Technology
FMO and BlueOrchard Investors Back Ghanaian Digital Lender Fido in $30M Series B Funding Round
Digital lending platforms have turn into a simple and fast alternative source of credit for micro businesses and individuals who’re omitted by traditional banking institutions. These platforms have turn into a lifeline for thousands and thousands of unbanked individuals and the demand will proceed to grow, increasing the worth of the digital lending platform market in the Middle East and Africa to attain $2 billion over the subsequent five years, recording a four-fold increase from 2021.
This is a market opportunity for Ghanaian fintech Fido plans to capitalize by exploring latest markets in East and Southern Africa, supported by a fresh $30 million in Series B equity funding. The fresh capital features a $20 million equity injection from global impact investment manager BlueOrchard and Dutch business development bank FMO.
Originally launched in 2015 by Nadav Topolski, Tomer Edry AND Nir Zepkowitz In order to supply cell phone loans, Fido has through the years introduced other products, including savings, bill payments and smartphone financing, to expand its revenue streams.
The fintech sector is amongst a big group of digital lending corporations in Africa, including venture-backed Branch and Tala, which are using mobile technology and alternative data sources, reminiscent of cell phone transaction histories, to supply easy microloans to individuals and small businesses which are often unable to access credit from formal banking institutions.
Unlike lending apps, banks often lend to lively customers, require collateral, and involve lengthy processes that involve paperwork. This has made microlenders an alternate but expensive source of capital even for small businesses, which Fido CEO, Alan Eitansays that “they are the driving force of economies, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, yet they are given so few tools to develop.”
“The majority of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is unbanked or underbanked, and for many customers who come into our ecosystem, we are probably their first interaction with financial services. We are taking them from zero financial footprint to a point where they have built an entire financial backbone in the ecosystem where they can get credit, insurance, save, buy mobile phones and do business,” Eitan said.
Fido offers every loan product with built-in insurance and plans to incorporate additional insurance aimed toward business customers. This will include climate insurance to cover agricultural borrowers against extreme weather events reminiscent of drought and floods, in addition to insurance for craftsmen.
Fintech customers receive loans starting from $20 to $500, while businesses receive larger amounts, depending on their needs, the character of their business and their credit rating. The loans are repaid over six months and accrue interest starting from 7% to 12%. Eitan says Fido’s default rate is below 4%, which he attributes to the corporate’s credit scoring system.
“We’re able to deliver these industry-leading rates by combining mission-critical AI models across the entire loan lifecycle. From our acquisition model, which scores new customers based on mobile and other alternative data, through our fraud models and AI collections service models,” he said.
To date, Fido says it has served a million customers, 40% of whom are small businesses, and has issued greater than $500 million in loans in Ghana, where it claims to have a nationwide reach, and Uganda, where it has served 50,000 customers because it launched in December last yr.
“We hope to hit $1 billion in total payouts early next year, and the idea is to use the new funds to continue to grow and reach more customers… and make a real impact on them,” he said, adding that the corporate had been profitable for the past 4 years.
Technology
Revolut will introduce mortgage loans, smart ATMs and business lending products
Revolutthe London-based fintech unicorn shared several elements of the corporate’s 2025 roadmap at a company event in London on Friday. One of the corporate’s important goals for next yr will be to introduce an AI-enabled assistant that will help its 50 million customers navigate financial apps, manage money and customize software.
Considering that artificial intelligence is at the middle of everyone’s attention, this move shouldn’t be surprising. But an AI assistant could actually help differentiate Revolut from traditional banking services, which have been slower to adapt to latest technologies.
When Revolut launched its app almost 10 years ago, many individuals discovered the concept of debit cards with real-time payment notifications. Users may lock the cardboard from the app.
Many banks now can help you control your card using your phone. However, they’re unlikely to supply AI features that might be useful yet.
In addition to the AI assistant, Revolut announced that it will introduce branded ATMs to the market. These will end in money being spent (obviously), but in addition cards – which could encourage latest sign-ups.
Revolut said it plans so as to add facial recognition features to its ATMs in the longer term, which could help with authentication without using the same old card and PIN protocol. It will be interesting to see the way it implements this technology in a way that complies with European Union data protection regulations, which require explicit consent to make use of biometric data for identification purposes.
According to the corporate, Revolut ATMs will start appearing in Spain in early 2025.
Revolut has had a banking license in Europe for a while, which implies it may offer lending products to its retail customers. It already offers bank cards and personal loans in some countries.
Now the corporate plans to expand into mortgage loans – some of the popular lending products in Europe – with an emphasis on speed. If it’s an easy request, customers should generally expect immediate approval and a final offer inside one business day. However, mortgages are rarely easy, so it will be interesting to see if Revolut overpromises.
It appears that the mortgage market rollout will be slow. Revolut said it was starting in Lithuania, with Ireland and France expected to follow suit. Although all these premieres are scheduled for 2025.
Finally, Revolut intends to expand its business offering in Europe with its first loan products and savings accounts. In the payments space, it will enable business customers to supply “buy now, pay later” payment options.
Revolut will introduce Revolut kiosks with biometric payments especially for restaurants and stores.
If all these features seem overwhelming, it’s because Revolut is consistently committed to product development, rolling out latest features quickly. And 2025 looks no different.
Technology
Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal is leaving PhonePe’s board
Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal has stepped down three-quarters from PhonePe’s board after making an identical move on the e-commerce giant.
Bengaluru-based PhonePe said it has appointed Manish Sabharwal, executive director at recruitment and human resources firm Teamlease, as an independent director and chairman of the audit committee.
Bansal played a key role in Flipkart’s acquisition of PhonePe in 2016 and has since served on the fintech’s board. The Walmart-backed startup, which operates India’s hottest mobile payment app, spun off from Flipkart in 2022 and was valued at $12 billion in funding rounds that raised about $850 million last 12 months.
Bansal still holds about 1% of PhonePe. Neither party explained why they were leaving the board.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Binny Bansal for being one of the first and staunchest supporters of PhonePe,” Sameer Nigam, co-founder and CEO of PhonePe, said in a press release. His lively involvement, strategic advice and private mentoring have profoundly enriched our discussions. We will miss Binny!”
Technology
The company is currently developing washing machines for humans
Forget about cold baths. Washing machines for people may soon be a brand new solution.
According to at least one Japanese the oldest newspapersOsaka-based shower head maker Science has developed a cockpit-shaped device that fills with water when a bather sits on a seat in the center and measures an individual’s heart rate and other biological data using sensors to make sure the temperature is good. “It also projects images onto the inside of the transparent cover to make the person feel refreshed,” the power says.
The device, dubbed “Mirai Ningen Sentakuki” (the human washing machine of the longer term), may never go on sale. Indeed, for now the company’s plans are limited to the Osaka trade fair in April, where as much as eight people will have the option to experience a 15-minute “wash and dry” every day after first booking.
Apparently a version for home use is within the works.
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