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Press release: MIT and Mastercard Foundation Launch 2018 Zambezi Prize for Innovation in Financial Inclusion
The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, today announced the launch of the 2018 edition of the Zambezi Prize for Innovation in Financial Inclusion. The prestigious competition, awarding a total of $200,000 in prizes, was established to discover Africa’s most promising and innovative early-stage start-ups that promote and advance financial inclusion on the continent.
- Source
- Press release
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Resilient Ivorian Lynda Aphing-Kouassi: From investment banker to social entrepreneur
Resilient Ivorian social entrepreneur, Lynda Aphing-Kouassi established her business, Kaizene in 2014 to service private and public sector enterprises in applying their human resources.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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“Impact” versus “returns-driven” investing in Africa
2017 was the best year on record for African tech startups in funding terms, with 159 companies from across the continent securing a combined total of US$195 million.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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“Impact” versus “returns-driven” investing in Africa
2017 was the best year on record for African tech startups in funding terms, with 159 companies from across the continent securing a combined total of US$195 million. This is according to the latest Disrupt Africa African Tech Startups Funding Report, which tells a very positive story of the continent’s increasing appeal to investors.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- impact investing
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Equitel launches mobile-based insurance in Kenya
Equitel subscribers will now have access to a mobile-based insurance product, called Riziki Cover. According to the company, the solution aims to ease the financial burden associated with lost daily income from one’s employment or personal business in case they are admitted to hospital.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- insurance, mobile finance
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Kenya is finally softening its stance on blockchain technology
Kenya has for years regarded blockchain technology and digital currencies with suspicion, comparing bitcoin to a “pyramid scheme,” and emphasizing that it had no legal footing.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- blockchain, cryptocurrency
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Rwanda’s central bank urges MFIs to automate to reduce bad loans
The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) has called on microfinance institutions (MFIs) across the country to embrace automation and reduce the rate of bad loans before the end of the year.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Multinationals yielding to allure of M-Pesa
For a while, Google required consumers in Kenya to pay for apps and games bought from its Play Store and Game Store using credit cards, as though they were in developed countries such as the US where there is a widespread use of cards.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech