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Staying Ahead of the Technical Assistance Curve: Six Lessons from Fintech Startups in India
India is at the forefront of inclusive fintech innovation. But it’s often difficult for Indian fintech startups to build and grow their businesses, while distributing the benefits of their work among their low-and middle-income (LMI) customers. MicroSave Consulting (MSC) is participating in a Financial Inclusion Lab, providing technical assistance to fintech startups serving India’s LMI segment. Authors at MSC share six key insights from their work that could be helpful both to startups, and to the investors, consultants and other organizations that support them.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance, Technology
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Flipkart Launches ‘Samarth’ to Empower Indian Artisans, Weavers, Craftsmen
This move will open up national market access for these underserved communities.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Getting Past Doubt: Finding Better Ways for Multinationals and SMEs to Intersect
Developing countries have become increasingly important to multinational companies, with foreign direct investment often outpacing development aid. Meanwhile, the 400 million micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in these countries are facing a wide variety of obstacles to growth. The new Catalyzing SGB Acceleration initiative, launched by TechnoServe and the Argidius Foundation, aims to find common ground between those two worlds. Juan Carlos Thomas and Annie Shoemaker at TechnoServe discuss the new project.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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The Challenges of Going Local: A Medical Device Innovator Faces the Reality of Manufacturing in Rural Africa
Like many enterprises working in emerging markets, Noor Medical wanted to manufacture its product locally. As COO Andrew Bonneau explains, a local approach promised many advantages, from lower costs to a better understanding of its customers. But the company soon learned that manufacturing in developing countries like Uganda is often easier said than done. Bonneau discusses the obstacles the company has faced, and how they've overcome them.
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- Health Care, Technology
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Press Release: Upaya Social Ventures Funds Its Latest Investments from A Recoverable Grant Pool
Upaya raised $2 million to expand its job-creating investments, including an innovative $1 million Pool of Recoverable Grants that was used to fund its latest two investments in agribusiness enterprises.
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- Press Release
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- South Asia
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Unlocking the Power of Informal Retailers: Mobile Solutions for Commercial and Social Impact in Emerging Markets
More than 61% of the world’s workers earn their living in the informal sector – and 93% of those are in emerging markets. This can lead to unique challenges for both informal retailers and their customers - and for the companies whose products these retailers sell. Analysts at Every1Mobile explore these challenges, and share how their organization and its partners are utilizing mobile-based platforms to help modernize informal trade and unlock economic welfare for low- and middle-income populations.
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- Entrepreneurship, Technology
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The Promise of e-Commerce in Africa Might Not Be Where We Think
E-commerce is often discussed in the context of consumers and customer satisfaction but for many investors and analysts most of their focus is spent looking under the hood—trying to understand how the retailer, which they really see as a logistics company, manages its supply chain.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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West Africa Finds an Unlikely Home in Silicon Valley
To bridge the gap between Nigeria’s technology and professional, on-the-job training in Silicon Valley, SVNED sponsored introductory and educational events in both shores. This helped immerse students, entrepreneurs, and dignitaries in the cultures, knowledge and business best practices of the Silicon Valley. Williams hopes to replicate such an ecosystem across the African continent.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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