Women's World Banking

Women’s World Banking is a global non-profit organization dedicated to empowering low-income women through financial inclusion. The organization focuses on designing and investing in financial solutions, institutions, and policy environments in emerging markets. Its mission is to enhance economic stability and prosperity for women, their families, and their communities. By promoting access to market-driven financial services, Women’s World Banking aims to transform the lives of women and foster inclusive growth on a global scale. Through its initiatives, the organization seeks to create a more equitable financial landscape that supports the economic advancement of women.

Mary Iskenderian

CEO and President

Caroline Kung

Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, US Fund

12 past transactions

Amartha

Venture Round in 2024
Amartha is a microfinance technology platform dedicated to fostering economic growth at the grassroots level by facilitating connections between micro and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and investors. The platform enables entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas, to access microfinance loans through user-friendly mobile applications and websites. By bridging the gap between potential lenders and borrowers, Amartha aims to create equal opportunities for prosperity, thereby contributing to the overall development of local economies.

Bike Bazaar

Series D in 2022
Bike Bazaar is a two-wheeler life cycle company based in Pune, Maharashtra, India, founded in 2017. It specializes in facilitating the buying, selling, and exchanging of two-wheelers, while also offering financing solutions for both new and pre-owned vehicles. The company aims to provide a seamless experience throughout the two-wheeler lifecycle, which includes access to eco-friendly bikes, insurance options, and a transparent marketplace for pre-owned vehicles. By employing proprietary underwriting tools, Bike Bazaar streamlines the loan approval process, allowing customers to secure financing with minimal documentation and receive loan sanctions within a day at competitive monthly installments.

Pezesha

Seed Round in 2022
Pezesha is a digital financial marketplace based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2016. The company focuses on connecting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to various financial resources, including working capital, float financing, and LPO financing. By leveraging credit and data analytics, Pezesha facilitates affordable credit options for underserved micro-businesses, enabling them to access the formal financial system. The platform serves as a bridge between lenders and low-income borrowers, promoting a shared economy and broadening financial access for SMBs. Through its innovative approach, Pezesha aims to be a leading player in Africa's digital financial landscape, enhancing the growth potential of small businesses across the region.

Sitara

Series C in 2022
Sitara, known as Sewa Grih Rin Limited, is a housing finance company based in New Delhi, India, that was established in 2011. The company specializes in providing affordable housing loans to low-income households, particularly those in urban and peri-urban areas. It offers a range of mortgage products that can be used alongside government subsidies, as well as non-mortgage loans aimed at home and infrastructure improvements. Focused on addressing the needs of informally employed individuals, Sitara empowers these households, especially women, by helping them acquire tangible financial assets and improve their living conditions. Through its services, the company strives to bridge the financing gap for those who typically lack access to formal housing finance, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for its clients.

Sitara

Secondary Market in 2022
Sitara, known as Sewa Grih Rin Limited, is a housing finance company based in New Delhi, India, that was established in 2011. The company specializes in providing affordable housing loans to low-income households, particularly those in urban and peri-urban areas. It offers a range of mortgage products that can be used alongside government subsidies, as well as non-mortgage loans aimed at home and infrastructure improvements. Focused on addressing the needs of informally employed individuals, Sitara empowers these households, especially women, by helping them acquire tangible financial assets and improve their living conditions. Through its services, the company strives to bridge the financing gap for those who typically lack access to formal housing finance, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for its clients.

Tugende

Debt Financing in 2022
Tugende is a financial services company based in Kampala, Uganda, founded in 2012. It focuses on providing financing solutions to informal sector entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises. The company specializes in helping motorcycle taxi drivers and other clients acquire business assets, such as motorcycles, special hire taxis, and matatus, allowing them to transition from renting to ownership within eighteen months. This shift not only enhances their income and job security but also improves road safety. In addition to asset financing, Tugende offers a range of supportive services including insurance, safe riding training, and access to genuine parts and maintenance services. Through its comprehensive approach, Tugende aims to bridge the credit gap for small businesses and foster financial independence among its clients.

Tugende

Series B in 2022
Tugende is a financial services company based in Kampala, Uganda, founded in 2012. It focuses on providing financing solutions to informal sector entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises. The company specializes in helping motorcycle taxi drivers and other clients acquire business assets, such as motorcycles, special hire taxis, and matatus, allowing them to transition from renting to ownership within eighteen months. This shift not only enhances their income and job security but also improves road safety. In addition to asset financing, Tugende offers a range of supportive services including insurance, safe riding training, and access to genuine parts and maintenance services. Through its comprehensive approach, Tugende aims to bridge the credit gap for small businesses and foster financial independence among its clients.

Amartha

Venture Round in 2021
Amartha is a microfinance technology platform dedicated to fostering economic growth at the grassroots level by facilitating connections between micro and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and investors. The platform enables entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas, to access microfinance loans through user-friendly mobile applications and websites. By bridging the gap between potential lenders and borrowers, Amartha aims to create equal opportunities for prosperity, thereby contributing to the overall development of local economies.

Annapurna Finance

Private Equity Round in 2021
Annapurna Finance is a microfinance company dedicated to the financial and economic upliftment of underserved women and economically backward clients. The firm focuses on expanding microfinance operations in areas that remain outside the formal financial system, providing essential financial and technical support to help clients develop entrepreneurial skills and engage in business activities. Annapurna Finance offers a range of services, including micro-loans for clean water, sanitation, home improvement, support for widowed families, and small businesses. Additionally, the company provides customized insurance plans tailored to the specific needs of its clients, ensuring that they receive the financial assistance necessary for economic empowerment throughout various stages of their lives.

Aflore

Venture Round in 2021
Aflore is a financial services company based in Bogota, Colombia, dedicated to empowering the unbanked population, which constitutes 65% of the country's residents. Founded in 2012, Aflore focuses on providing accessible financial solutions by partnering with trusted financial advisors within local communities. These advisors are equipped with the necessary support and tools to distribute loans and financial products to their networks, thereby facilitating access to personalized credit and enabling individuals to better manage their finances. Through its innovative approach, Aflore aims to help the middle class in Latin America achieve their financial goals and improve their overall economic well-being.

Pula Advisors

Series A in 2021
Pula GmbH is an insurance intermediary based in Mollis, Switzerland, specializing in agricultural insurance broking services. The company focuses on providing data-driven insurance solutions for small-scale farmers across six countries in Africa. By leveraging machine learning and analyzing weather patterns and farm losses, Pula helps farmers navigate climate risks and enhance their agricultural practices. Through the use of mobile technology, Pula empowers hundreds of thousands of smallholders to protect their crops and make informed financial decisions, ultimately enabling them to invest in their farms and improve their overall income.

Sitara

Series B in 2019
Sitara, known as Sewa Grih Rin Limited, is a housing finance company based in New Delhi, India, that was established in 2011. The company specializes in providing affordable housing loans to low-income households, particularly those in urban and peri-urban areas. It offers a range of mortgage products that can be used alongside government subsidies, as well as non-mortgage loans aimed at home and infrastructure improvements. Focused on addressing the needs of informally employed individuals, Sitara empowers these households, especially women, by helping them acquire tangible financial assets and improve their living conditions. Through its services, the company strives to bridge the financing gap for those who typically lack access to formal housing finance, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for its clients.
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