Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit organization founded in 1961 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to promoting financial inclusion. The organization works to provide underserved individuals and small businesses with access to essential financial tools that can enhance their lives and foster community growth. Accion engages with financial service providers to deliver affordable, high-quality solutions at scale, challenging industry norms and advocating for regulatory changes to support financial accessibility. Through its Venture Lab initiative, Accion invests in innovative fintech startups that utilize technology and new business models to improve the quality and reduce the cost of financial services for those traditionally excluded from the formal economy. The organization offers both financial investments and strategic support, including governance and operational assistance, to help these startups grow and succeed. Accion's commitment to enhancing financial health and capabilities aims to create a more inclusive financial landscape globally.

Njord Andrewes

Managing Partner, Accion Digital Transformation Fund

Paarul Dudeja

Investment Director - Asia

Sebastian Molina Gasman

Investor

Ashley Lewis

Director, Africa - Accion Venture Lab

Paolo Limcaoco

Principal, Accion Venture Lab

Amee Parbhoo

Managing Partner, Accion Venture Lab

Vikas Raj

Managing Director, Accion Venture Lab

Michael Schlein

President and CEO

Raliat Sunmonu

Vice President and Program Manager, MEA

Past deals in SADC

Kuunda

Seed Round in 2021
Kuunda operates a B2B advisory platform that focuses on providing financial services tailored for developing economies. The company offers a range of tools, including liquidity management and data insight solutions, which help clients meet their financial requirements through a digital interface. By enabling users to access liquidity, Kuunda supports underserved agents, merchants, and consumers, facilitating their ability to maintain their standard of living, grow their businesses, and enhance economic resilience. Additionally, Kuunda's platform promotes increased network productivity and expands the distribution of products, yielding tangible and measurable results for its clients.

Lulalend

Series A in 2019
LulaLend is more than a company. It’s a belief in the power of small business, making a difference, building a better solution and striving for excellence. We work hard to empower businesses across South Africa with the funds they need to grow, and we have a great time doing it!

Lumkani

Seed Round in 2018
Lumkani is a social enterprise based in South Africa that develops innovative early-warning IoT heat sensors aimed at mitigating the impact of fires in urban informal settlements, particularly in shacks. Founded in 2014, the company utilizes a heat detection technology that monitors temperature changes to detect fires. When a fire is detected, Lumkani's devices, which are networked to connect within a 60-meter radius, alert families in the vicinity, facilitating a swift community response. This technology not only reduces the risk of fire-related destruction but also aims to enhance safety and resilience in vulnerable urban areas.

Lulalend

Seed Round in 2016
LulaLend is more than a company. It’s a belief in the power of small business, making a difference, building a better solution and striving for excellence. We work hard to empower businesses across South Africa with the funds they need to grow, and we have a great time doing it!

GO Finance

Seed Round in 2014
GO Finance Company Limited is a Tanzanian non-bank financial institution based in Dar es Salaam, specializing in providing digital financial solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The company utilizes its mobile and cloud-based tool, GOBi, to collect transaction data from micro, small, and medium enterprises, which facilitates informed credit decision-making. GO Finance offers a range of financial products, including working capital finance, short to medium-term loans, hire purchase, and insurance solutions, specifically targeting distributors in the value chains of multinational corporations that manufacture fast-moving consumer goods. In addition to its lending services, GO Finance emphasizes the importance of information technology by providing access to financial record-keeping tools and targeted training aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of entrepreneurs.

Zoona

Series A in 2012
Zoona is a mobile technology company focused on delivering financial services to underserved communities across Africa. It operates an interoperable distribution network that facilitates money transfers, electronic voucher payments, agent payments, savings, credit, and bill payments. By leveraging a network of widespread agents, Zoona aims to provide safe and reliable access to financial services for predominantly unbanked customers, enabling them to participate in the financial system and improve their economic well-being.
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