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Lal10: This Startup Is Building the Alibaba of Indian Crafts Industry
Lal10 is a fast-growing wholesale cross-border sales platform for creative products from India to the world.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Financing to Boost Renewables, Energy Access and Efficiency in Côte D’Ivoire
EDFI ElectriFI has backed microfinance institution Fin’ELLE with a €1.5 million ($1.69 million) investment to boost renewable energy, energy access and energy efficiency in Côte d’Ivoire.
- Categories
- Energy, Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Where the ‘New Formal’ is the New Normal: Lessons on Innovation from India’s Artisan Economy
In India alone, over 200 million livelihoods are linked to the artisan economy, and the sector is a key source of employment for women and other marginalized groups. But according to Priya Krishnamoorthy and Aparna Subramanyam at 200 Million Artisans and Anandana Kapur at the Harvard Kennedy School, these largely informal creative businesses face systemic bias. They discuss the reasons for this lack of support, and explore a solution that leverages the advantages of informality and formality to empower these enterprises and the communities they serve.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
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Tugende Raises $17 Million in Debt to Expand Vehicle, Equipment Financing for MSMEs in Kenya, Uganda
Tugende, a financial technology (fintech) firm specializing in vehicle finance in Uganda and Kenya, recently raised USD 17 million in debt funding.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenyan Fintech Startup Paylend Raises $2 Million Seed Funding
Kenyan fintech startup Paylend has raised US$2 million in seed funding to expand operations at home and launch in Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- credit, financial inclusion, fintech, MSMEs, SMEs, technology
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Paylend, a Kenyan FinTech Company Raises $2 Million Seed Investment From Next Chymia Consulting HK Limited
Paylend, a Kenyan FinTech startup focused on providing access to finance and digitizing MSMEs in Kenya have today announced that it has raised a $2 million dollars seed investment from Next Chymia Consulting HK Limited.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Accelerating Digital Transformation: Why Technology is the Key to Eliminating the MSME Finance Gap in Emerging Markets
According to the IFC, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging markets face a finance gap of $5.2 trillion every year. Since MSMEs are responsible for 70% of job opportunities in these countries, this gap must be addressed. According to Brian Pallas at Opportunity Network, that’s where digital technologies can offer a solution. He explores how emerging innovations offer alternative, tech-enabled means of financing for MSMEs, and how business leaders and policymakers can support these enterprises' digital transformation.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance, Technology
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Asilimia Secures $2 Million To Build the Financial Infrastructure of Africa’s Informal Economy
Asilimia, a startup that is building the digital infrastructure to connect African MSMEs to the formal financial economy, has secured $2 million.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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