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M-KOPA Posts First Ever Profit, Bets on E-Mobility for Next Growth Phase
The Nairobi-based fintech swung to a US$9.2 million profit in 2024 from a US$20.6 million loss the previous year, according to audited results seen by The Kenyan Wall Street.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Transportation
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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SACCOs, Social Collateral and Bitcoin Communities: A Filmmaker Documents New (and Old) Ways to Extend Financial Inclusion Past the Limits of Fintech
Luke Willms worked at an African NGO, where he was tasked with creating short videos to showcase the positive impacts of its microcredit program. But as the video project progressed, his assumptions about the effectiveness of microfinance began to unravel. He would spend the next seven years filming stories from across Africa and other regions, exploring whether microlending still held relevance in a rapidly changing world. The resulting documentary, “Unbankable,” was released last year, with the goal of helping to reframe the global conversation around financial inclusion. He shares key stories from the movie, which show how Africa’s informal, trust-based financial systems offer models of resilience and adaptation that could find new applications in other emerging countries.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Bangladesh Bank to Launch Instant Payment Platform with Gates Foundation Support
If successful, the initiative could be a turning point for Bangladesh’s financial sector - reducing costs, improving transparency, etc.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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African Payments Platform HoneyCoin Secures $4.9 Million Funding
Licensed in jurisdictions including the US, Canada, the EU and key African markets, it integrates directly with banks and telecom operators.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Nedbank to Acquire South African Fintech Firm iKhokha for $94 Million
Nedbank aims to boost its SME market presence through enhanced digital and inclusive financial services with the acquisition.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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South Africa’s Street Wallet Raises $350K to Bring Cashless Payments to Informal Economy
Founded by Kosta Scholiadis in 2021, Street Wallet is a mobile payment solution built for informal traders and service providers in South Africa.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Orange Money and JUMO Partner to Offer Small Loans Across Africa
Orange Money Group and banking-as-a-service financial provider JUMO have partnered to enhance digital financial services across Africa through a new small loan function.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Digital Finance Fuels Record Savings Growth in Developing Nations: World Bank
In 2024, formal saving in developing economies hit a decade high, driven by mobile and digital finance, with 40 percent using financial institutions.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Global
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