Financial service providers face strategic and operational challenges, including legal, staffing, and technical issues. Digital technology is driving massive change throughout the sector. Regulations can vary from one country to another. For organizations working in emerging markets and with underserved communities, the work is even more challenging.
We advance our mission through advisory support by helping people overcome these issues. We combine decades of on-the-ground experience with insights into new technologies. We work with organizations of varying size and maturity, from pre-seed startups trying to launch a product — all the way up to growth-stage industry leaders attempting to integrate new technologies.
Our advisory work helps established financial service providers address growth strategy and planning, customer strategy, digital channels, business processes and operational efficiency, and risk and credit analytics. For startups, we consult on expansion, customer acquisition and segmentation, cost optimization, channel strategy, human resource planning, and guidance on fundraising. By addressing these issues, we create well-run, mission-driven, and efficient organizations that achieve scale, impact, and returns.

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Accion’s advisory services, targeted coaching, support, and governance help financial service providers deliver the high-quality, affordable financial tools and services that create a world with economic opportunity for all.

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Accion Global Advisory Solutions

Accion Global Investments

Overview

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.

Portfolio

Accion Venture Lab portfolio

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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Eligibility

<div class="clear">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.</div>

Team

Our team

Toolkits and Guides

Toolkits and guides

Podcast

Fintech for the People

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.

Accion Venture Lab invests capital in and provides support to innovative fintech startups that improve access, quality, and affordability of financial services for the underserved at scale.

Accion Venture Lab

Building Financial Capabilities and Strengthening Institutions Through Customer-Centered Innovations

Accion pushes the industry to better serve, protect, and empower clients. We share insights and advocate on behalf of clients to ensure that individuals and small businesses around the world have better financial tools that open opportunities for them to build resilience, grow, and succeed. 
Alongside the Center for Financial Inclusion, an independent think tank, we address some of the most pressing challenges to a more equitable world. We influence the industry to prioritize consumer protection and empowerment and address global challenges such as gender inequality and climate change. We share new research that details how financial service providers can integrate new technologies to improve operations, create more personalized products, and leverage data.

Accion Insights

Influential women of financial inclusion

Research from the Center for Financial Inclusion

We conduct rigorous research and advocate for evidence-based change to build inclusive financial systems for the billions of people who lack the tools they need to improve their lives and prosper. 

Programs and Teams

Accion Global Advisory Solutions

Accion Global Investments

Accion Venture Lab

Building Financial Capabilities and Strengthening Institutions Through Customer-Centered Innovations

Center for Financial Inclusion

CFI Research Fellows Program

Dialogue on Business

Financial Inclusion 2020

Financial Inclusion 2020 Progress Report

Financial Inclusion Equity Council

HBS-Accion Program on Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance

Loans in the U.S.

Mainstreaming Financial Inclusion: Best Practices

Mapping the Invisible Market

MMLP

Partnership for Responsible Financial Inclusion

Risk Management

The Smart Campaign