Latin America and The Caribbean

India

South Asia

Brazil

East Asia and Pacific

Indonesia

Kenya

Sub-Saharan Africa

North America

United States

Access Usage Gap

Credit

Delivery Channels

Digital Credit

Digital Financial Services

Enabling Environment

Financial Service Providers

Trends

Underserved Groups

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Challenges and Crises

Financial Technology

Fintechs

Impact Investing

MSME/SME Finance

Human Centered Design

Women

Consumer Credit

Entrepreneurs of MSMEs

Customer Centricity

Partnerships

Payments

Supply Chain Finance

Responsible Investing

Rural Populations

Smallholder Farmers

Social Impact Metrics

Aging and Older Adults

Education Finance

Youth

Consumer Protection

Financial Inclusion Strategy

Insurance

Insurance Companies

Responsible Digital Finance

Podcast

USAID

Entrepreneurs are working worldwide to build financial solutions across credit, payments, and insurance so small business owners can better access financial services. Embedded finance is evolving quickly, and its capabilities are widening. In this episode, Amee Parbhoo sits down with four CEOs at the <a href="https://www.accion.org/fintech-for-inclusion-global-summit-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit</a> to hear how their companies are building embedded finance solutions that uniquely reach underserved populations across the globe. 

Each panelist shares why they chose to develop embedded finance solutions and how it gives small business owners access to credit and payment solutions. Then, they discuss the importance of transparency around pricing and between partners, how to combat the risks around data privacy, how to make the value proposition work for end customers and offer solutions that simplify the technical integration processes. 

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accion-venture-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>. 

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/6MpJqLHi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="size-large wp-image-27357 aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/FFTP_ep1_3-1024x576.png" alt="podcast graphic with headshots" width="1024" height="576" />

How platforms fuel the adoption of embedded finance

We’ve talked with industry leaders about blockchain, web3, and cryptocurrency’s potential impact on financial inclusion. Now the question arises: what do we do now? In this final episode of Season 3, <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/matthew-schaar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt Schaar</a> talks with fellow host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> about how Accion Venture Lab is looking at the web3 space, and how the industry can evaluate and support the industry to support founders building solutions to increase financial inclusion.

Why should investors in inclusive fintech care about web3? Matt and Amee discuss this and explore if web3 provides access to better financial products, if there should be more transparency in delivered solutions, and if these solutions can help the financially excluded build more wealth. Some people argue that the “crypto winter” is upon us, and Matt and Amee discuss why some web3 projects are failing and whether we are investing at the wrong time. Lastly, they explore how to invest in responsible web3 solutions.

Read <a href="https://www.accion.org/hope-or-hype-web3-and-its-potential-to-advance-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hope or hype: web3 and its potential to advance financial inclusion</a>.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accion-venture-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/BUlYF2Tk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="size-large wp-image-27127 aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Accion-AmeeMatt-Quotecard-1024x576.png" alt="Fintech for the people S3 Amee quotecard" width="1024" height="576" />

Web3 and Financial Inclusion: Finding Responsible Solutions

Mercedes Bidart worked in community development for years. Her research showed that women and families needed support to build wealth in informal economies, particularly in Latin America. Thus, the idea for a digital, decentralized, community-focused bank was developed. In this episode, host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/matthew-schaar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="1">Matt Schaar</a> talks with Mercedes about how <a href="https://quipubank.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="2">Quipu Bank</a> is building essential financial services to women-owned MSMEs in Colombia.

Mercedes Bidart is the co-founder and CEO of Quipu, a web3-enabled financial institution. Mercedes shares how Quipu uses web3 technology to access more data on businesses to more effectively assess their creditworthiness and how adopting liquidity pools ensures stability when market fluctuations occur. Mercedes and Matt also discuss connecting crypto's benefits with Quipu’s underbanked and underserved customers.

Read <a href="https://www.accion.org/hope-or-hype-web3-and-its-potential-to-advance-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="3">Hope or hype: web3 and its potential to advance financial inclusion</a>.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="4">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="5">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accion-venture-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-safelink="true" data-linkindex="6">LinkedIn</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/5W3Awerd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-27031 size-large" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Accion-Bidart-Quotecard-1-1024x576.png" alt="Bidart Quotecard" width="1024" height="576" />

Can web3 help women in Latin America build wealth?

Web3 is gaining momentum, and USAID wants to ensure that new fintech in this space is sustainable. In this episode, host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/matthew-schaar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt Schaar</a> talks with Paul Nelson, Senior Advisor &amp; Acting Team Lead, Digital Finance at <a href="https://www.usaid.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">USAID</a>, to discuss how USAID promotes financial well-being by strengthening and promoting the development of open, inclusive, and secure digital ecosystems.

Paul shares how to find the right partners in the private sector to build the best financial outcomes, how to encourage organizations to start thinking about financial inclusion when entering the cryptocurrency space, and what Web3 models promise the most sustainable solutions for financial inclusion.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accion-venture-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/fc7O9kG4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="size-large wp-image-26985 aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Accion-Nelson-Quotecard-1024x576.png" alt="Fintech for the People podcast-Nelson-Quotecard" width="1024" height="576" />

Boosting Financial Well-being with Web3

MSMEs are the fuel of the global economy, but there is often a disconnect between lenders and MSMEs on how to provide low-cost and abundant capital. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/matthew-schaar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt Schaar</a> talks with Sam Eyob of <a href="https://goldfinch.finance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Goldfinch</a> on how Blockchain can be a potential solution to resolve this challenge.

Sam shares his journey from traditional capital providers to Warbler Labs and Goldfinch, the various business models Goldfinch operated under, and his opinion on how to build sustainable cryptocurrency systems that work for everyone. Sam and Matt also discuss how Blockchain systems can complement existing financial rails, if embedded finance can be enhanced on the Blockchain, and if that’s even a good idea in the first place.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accion-venture-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/GBNpwX71" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="size-large wp-image-26897 aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Accion-Eyob-Quotecard-1024x576.png" alt="Quotecard for Fintech for the People Season 3 EP2" width="1024" height="576" />

Can Blockchain Open the Global Capital Markets to Underserved Businesses?

Market disruptions happen. But, they often leave the people on the frontlines of those markets to pick up the pieces. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/matthew-schaar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt Schaar</a> talks with Tim Rann and Ken Kou of <a href="https://www.mercycorps.org/what-we-do/ventures" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercy Corps Ventures</a> about how their team is investing in and testing blockchain-enabled solutions to determine if this relatively new technology can help build resilience in underserved communities and equip them to bounce back after market shocks.

Tim and Ken share Mercy Corps Ventures’ journey into web3, including which models they’re investing in and testing to build inclusive fintech systems that allow communities to recover quickly when disruptions affect their market. They also share ways to build responsible solutions in the risky — and potentially harmful — crypto-enabled world.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/accion-venture-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/GdJc7xhI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="size-large wp-image-26817 aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Accion-Kou-Quotecard-1024x576.png" alt="Fintech for the People S3 Ep1 quotecard" width="1024" height="576" />

Can Blockchain Build Resilience in the Underbanked?

In the third season of Fintech for the People, we’ll speak with industry leaders about the trends and technologies in crypto and decentralized finance and explore their potential to drive financial inclusion. We’ll hear from advocates, skeptics, investors, and builders as we aim to shed more light on this topic. If you’re entering this conversation with similar questions as us, we hope you’ll walk away with a more comprehensive view of the topic – and from there, draw your own conclusions.

Fintech has the power to build a more inclusive world. Fintech for the People showcases the innovators who are developing fintech solutions that reach the people who’ve been left behind. In each episode, we’ll hear from leaders who are creating and investing in financial solutions that bring every person the financial tools they need to grow their business, support their family, and build their community. Together, we’ll learn how fintech looks different in spaces and places where basic financial services are a luxury — and how solutions to address these challenges require a different level of creativity, empathy, and execution.

Season 3 of Fintech for the People, an <a href="https://t.sidekickopen90.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8cFC2QVTHnMk59hl3kW7_k2841CX6NGW35Qwst7vRTl8W1Dh2LL90kT91f197v5Y04?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3z8myBF43Tw8ZmLp01&amp;si=8000000019979488&amp;pi=fe7a662e-0158-4f4c-ca72-b4f0559418f8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Accion</a> podcast, is hosted by Matt Schaar, Operating Partner of <a href="https://t.sidekickopen90.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8cFC2QVTHnMk59hl3kW7_k2841CX6NGW35Qwst7vRTl8W1Dh2LL90kT91f197v5Y04?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3z8myBW43Tw8Z49LdrKW43Yfm13JF5JfW49MWlf41ZnhDW4ff5fN3F7-sKW1GJTzv4fPf-tf1GDJt004&amp;si=8000000019979488&amp;pi=fe7a662e-0158-4f4c-ca72-b4f0559418f8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Accion Venture Lab</a>, an early-stage investor in inclusive fintech startups. Learn more about Accion Venture Lab <a href="https://t.sidekickopen90.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8cFC2QVTHnMk59hl3kW7_k2841CX6NGW35Qwst7vRTl8W1Dh2LL90kT91f197v5Y04?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3z8myBW43Tw8Z49LdrKW43Yfm13JF5JfW49MWlf41ZnhDW4ff5fN3F7-sKW1GJTzv4fPf-tf1GDJt004&amp;si=8000000019979488&amp;pi=fe7a662e-0158-4f4c-ca72-b4f0559418f8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Listen and subscribe <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/UOdxwTkS" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-26794 size-large" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/FFTP-S3-gray-1024x576.png" alt="Fintech for the People Season 3 poster with Matt's headshot" width="1024" height="576" />

Introducing Season 3 of Fintech for the People

India is a global leader in financial inclusion. For over a decade, Accion has worked with and learned from India’s innovators, investors, and policymakers to expand economic opportunity for its people and businesses.

In India, small businesses contribute over 30 percent of the country’s GDP, but most remain unserved by formal banking channels. These businesses are often held back from growing and scaling due to keeping up with supply chain costs. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Shrinivas Kasar, Co-Founder of <a href="https://cashinvoice.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cashinvoice</a>, to discuss how Cashinvoice unlocks supply chain financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India.

Shrinivas shares how Cashinvoice works to bridge trust between MSMEs and India’s financial ecosystem. Amee and Shrinivas discuss how embedded finance gives unique advantages to Cashinvoice’s platform, how Cashinvoice incentivizes corporate and lending partners, and how they navigate the challenge of making affordable credit available to small businesses that are entirely out of the mainstream banking system.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.

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<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/rtEgyeNt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="size-large wp-image-26686 aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Accion-Cashinvoice-Quotecard-1024x576.png" alt="Accion-Cashinvoice-Quotecard" width="1024" height="576" />

Unlocking Supply Chain Financing for Small Businesses in India

Finding affordable, convenient, and seamless access to working capital is challenging for small businesses in Brazil. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Suzy Ferriera, Founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.dinie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dinie</a>, which enables digital platforms to offer instant and convenient financing solutions to the country’s small businesses.

Suzy shares how her upbringing in Brazil influenced her perspective on entrepreneurship and sparked new ideas on how to use capital to make a big impact on the world. Then, Suzy explains how Dinie solely focuses on the customer, repositioning the bargaining power from banks to small businesses, what advantages exist for customers through embedded finance, the need for effective B2B partnerships, and how extreme transparency and boldness influence Dinie’s day-to-day practices.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/Nz3dKgS2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-26657 size-large" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Accion-Quote-Card-Ferreira-1024x576.png" alt="Accion Quote Card - Ferreira" width="1024" height="576" />

Connecting MSMEs to working capital in Brazil

<div>

The agri-input industry is booming in India. But agri-input retailers face big challenges when it’s time to sell and deliver their products, like seeds, animal feed, and farming tools, to farmers. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Mukul Garg, Founder and CEO of <a href="https://agrim.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Agrim</a>, about how Agrim connects small retailers with agricultural product manufacturers to serve farmers across India.

Agricultural retailers are a critical link in the value chain that supports farmers’ livelihoods because they provide the agricultural products that farmers need to succeed. Mukul shares his story, including the moment he realized India needed innovation in agri-tech and how his team built Agrim to bring transparency to product discovery and delivery while embedding affordable financial services for small agri-retailers. Mukul and Amee also discuss how rural India engages with digital tools like Agrim and why embedded finance is the best option for Agrim’s end users.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/axf-DjDx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

</div>
<div><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-26490" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/FFTP-Agrim-Quotecard-1024x576.png" alt="Agrim-Quotecard" width="1024" height="576" /></div>
<div></div>

Taking India’s Agriculture Industry to a New Level

In Indonesia, small business retailers often struggle to have enough cash to buy inventory, and banks typically don’t want to give loans to these merchants. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Mir Haque, founder and CEO of <a href="https://fairbanc.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fairbanc</a>, about how Fairbanc provides a better opportunity to the mom-and-pop retailers through a technology platform that integrates with corporate partners to embed a simple inventory financing solution.

Mir shares why their end customers are in need of embedded finance solutions, no matter their digital capabilities. Mir also explains how Fairbanc mitigates risk effectively and seamlessly, and how they secure partnerships with consumer goods corporations. Finally, Mir gives advice for entrepreneurs looking to establish B2B partnerships for their businesses.

To learn more about Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/BA4kFjsa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-26427" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Accion-Haque-Quotecard2-1024x576.png" alt="Accion-Haque-Quotecard2" width="1024" height="576" />

Making Mom-and-Pop Shops More Economically Sustainable with Embedded Financing

Micromerchants face liquidity challenges, often running out of digital money needed to make essential financial transactions and struggling to quickly rebalance and replenish it. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Andrew Milne, CEO of <a href="https://www.kuunda.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kuunda</a>, an API-based embedded lender, to hear how Kuunda provides seamless liquidity solutions to agents, micromerchants, and consumers across the world.

Embedded finance is critical to solving liquidity challenges and Andy shares how Kuunda facilitates frictionless transactions, instant disbursements, and automatic repayments through a model that is seamlessly integrated in existing platforms used by their end customers. Finally, Andy and Amee discuss what it takes to establish strategic partnerships, how Kuunda measures success, and where Kuunda will be in five years as digital ecosystems advance.

To learn more about Accion Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/tNTTnaiN" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-26404" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Accion-Kuunda-Quotecard2-1024x576.png" alt="Accion-Kuunda-Quotecard" width="1024" height="576" />

Driving Small Businesses Growth through Embedded Liquidity Solutions

In this second season of Fintech for the People, we’ll explore the hottest topic in fintech right now: embedded finance. We’re seeing credit, savings, insurance, and other financial tools increasingly integrated into traditionally non-financial services, products, or technologies. This season we will specifically highlight the ways embedded finance is being used to close the $5 trillion credit gap for micro and small businesses around the world.

Fintech has the power to build a more inclusive world. Fintech for the People showcases the innovators who are developing fintech solutions that reach the people who’ve been left behind. In each episode, we’ll hear from innovative fintech leaders who are creating financial solutions that bring every person the financial tools they need to grow their business, support their family, and build their community. Together, we’ll learn how fintech looks different in spaces and places where basic financial services are a luxury — and how solutions to address these challenges require a different level of creativity, empathy, and execution.

Fintech for the People is an <a href="https://www.accion.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Accion</a> podcast hosted by Amee Parbhoo, Managing Partner of <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Accion Venture Lab</a>, an early-stage investor in inclusive fintech startups. Learn more about Accion Venture Lab <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Episodes will be released in seasons, on a weekly schedule.

<img class="wp-image-26380 size-large aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FFTP2@HighRes-1024x576.jpg" alt="Poster of FFTP2 with headshots of all speakers" width="1024" height="576" />

Introducing Season 2 of Fintech for the People

In Latin America, a lack of access to high-quality education contributes to significant inequality. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/luzborchardt/?originalSubdomain=ar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luz Borchardt</a>, Co-Founder and VP of Marketing for <a href="https://www.soyhenry.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Henry</a>, to discuss how Henry is creating opportunity by expanding access to high-quality technical education through virtual software development courses with no upfront fee. 

Luz has always been passionate about building a better world. After starting her career in tech, she recognized there were many tech jobs available, but not enough local talent in Latin America to fill these roles. To confront this talent shortage, she founded Henry, a remote coding school with a unique and affordable tuition model. Luz discusses the barriers that prevent students from entering the tech industry, how access to high-quality education creates a more equal world in Latin America, how Henry is able to provide education with no upfront fees by utilizing market-inclusive income share agreements (ISAs), and overall, how this improves the long-term earning potential of Henry’s students. Lastly, Luz gives advice to women founders who want to begin their entrepreneurial journey in tech spaces. 

To learn more about Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/P1Yt3TPY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-25951" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Accion-Quote-Card-Borchardt-final-1024x576.png" alt="Accion Quote Card - Borchardt (final)" width="1024" height="576" />

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Creating a More Equal World through Technology Training (Luz Borchardt, Henry)

The majority of Kenyans have mobile money accounts; their activity demonstrates digital financial services’ potential. Accion helps Kenyan innovators harness emerging technologies to create new financial services.

In Africa, there are many insurance providers, but less than 3% of people have an insurance safety net. Lami is bridging this gap. <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jihan-abass-09b609125/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jihan Abass</a>, Founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.lami.world/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lami</a>, a Kenya-based insurance platform that enables businesses to develop and sell insurance tailored to improve the lives of their customers. 

Jihan shares how she moved from her career in fine arts to entrepreneurship in insurance, and how lack of infrastructure to facilitate easy distribution of insurance products inspired her to start Lami. She explains how Lami works to fix the broken insurance system, how they work with platform partners to help customers trust and understand insurance products, her vision for insurance technology and digitization, and why working with platform partners helps them better serve the insurance market. Lastly, Jihan and Amee discuss the need for quality mentorship to help bridge the gap for women founders going into fintech.

To learn more about Venture Lab, visit our <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-we-work/invest/accion-venture-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/accionvlab" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/Gl4-deK7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

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<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-25928" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Accion-Quote-Card-Jihan-updated-1024x576.png" alt="Accion Quote Card - Jihan" width="1024" height="576" />

Improving Lives with Digital Insurance (Jihan Abass, Lami)

Food trucks are the most diverse and fast-growing segment of the restaurant industry today. But technology gaps often restrict food truck owners in their operations. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Sofie Abdulrazaaq, CEO and Co-Founder of <a href="https://www.goodfynd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Goodfynd</a>, a vertical payments company that targets the underserved sector of food trucks in the US.
Sofie's background as a first-generation American, experience in technology and bank law, and overall love of food trucks inspired her passion to help make food truck owners more visible and profitable. Sofie explains the pain points experienced by food truck owners, how Goodfynd bridges the technology gap through end-to-end payment solutions and an online marketplace, the importance of mobile-based platforms that tap into payment and operations systems on-the-go, and how Goodfynd envisions its future in the restaurant software industry. Lastly, Sofie shares how Goodfynd attracts and retains the best talent in a competitive market, how investors should treat women, particularly women of color, founders, and gives advice for founders on choosing the right investors.
<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/2Bwbx4CK" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

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<img class="alignnone wp-image-25895 size-large" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Image-from-iOS-1024x575.png" alt="Sufie quote" width="1024" height="575" />

Boosting Visibility and Profit for Food Trucks (Sofie Abdulrazaaq, Goodfynd)

Educational institutions in India often lack the money management tools to digitize and streamline their banking and finance functions so that they can focus on providing high-quality education in their communities. This is where the idea for Anthem was born. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Pavee Ramanisankar, co-founder and COO of <a href="https://www.getanthem.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">Anthem</a>, an education-focused fintech company that provides a digital money management platform and financial services to educational institutions and students in India.

Pavee’s experience working in educational institutions showed her that the lack of formal financial services for stakeholders in education wore on the education ecosystem. Pavee shares how Anthem allows educational institutions to digitize finances, administration, and operation through an affordable SaaS platform. Then Pavee explains the impact of COVID-19 on education and Anthem’s customers, how the pandemic opened the door for digitization, and how Anthem uses SaaS data to go beyond identifying problems but offering solutions that work. Lastly, Pavee shares about the differences in culture of a fintech company versus an educational institution, and gives advice to women entrepreneurs emerging into the fintech world.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/Nza5zmqI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

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<img class="size-large wp-image-25862 aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Accion-Quote-Card-Pavee-alternative-quote-3-1024x576.png" alt="Accion Quote Card - Pavee" width="1024" height="576" />

Building Fintech for the Education Ecosystem (Pavee Ramanisankar, Anthem)

Finding affordable, convenient, and seamless access to working capital is challenging for small businesses in Brazil. One company is closing this gap. Host <a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/amee-parbhoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Amee Parbhoo</a> talks with Suzy Ferriera, Founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.dinie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Dinie</a>, which enables digital platforms to offer instant and convenient financing solutions to the country’s small businesses.

Suzy shares how her upbringing in Brazil influenced her perspective on entrepreneurship and sparked new ideas on how to use capital to make a big impact on the world. Then, Suzy explains how Dinie solely focuses on the customer, repositioning the bargaining power from banks to small businesses, what advantages exist for customers through embedded finance, the need for effective B2B partnerships, and how extreme transparency and boldness influence Dinie’s day-to-day practices. Lastly, Suzy shares her advice for making venture capital more inclusive of women fintech founders.

<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/OQtR6awD" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Listen here</a>.

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<img class="wp-image-25846 size-large aligncenter" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Accion-Quote-Card-Ferreira-1024x576.png" alt="Suzy Ferreira quote" width="1024" height="576" />