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, established in 2017. It offers a comprehensive range of services for buying, selling, and exchanging two-wheelers, as well as financing options for new and pre-owned vehicles. The company focuses on providing affordable solutions and a hassle-free experience throughout the two-wheeler lifecycle. Its financing services utilize proprietary underwriting tools to facilitate quick loan approvals with minimal documentation, allowing customers to secure loans within a day at manageable monthly installments. Additionally, Bike Bazaar promotes access to eco-friendly bikes and provides insurance services, creating a transparent marketplace for pre-owned two-wheelers.

Pezesha

Seed Round in 2022
Pezesha is a digital financial marketplace based in Nairobi, Kenya, that connects small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to various financing options, including working capital, float financing, and LPO financing. Founded in 2016, Pezesha aims to enhance access to affordable credit for micro-businesses by leveraging credit and data analytics to link lenders with low-income borrowers. The platform facilitates a shared economy by converging lending and other financial services, thereby enabling underserved SMBs to participate in the formal financial system. Through its innovative approach, Pezesha seeks to empower businesses and improve their growth potential by providing essential financial resources.

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, focused on empowering informal sector entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises. Founded in 2012, Tugende primarily assists motorcycle taxi drivers in transitioning from renting to owning their motorcycles within eighteen months, thereby enhancing their income, job security, and road safety. In addition to motorcycles, Tugende provides business assets such as special hire taxis, matatus, and boat engines, as well as supplementary assets for existing clients like smartphones and salon equipment. The company also offers a range of services, including care services for health and life insurance, safety training, and value-added services like genuine parts and maintenance support. By addressing the credit gap and facilitating asset ownership, Tugende helps clients achieve financial independence and sustainable livelihoods.

Tugende

Series B in 2022
Tugende is a financial services company based in Kampala, Uganda, focused on empowering informal sector entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises. Founded in 2012, Tugende primarily assists motorcycle taxi drivers in transitioning from renting to owning their motorcycles within eighteen months, thereby enhancing their income, job security, and road safety. In addition to motorcycles, Tugende provides business assets such as special hire taxis, matatus, and boat engines, as well as supplementary assets for existing clients like smartphones and salon equipment. The company also offers a range of services, including care services for health and life insurance, safety training, and value-added services like genuine parts and maintenance support. By addressing the credit gap and facilitating asset ownership, Tugende helps clients achieve financial independence and sustainable livelihoods.

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 institution focused on the financial and economic upliftment of underserved women and economically backward clients. The organization aims to expand microfinance operations in areas lacking access to formal financial systems, providing vital livelihood support to impoverished households. Annapurna Finance offers a range of need-based financial services, including micro-loans for clean water, sanitation, home improvement, support for widowed families, and small businesses. Additionally, the company provides customized insurance plans to ensure that customers receive tailored financial assistance aligned with their life cycle needs. By bringing these clients into the financial mainstream, Annapurna Finance facilitates economic empowerment and entrepreneurial skill development.

Aflore

Venture Round in 2021
Aflore is a financial services company based in Bogotá, Colombia, that aims to empower the unbanked population, which comprises 65% of the country. Founded in 2012, Aflore works by identifying and partnering with trusted financial advisors within local communities. The company equips these advisors with the necessary support and tools to facilitate the distribution of loans and financial products to their networks. By providing simple and flexible loan alternatives through a technology-driven approach, Aflore enables individuals in the middle class of Latin America to manage their finances, access personalized credit, and achieve their financial goals.

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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