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 SME

Dinie

Seed Round in 2021
Dinie specializes in providing embedded lending services aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The company offers flexible financing solutions through its comprehensive lending API, which allows digital platforms such as marketplaces, SaaS, and ERPs to offer instant credit to their customers. This approach facilitates access to financial tools for businesses that may be underserved in traditional lending markets. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs, Dinie has a strong leadership team with expertise in technology, finance, and fintech. The company has attracted investment from notable angel investors with backgrounds in leading financial and tech firms, positioning it to capture the growing market for embedded banking services as more companies integrate financial offerings into their products.

Smartcoin

Series A in 2020
SmartCoin Financials Private Limited operates a mobile app-based lending platform that specializes in providing unsecured loans to individuals outside the salaried class. Established in 2015 and based in Bengaluru, India, SmartCoin utilizes data science and machine learning algorithms to evaluate the risk profiles of potential borrowers in real time. The platform allows users to register, upload necessary documents, and select from various loan options. By leveraging a proprietary credit underwriting engine, it aggregates numerous data points from a customer's smartphone to create a tailored credit score. This technology enables SmartCoin to offer personalized loan products instantly, with funds transferred directly to the borrower’s bank account.

SMECorner

Series B in 2020
SMEcorner is a financial lending firm that focuses on providing quick access to business loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises. The companys mission is to fill India's SME lending gap with the use of an online platform that combines machine learning, data science, and artificial intelligence. SME owners can fund their business through their 2 different products which are the unsecured business loans and loan against property. SMEcorner's lending process is based on a combination of traditional and new alternate data, with strong use of decision science. SMEcorner was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Flex Finance

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Flex Finance offers a mobile platform designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to manage and track their expenses effectively. The platform features an intuitive user interface, allowing users with little to no financial knowledge to navigate it easily. Through built-in artificial intelligence, Flex Finance provides valuable insights that help business owners reduce waste, save money, and make informed spending decisions. The company aims to support SMEs in overcoming common challenges, particularly in their formative years, thereby contributing to job creation and economic stability in Nigeria. By digitizing daily operations, including budgeting, expense tracking, and facilitating bulk payment transfers, Flex Finance empowers businesses to streamline their financial management processes.

SMECorner

Series A in 2019
SMEcorner is a financial lending firm that focuses on providing quick access to business loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises. The companys mission is to fill India's SME lending gap with the use of an online platform that combines machine learning, data science, and artificial intelligence. SME owners can fund their business through their 2 different products which are the unsecured business loans and loan against property. SMEcorner's lending process is based on a combination of traditional and new alternate data, with strong use of decision science. SMEcorner was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

SMECorner

Seed Round in 2018
SMEcorner is a financial lending firm that focuses on providing quick access to business loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises. The companys mission is to fill India's SME lending gap with the use of an online platform that combines machine learning, data science, and artificial intelligence. SME owners can fund their business through their 2 different products which are the unsecured business loans and loan against property. SMEcorner's lending process is based on a combination of traditional and new alternate data, with strong use of decision science. SMEcorner was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Smartcoin

Seed Round in 2018
SmartCoin Financials Private Limited operates a mobile app-based lending platform that specializes in providing unsecured loans to individuals outside the salaried class. Established in 2015 and based in Bengaluru, India, SmartCoin utilizes data science and machine learning algorithms to evaluate the risk profiles of potential borrowers in real time. The platform allows users to register, upload necessary documents, and select from various loan options. By leveraging a proprietary credit underwriting engine, it aggregates numerous data points from a customer's smartphone to create a tailored credit score. This technology enables SmartCoin to offer personalized loan products instantly, with funds transferred directly to the borrower’s bank account.

SmartMEI

Seed Round in 2017
SmartMEI Serviços de Tecnologia Ltda operates an online platform in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that offers automated tax and compliance services tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-entrepreneurs. Founded by two graduates from Stanford's MBA program, SmartMEI aims to empower entrepreneurs by simplifying their back-office operations. The platform helps users manage their legal and fiscal obligations, including banking, invoicing, payment processing, and cash management. By eliminating bureaucratic hurdles, SmartMEI supports businesses in over 3,500 cities across Brazil, providing a comprehensive solution that ensures compliance while allowing entrepreneurs to focus on their core activities.

ESCALA EDUCACION

Seed Round in 2017
ESCALA EDUCACION S.A.S is a social enterprise based in Medellin, Colombia, founded in 2015. The company focuses on promoting access to higher education and financial inclusion by partnering with businesses to provide educational benefits to their employees. ESCALA offers savings plans that allow employees to allocate a portion of their paychecks for educational purposes, either for themselves or their children. These savings plans include company matching funds, tuition discounts, scholarships, and vocational support, along with career counseling services. By enhancing these educational benefits, ESCALA aims to make higher education more accessible to a broader audience, fostering both personal and professional development.

First Circle

Venture Round in 2017
First Circle is a financial services company based in Taguig, Philippines, focused on providing lending solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Southeast Asia. Founded in 2015, it offers a range of services, including consumer lending, mortgages, and asset-based lending, with a particular emphasis on short-term loans and trade financing. The company's innovative online platform allows SMEs to access collateral-free working capital, enhancing their growth potential. First Circle leverages advanced data analytics and offers dedicated support through customer success representatives, fostering a community of business owners and providing valuable resources to help businesses thrive. The company's mission is to empower SMEs by improving their access to funding and enabling them to expand beyond their immediate networks.

Aye Finance

Series B in 2016
Aye Finance is a finance company that provides business loans to micro and small businesses in Northern India.The company's mission is to provide innovative and customer-centered financial services to micro and small business through effective technology and robust processes. It works with a relevant technology to facilitate better financial inclusion and to consequently serve micro-enterprises. Aye Finance was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

StreetShares

Series A in 2016
StreetShares, Inc. is a peer-to-peer small business lending marketplace that connects small business owners with retail and institutional investors. Based in Reston, Virginia, the company offers a lending-as-a-service platform that enables community banks and credit unions to efficiently provide loans to small businesses. Its product offerings include term loans, business bonds, and both secured and unsecured small business loans. StreetShares facilitates an accessible and streamlined lending experience, allowing financial institutions to connect with borrowers through a digital platform featuring quick underwriting processes. Founded in 2013, the company has garnered recognition for its innovative solutions in small business financing.

StreetShares

Series A in 2016
StreetShares, Inc. is a peer-to-peer small business lending marketplace that connects small business owners with retail and institutional investors. Based in Reston, Virginia, the company offers a lending-as-a-service platform that enables community banks and credit unions to efficiently provide loans to small businesses. Its product offerings include term loans, business bonds, and both secured and unsecured small business loans. StreetShares facilitates an accessible and streamlined lending experience, allowing financial institutions to connect with borrowers through a digital platform featuring quick underwriting processes. Founded in 2013, the company has garnered recognition for its innovative solutions in small business financing.

Aye Finance

Series A in 2015
Aye Finance is a finance company that provides business loans to micro and small businesses in Northern India.The company's mission is to provide innovative and customer-centered financial services to micro and small business through effective technology and robust processes. It works with a relevant technology to facilitate better financial inclusion and to consequently serve micro-enterprises. Aye Finance was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

SMECorner

Pre Seed Round in 2015
SMEcorner is a financial lending firm that focuses on providing quick access to business loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises. The companys mission is to fill India's SME lending gap with the use of an online platform that combines machine learning, data science, and artificial intelligence. SME owners can fund their business through their 2 different products which are the unsecured business loans and loan against property. SMEcorner's lending process is based on a combination of traditional and new alternate data, with strong use of decision science. SMEcorner was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

StreetShares

Seed Round in 2015
StreetShares, Inc. is a peer-to-peer small business lending marketplace that connects small business owners with retail and institutional investors. Based in Reston, Virginia, the company offers a lending-as-a-service platform that enables community banks and credit unions to efficiently provide loans to small businesses. Its product offerings include term loans, business bonds, and both secured and unsecured small business loans. StreetShares facilitates an accessible and streamlined lending experience, allowing financial institutions to connect with borrowers through a digital platform featuring quick underwriting processes. Founded in 2013, the company has garnered recognition for its innovative solutions in small business financing.

Aye Finance

Seed Round in 2015
Aye Finance is a finance company that provides business loans to micro and small businesses in Northern India.The company's mission is to provide innovative and customer-centered financial services to micro and small business through effective technology and robust processes. It works with a relevant technology to facilitate better financial inclusion and to consequently serve micro-enterprises. Aye Finance was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

StreetShares

Seed Round in 2014
StreetShares, Inc. is a peer-to-peer small business lending marketplace that connects small business owners with retail and institutional investors. Based in Reston, Virginia, the company offers a lending-as-a-service platform that enables community banks and credit unions to efficiently provide loans to small businesses. Its product offerings include term loans, business bonds, and both secured and unsecured small business loans. StreetShares facilitates an accessible and streamlined lending experience, allowing financial institutions to connect with borrowers through a digital platform featuring quick underwriting processes. Founded in 2013, the company has garnered recognition for its innovative solutions in small business financing.

Saija Finance

Series B in 2012
Saija Finance Private Limited is a non-banking finance company based in Patna, India, specializing in microfinance services for underserved populations in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. Established in 1997, the company focuses on providing financial assistance to self-employed individuals, particularly women, to meet working capital needs, purchase fixed assets, and support income-generating activities within households. Saija Finance also offers loans for eco-friendly products such as non-grid solar and solar lighting systems. As the only microfinance institution based in Bihar, Saija Finance serves approximately 26,037 clients across five districts, operating through seven branches. Its mission is to improve financial inclusion in some of the poorest regions of Northern and Eastern India, addressing the significant gaps left by traditional financial institutions.
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