-
Fintech startups took nearly a third of all African venture funding in 2017
While fintech is seen as disrupting the traditional financial sector in more advanced economies, in Africa it is bridging gaps that have not been addressed by the banking industry to begin with. Between 2015 and 2017, African fintech startups including names like Flutterwave and Paystack jointly raised more than $100 million.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Mastercard’s New Platform Helps Kenyan Micromerchants Get Credit–And Restock Faster
Without a financial history, small shop owners struggle to access loans. A new project from Mastercard helps them build up a track record of payments through digitizing their orders from local wholesalers.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Getting Real About Innovation: Why Accion’s U.S. Network Made the Leap to Digitize its Lending Operations
Technology can boost small businesses' access to finance, but can also risk trapping them in a cycle of debt. And for lenders serving lower-income entrepreneurs, these risks and rewards are more acute. Gina Harman, CEO of Accion’s U.S. Network, discusses its ambitious efforts to digitize lending operations across its national online platform in this podcast Q&A, exploring how established organizations can adapt to emerging technologies – without compromising their missions.
- Categories
- Finance
-
IFMR group looks to appoint investment banks for share sale
IFMR group, which provides financial services to lower income population and the companies serving this segment, plans to go public and is in talks to hire investment banks for the same, two people aware of the development said.
- Region
- South Asia
-
Report: Improved financial inclusion could boost global bank revenues by US$200b
Driving greater financial inclusion – the availability of affordable, accessible and relevant financial products – will generate sizeable economic benefits, according to the report, boosting GDP by up to 14% in developing economies such as India, and 30% in frontier markets such as Kenya.
-
Bono’s Fund Makes Its First Fintech Investment, Backing Acorns
Financial technology startups are grabbing a greater share of capital from investors. Now Bono is getting in on the action.
-
Perspective: Financial inclusion can leapfrog with blockchain technology
Positioned from the outset as an alternative to traditional banking mechanisms, Blockchain raised the possibility of a revolution in the world of financial technology, and the way money was controlled. Nine years on, we see different economies and industries across the globe still trying to understand and adopt the technology.
- Categories
- Finance
-
Citi Foundation and UP Foundation join to strengthen social entrepreneurship in the Philippines
The landmark program aims to develop certificate courses to help build and enhance capacities of practitioners in micro and small enterprise development in Central Luzon.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Asia Pacific
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.