Accion Venture Lab

Accion Venture Lab

Accion Venture Lab is a leading global early-stage investor in inclusive fintech startups. We believe access to well-designed, affordable financial services allows low-income individuals and small businesses around the world to grow and prosper.

Investing since 2012, and backed by third-party commercial and impact investors, Accion Venture Lab has invested in more than 60 innovative, early-stage companies operating in over 35 countries. We provide inclusive fintech startups with smart capital, taking a hands-on approach through active governance and our unique Portfolio Engagement function, which provides targeted strategic and operational support to our portfolio companies. We typically invest up to US $1M in early-stage startups and can continue to support companies as they grow through follow-on capital that drives scale. We look for startups that are leveraging new technologies, data, and analytical tools to acquire, engage, and serve previously underserved individuals and small businesses. We like innovations in product, customer acquisition, and engagement approaches, and we support cutting-edge startups in embedded finance as well as the intersection of financial services and other sectors (agriculture, logistics, commerce, education, health, etc). We are excited about new approaches that focus on financial health and building financial capabilities as they provide critical products and services to consumers.

Accion Venture Lab portfolio

Accion Venture Lab partners

In addition to Accion’s capital contributions, Accion Venture Lab is backed by third-party commercial and impact investors that share our commitment to early-stage inclusive fintech startups. Our fund’s Limited Partners include FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank; the Ford Foundation; the ImpactAssets Giving Fund of Blue Haven Initiative; Heifer Foundation; MetLife Foundation; Open Society Foundations; Pace Able Foundation; Proparco, the French Development Agency (AFD)’s private sector financing arm; Prudential Financial; Stichting Hivos-Triodos Fund, managed by Triodos Investment Management; and Visa Inc. (NYSE: V).

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What we invest in

Are you an inclusive fintech startup?

Accion Venture Lab focuses on for-profit enterprises with new products or business models that expand the range of high-quality financial services for underserved populations. Companies need not have significant revenue traction but should be post-research and development, have a full-time entrepreneur or team in place, and, ideally, have a pilot or prototype in the market. We are focused on opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and the U.S., but will invest globally if the team and idea are right.

Interested in learning more about Accion Venture Lab?