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South Africa Fintech Bridgement Raises $20 Million as Banks Back AI-Powered Business Lending
The RMB and Standard Bank funding enables Bridgement to expand its direct lending to SMEs and strengthen its position as a leading online business lender in South Africa.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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ADB, HDBank Sign $100 Million Loan to Expand Access to Finance for MSMEs, Women-Owned Businesses in Viet Nam
The financing will support HDBank’s medium- to long-term lending, with at least 40% of ADB’s financing directed to WMSMEs to provide more opportunities for women business owners. Proceeds will be on-lent to eligible MSMEs in line with HDBank’s sustainable finance framework, expanding support for underserved segments.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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TLG Capital Fund Reaches $120 Million Second Close
In the year since the fund’s $75 million first close in April 2025, AGIF II has already invested in nine SMEs across seven countries and seven sectors, with debt facilities ranging from $5 million to $15 million to each company.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Holocene Closes Southern Africa’s First Dedicated Climate-Tech Fund
Holocene targets promising, local founders at the earliest stages, but who lack capital and hands-on operational support to get them to scale, especially in a nascent sector such as climate-tech.
- Categories
- Environment, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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NiDCOM, Afretrade Launch $500 Billion Diaspora Investment Initiative to Empower African SMEs
The initiative seeks to harness the growing economic influence of Africans in the diaspora to drive investment, entrepreneurship, trade and sustainable development across the continent.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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First Circle Lands US $4.87 Million from Cathay United to Expand Philippine SME Loans
New financing gives First Circle fresh capacity to meet rising demand for working capital, business loans, and solar finance.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- business development, lending, MSMEs
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Press Release: IFC Anchors Highland Central Asia Fund II to Boost Private Equity and SME Financing in Central Asia
IFC is investing up to $10 million in Highland Central Asia Fund II to increase SME funding in Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Digital Africa Launches €30 Million Seed Fund
The fund will target 30 tech-enabled startups across 20 priority African countries.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- development finance, MSMEs, startups
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