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Y Combinator-Backed Drip Capital Crosses $1 Billion Milestone in Trade Financing for Small Businesses
Credit and Finance for MSMEs: Drip has recorded a 50 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth in the last three quarters, according to Co-founder and CEO Pushkar Mukewar.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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2020 MOST INFLUENTIAL ARTICLE CANDIDATE: Insurance in the Age of COVID-19: The Pandemic Highlights the Need for a New Approach
With much of the world on lockdown due to COVID-19, many businesses are closing down – either temporarily or permanently – with devastating effects on individual welfare and entire economies. This has amplified the importance of insurance, says Kate Rinehart-Smit at Cenfri. She explores how the sector can make a greater impact – not only on the resilience of businesses and individuals, but on broader economic development.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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$500 Million Asian Development Bank Loan to Expand Financial Inclusion in Indonesia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to support the Government of Indonesia's efforts to expand financial access among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and marginalized groups such as women and youth.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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An Unlevel Playing Field: Why Small Businesses Face Disadvantages in Digital Commerce – and How Inclusive Tech Innovations Could Help
One reason COVID-19 has been so damaging to global micro and small enterprises (MSEs) is that consumers have shifted towards purchasing online – a change that has mainly benefited large corporations. According to Malika Anand at BFA's Catalyst Fund, making digital commerce more inclusive could help these businesses survive and grow in the long term. She shares research from Ghana that highlights several promising opportunities for digital commerce innovations that can benefit informal MSEs.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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Lack of Capital is Just the Beginning: Why Roof-Top Solar is Facing Greater Challenges Than Many People Think
The solar energy sector is dynamic and growing – but as Rik Teeuwen at Footlight International points out, it's also unsettled, as off-grid solar players navigate challenges ranging from lack of finance to inconsistent regulation. In light of those issues, he pushes back on the argument, expressed by candi solar CEO Philippe Flamand on NextBillion earlier this year, that rooftop solar is a “no-brainer” for micro, small and medium enterprises. The truth, he says, is far more nuanced.
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The Development Bank of Rwanda Spearheads Economic Inclusion Among Refugees
The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) has secured $9 million (over Rwf8.5 billion) from the World Bank to finance entrepreneurial projects initiated by refugees in Rwanda.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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A Boon for Online Commerce: How COVID-19 is Transforming the Industry in Bangladesh
COVID-19 has been merciless to the world and its economy in general. But according to analysts at MicroSave (MSC), it has boosted a few sectors – like digital/contactless payments, e-commerce and Facebook commerce (or f-commerce). They explore how the pandemic is accelerating the online commerce industry in Bangladesh, and how regulators and other stakeholders can support its growth.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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Press Release: BlueOrchard Announces the Launch of a COVID-19 Support Fund That Aims To Support More Than 200 Million Jobs in Emerging and Frontier Markets
BlueOrchard Finance Ltd (BlueOrchard), a leading impact investment manager and member of the Schroders Group, is pleased to announce the launch of the “BlueOrchard Covid-19 Emerging and Frontier Markets MSME Support Fund."
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
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