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African startups slowly realize value of informal economies
The company’s chief executive officer (CEO) Vahid Monadjem says as one of the largest and least well-served parts of African economies there are numerous opportunities for companies offering solutions to informal markets. “The two areas that I see the most immediate opportunities are in financial services and logistics. Within financial services, payments is still a massive opportunity, and increasingly there are new opportunities becoming possible as payments rails go deeper such as micro-insurance, savings, on-demand products…” he said.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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India has a new bank designed specifically for Indians afraid of banks
“In our surveys, one feedback was that several customers from the economically weaker sections found big banks intimidating. They were skeptical of how they will be treated,” said Rishi Gupta, managing director & CEO of FINO PayTech. “Therefore, we have tried to become a neighbourhood bank with the look and feel of a mom & pop store where the customer can walk in without hesitating.”
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Report: Reaching deep in low-income markets
This report was developed jointly by Monitor Deloitte, the MacArthur Foundation, the Omidyar Network, and the Rockefeller Foundation to help provide transparency and guidance to advance the broader field of funding for businesses serving the deep BOP.
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- Uncategorized
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Want to Know How to Properly Measure Financial Inclusion? Copy the Retailers.
To better understand and measure how people use financial services, i2i looked outside the industry to the retail sector, which is at the forefront of how to collect and analyze data on how consumers engage with their services. In particular, retailers understand key usage indicators fundamental to their business; namely recency, frequency, monetary value and duration. That led i2i to apply these indicators while studying how to improve financial services.
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- Uncategorized
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Digital transactions slowing down in India after initial demonetisation rush
The currency ban widened the use of debit cards. The average value of card payments fell drastically, showing that they were used even for small value purchases.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- digital payments
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Vodafone Albania brings curtain down on M-Pesa
A notice sent by the operator to its M-Pesa users revealed the service will cease operations on 14 July. Customers will have until 29 July to withdraw any funds lodged with the service from any Vodafone Albania retail store.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Sub-Saharan Africa to Surpass Half a Billion Mobile Subscribers by End of Decade, Finds New GSMA Study
“Sub-Saharan Africa will be a key engine of subscriber growth for the world’s mobile industry over the next few years as we connect millions of previously unconnected men, women and young people across the continent,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech
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MetLife Foundation & Verb Launch Competition To Accelerate Financial Innovation In Egypt & Lebanon
The competition launches in Egypt & Lebanon this week and will attract participants that have an innovative idea or solution to empower the nearly 50 million Egyptians and Lebanese that manage their day-to-day financial lives without a bank account.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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