Within the next four years, six nations in Africa – the region where malaria is most prominent – could be free of the disease, the World Health Organization said in a report published Monday to mark World Malaria Day.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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#WorldMalariaDay Opinion: We can beat malaria if we move faster
Vector control has been an important weapon in the fight against malaria. Indoor residual sprays and treated bed nets are now in use widely across Africa and Asia to kill mosquitoes and protect people. However, the Anopheles mosquito, the vector that transmits malaria to humans, is becoming increasingly resistant to pyrethroids, one of the most commonly used insecticides.
- Categories
- Health Care
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