by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Responsible Finance Forum; July 5-7, 3023; Bengaluru, India

Themed “Shaping a Responsible Digital Finance Ecosystem,” the upcoming edition of this event – the first in-person since 2019 – will focus on client protection to help “low-income and vulnerable” people reduce risks as they use financial tools. Although the detailed agenda has not yet been finalized, it is expected to include topics such as: (1) Balancing Responsible Finance Between

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Equity for Tanzania, New Holland to Lease Tractors to Small-scale Farmers

The Italy-based equipment manufacturer New Holland recently collaborated with leasing company Equity for Tanzania (EFTA) to deliver 200 tractors to Tanzania in an effort to enhance mechanization among small-scale farmers, improve agricultural productivity and strengthen food security. The effort includes

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Impact Forum; October 4-5, 2023; Copenhagen, Denmark

This event will address sustainable development via impact investing. The agenda offers sessions including: (1) Impact Analytics, Predictive and Optimization tools: What Does “Good” Impact Look Like?; (2) Designing the Future of

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: AgCelerant, Bank of Africa, IFC to Support Rice Value Chains in Senegal with Access to Loans, Insurance, Tools, Inputs

AgCelerant, the agricultural technology (agritech) service of Mauritius-based Manobi Africa, recently partnered with the Senegalese unit of the Bank of Africa Group and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) on an effort to

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Navigating the Future of Impact Investing in Asia; May 9, 2023; Hong Kong, China

Attendees at this conference will debate investing “with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return” in Asia and worldwide. The topics to be covered include: 1) the current status of the sector; 2) methods for

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Lab Accepting Applications from Entrepreneurs in Latin America, Caribbean for WeXchange Women STEMpreneurs Competition, Partner of Google for Startups, Through March 31

WeXchange, a program of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group’s IDB Lab, recently started accepting applications from female entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean for the WeXchange Women STEMpreneurs Competition. The competition targets women whose businesses

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Arohan of India Raises $11m in Equity from FMO to Expand Microfinance, Including via Technology

Arohan Financial Services, an India-based microfinance institution (MFI) offering credit and insurance services to groups, individuals and other MFIs, recently accepted an equity investment in local-currency equivalent to USD 11 million from the Dutch development bank Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO). Arohan plans to use the fresh capital

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Semaai Raises Equity from Accion, XA Network, Beenext, Surge for Technology Supporting Farmers, Agricultural MSMEs in Indonesia

Semaai, an Indonesia-based agricultural technology firm, recently obtained bridge funding in an equity raise led by Accion Venture Lab, a unit of US-based nonprofit Accion, and XA Network, a Singapore-based venture capital firm, with ongoing investors Beenext and Surge increasing their exposure to Semaai. Although the amount invested by each party has not been released, the goal

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: 25th MFC Annual Conference: Thriving Together; May 24-25, 2023; Budva, Montenegro

This event is organized with the goal of addressing evolving challenges such as climate change, political instability and the “uncertain future of work.” The agenda includes sessions such as: (1) 25th Anniversary Time Travel: Lessons From the Past That Point to

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Technology for Change Asia; March 20-21, 2023; Singapore

The third iteration of this annual event will focus on how technology “can be applied to long-standing social challenges to connect with the consumer.” The event offers virtual sessions on March 20 and in-person sessions on March 21 on topics including: (1) Unlocking the Power of

by Ben Barba -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Ebanx Acquires Payment Initiator License, Accessing Pix to Simplify E-commerce Purchases in Brazil

Ebanx, a Brazil-based payments company with operations in 15 countries, recently received authorization from the Banco Central de Brasil, Brazil’s central bank, to use the bank’s instant payments platform Pix. This follows Ebanx’s acquisition of a Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP) license from

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IMBE Using Finbit Technology from L-IFT to Support Child Care Providers in South Africa

Low-income Financial Transformation (L-IFT), a Netherlands-based firm, recently entered into an agreement with South Africa’s Imbe Enterprise Incubator whereby Imbe will provide L-IFT’s Finbit financial tracking software to its clients. The goal is to reach all of Imbe’s clients, who are primarily Black women who operate creches – child care facilities – in low-income neighborhoods. Finbit helps its users

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Yabx Raising Equity to Expand Backoffice Fintech for Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

Verdant Capital, a Mauritius-based corporate finance firm, recently announced that it is raising equity financing for Yabx Technologies, a Netherlands-based provider of software that enables digital lending, to expand its operations in Nigeria. The company helps

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Kwara of Kenya Raises $3m in Equity to Boost Technology for SACCOs, Acquires KUSCCO Software Subsidiary

Kwara, a woman-led financial technology (fintech) company serving credit unions in Kenya, the Philippines and South Africa, recently raised USD 3 million from its previous investors DOB Equity, Globivest and Willard Ahdritz plus a group of

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Oikocredit Loans Yellow of Uganda $5m for Off-grid Solar Energy in Africa

Oikocredit, a Netherlands-based cooperative, recently lent USD 5 million to Yellow, a Uganda-based supplier of pay-as-you-go solar electricity products and systems, to expand its operations in sub-Saharan Africa. Pay-as-you-go services are those