-
Vittana to “cease to exist as a standalone organization”: The education-focused P2P microlender will wind down in its current form, its CEO says
“One of our founding beliefs was that once we reached scale, we could do our work sustainably, without shifting costs and risk onto the students,” wrote CEO Robin Wolander in announcing Vittana’s wind-down. “But after five years ... we haven’t found a robust business model to wean ourselves off that support.”
- Categories
- Education
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
-
The Eternal Struggle of Microfinance: The Microcredit Summit raised questions about the sector’s future – but does anyone have an answer?
As last week’s Microcredit Summit wrapped up in Mexico, the topics of over-indebtedness and high interest rates reared their ugly heads. The final day served up a riveting debate that pitted a representative of a Mexican microfinance network against one of the sector’s most vocal critics. The questions raised were crucial to the future of microfinance - but the answers remain elusive.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
-
Next generation of microfinance: Leveraging Indonesian experience
The history of microfinance institutions in Indonesia dates back more than 100 years.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
Mexico summit pledges to serve microfinance clients better
The 17th Microcredit Summit held in Merida, Mexico, last week discussed ways to better serve the next generation of clients and promote client-centred microfinance.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Latin America
-
Weekly Roundup 9/5/14 – Recharging Batteries: It’s good to go to conferences, even for editors
There’s a reason groups go to such lengths to organize conferences, and people from all over the world attend them: They’re a great place to recharge batteries and recalibrate goals. It works for editors, too.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- microfinance
-
Voices from the Summit: Eight quotes from prominent speakers on Day 2 of this week’s Microcredit Summit
By Day 2 of this week’s Microcredit Summit, we’d interviewed eight leaders and innovators in microfinance – from trenchant critics to the sector’s elder statesman, Muhammad Yunus. We’ve compiled eight quotes – one from each interview – which give a sample of some of the topics under discussion at the conference.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Microfinance’s Irresistible Story: Already mythic in scope, the next chapter’s under way as the 17th Microcredit Summit begins
The development of the microfinance sector has followed a story arc that’s almost mythic in scope, including lots of good things and plenty of bad. Now, the sector is trying to write the next chapter – and events at this week’s 17th Microcredit Summit in Mexico will no doubt be included.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
‘The Next Frontier of Financial Services’ (Part 2): Why some m-insurance models have more upside than others, according to BFA’s Jeremy Leach
"The (m-insurance models) that look best are the loyalty and ‘freemium’ models at this stage, primarily because consumers need the market-making capabilities of experiencing their product first, before they are willing to pay for it," says Jeremy Leach of BFA, in the second of a two-part series on microinsurance. He explores the risks and benefits of m-insurance in this Q&A.
- Categories
- Technology
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.