WASHINGTON, D.C., October 17, 2022 – The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) announced today the fourth cohort of the global Inclusive Fintech 50 (IF50) competition, which recognizes 50 early-stage, inclusive fintechs that aim to advance financial inclusion. IF50 is sponsored by Visa, MetLife Foundation, and Jersey Overseas Aid & Comic Relief, with support from Accion and IFC. The 2022 winners exemplify the power of fintech to reach underserved individuals and businesses with products and services designed to meet consumers’ needs, preferences, and resources.
The 2022 winners were selected from a pool of 257 eligible applicants with headquarters in 79 countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa representing 40 percent of candidates. The winning startups represent a range of product categories, including credit, digital financial infrastructure, insurance, savings and personal financial management, and payments and remittances. Credit remains the most common type of product offering, with 32 percent of applicants offering a credit solution. The digital financial services infrastructure category displayed the most growth, increasing from 16 percent of applicants in 2021 to 23 percent in 2022.
An independent panel of 35 expert judges with expertise in venture capital, technology, and financial services evaluated the applicants based on their inclusivity, innovation, traction, and scale potential.
The IF50 competition offers winning startup fintechs exposure among investors and media, and provides access to exclusive networking activities, the opportunity to pitch their innovations, and connections to expert support and training provided by IF50 sponsors and supporters. IF50 winners from the past three years have collectively increased their funding by $620 million in the year following their win. This year’s IF50 winners will also gain exposure during CFI’s Financial Inclusion Week event, running virtually October 17-20. Winners will be announced by category throughout the week, culminating in a global plenary session discussing insights from this year’s competition.
Visa, an IF50 sponsor, provides winners access to Practical Money Skills and Practical Business Skills, digital platforms created by Visa to empower individuals and micro and small businesses with financial and business knowledge needed to manage and grow. These tools, together with the networking and publicity that IF50 provides, serve as an invaluable opportunity for startups at the earliest stages of their journeys.
The winners are listed below by main operating region.
East Asia & the Pacific
Brick
Digicro
LTS Ventures
Salary Hero
SentBe Inc.
wagely
Latin America & the Caribbean
AkinTec
Finaktiva
Imix Latam
Paisa
Prestamype
Quipu Bank
Sofi
Yapu Solutions
Zenda.la
Middle East and North Africa
Cassbana
North America
Kaoshi Network
Restart Financial
Sunny Day Fund
South Asia
Aloi
ARTH
Bimaplan
KarmaLife
Probus
Revfin Services Private Limited
Vitto – Microfinance.AI
Yuva Pay
Sub-Saharan Africa
BezoMoney
Boost
Crop2Cash
DMA Limited
Ensibuuko
FIC Exchange Plc (Financial Inclusion Centers)
FlexPay LLC
Flow Global
FX Kudi
Infibranches
Jamii.one
Joovlin
Lipa Later Limited
Malipo Circles Limited
MarketForce
Moja Ride
SATIS FINTECH SA
Shecluded
SuiTch SAS
Touch and Pay Technologies Inc
Ukheshe
Umoja Labs
Umojalands Private Limited
Key Quotes
Chiagozie Nwabuebo, Vice President, Social Impact – Inclusive Growth, Visa Inc: “With the world experiencing an accelerated rate of digitalization over the past few years, opportunities for fintechs to serve vulnerable individuals and businesses have significantly increased. Digital payments and remittances, for example, are expanding to new geographies and clientele, positively impacting the financial health of the underserved. As a founding sponsor of IF50, we are delighted to showcase the fintechs that are innovating new ways to reach more people by putting social impact at the core of their product and service offerings.”
Tia Hodges, Head of Corporate Giving & Employee Volunteerism at MetLife and President CEO of the MetLife Foundation: “MetLife Foundation is committed to ensuring global communities have what they need to adapt to their changing world. After four years of supporting Inclusive Fintech 50, we are inspired by early-stage social entrepreneurs who are committed to creating innovative and scalable solutions aimed at boosting the financial health and resilience for low- and moderate-income communities.”
Deputy Carolyn Labey, Jersey’s Minister for International Development: “In today’s rapidly changing technological landscape, there are so many opportunities to find new ways to eradicate poverty and promote economic growth by bringing basic financial services to marginalised people. JOA is thrilled to play a role in showcasing these impressive fintech start-ups which are developing innovative technological solutions that tackle exclusion and inequality head on.”
Mayada El-Zoghbi, Center for Financial Inclusion: “Financial products and services are critical to building the resilience of low-income households and micro and small enterprises facing economic instability and increased environmental risk. The winners of the 2022 Inclusive Fintech 50 competition are committed to offering inclusive and impactful products to meet these pressing needs. CFI is delighted to host this competition and to introduce the fourth cohort of IF50.”
About IF50
Inclusive Fintech 50 identifies promising early-stage fintechs driving financial inclusion around the globe through a competitive process led by an independent panel of judges from venture capital, technology, and financial services. Applicants are assessed on the degree to which their target market includes underserved people or businesses, and whether their innovation offers a new value proposition, shows early-stage traction, and can have a noticeable impact on the more than 3 billion financially underserved people globally. Inclusive Fintech 50 is sponsored by Visa, MetLife Foundation, and Jersey Overseas Aid & Comic Relief, with support from Accion and IFC. The initiative is managed by the Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI). Learn more at www.inclusivefintech50.com.
Media contact: Lauren Braniff, Vice President, Strategy and Communications, Center for Financial Inclusion: lbraniff@accion.org