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Omidyar Network Led $2.8 Mn Seed Funding Round In Fintech Startup Kaleidofin
Chennai-based fintech startup Kaleidofin has raised over $2.8 Mn in seed funding from Omidyar Network. Blume Ventures and individual investors – including Israeli serial entrepreneur and inventor, Professor Shlomo Ben-Haim – have also participated in the round. This is Professor Ben-Haim’s first investment in India.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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Press release: Duke’s Community-Based Toilet System Begins Testing in India
The system is designed to reuse water, a huge plus in drought-prone areas. And while it does require a modest power supply, these needs can be met through solar panels or other off-grid solutions. The end goal is a stand-alone system that can help meet the needs of the 2.4 billion people who lack access to safe and effective sanitation.
- Categories
- Health Care, WASH
- Region
- South Asia
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Reserve Bank of India bars banks from links to cryptocurrencies like bitcoin
RBI, however, has set up a group to study and provide guidance on the desirability and feasibility of introducing a central bank digital currency.
- Region
- South Asia
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Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and International Trade Centre ink Memorandum of Understanding for mutual cooperation
Rob Skidmore, Chief, Sector and Enterprise Competitiveness Division of Enterprises and Institutions, ITC, said, “ITC is delighted to combine our knowledge of SME competitiveness and value chains with PPAF’s deep expertise in grass roots development SME competitiveness and improving value chains and PPAF’s deep expertise in grass roots development to make a real difference in the lives of the poor.”
- Region
- South Asia
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An Indian startup wants to produce water from thin air using solar energy
If things go according to the Hyderabad-based startup’s plan, its technology to convert atmospheric moisture into usable—even potable—water will be available for household use in around two years from now.
- Categories
- WASH
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- startups
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Pakistan Government to Set up $75 Million Fund for Small Borrowers, Microentrepreneurs
The government has decided to set up a $75-million fund at the State Bank of Pakistan for borrowers interested in setting up small businesses, which is also expected to attract people to vote for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the upcoming general elections.
- Region
- South Asia
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How poor rural women drove Bandhan Bank’s spectacular stock market debut
Bandhan Bank, established less than three years ago, is one of India’s newest banks. Still, it just completed a highly successful initial public offering, or IPO, which has put it at the forefront of Indian banking.
- Region
- South Asia
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Spate Of Defaults In Microfinance Securitisation Transactions Raises Concern in India
The similarity of borrowers from microfinance institutions (MFIs), in terms of their vulnerability to socio political events, financial literacy and credit behaviour, renders the microfinance sector susceptible to any kind of adverse idiosyncratic event and more so in case of a system-wide event such as demonetisation.
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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