Innovate Moldova’s Post

Honoured to have been invited again to talk at AFSIC this year, the largest investment conference dedicated to Africa. Key points to share: 1. Within 25 years from now approx 25% of all adults in working age in the world will have been born in Africa. It is crucial that they get access to the same development services as people in other regions. 2. Data shows that approx. 900m people in Africa have no access to any form of financial services, which affects massively their capacity to access health; education; and of course reach prosperity. 3. Mobile phone operators have done a great job over the last 15 years bringing financial services to people having a phone. Such services are however still out of reach for the hundreds of millions of people who cannot afford to buy phones or have no mobile coverage where they live. 4. There are no indications that this will improve fast enough anytime soon. We therefore need to think outside of the box and create solutions which allow financial inclusion to happen even when there is no connectivity or phones. 5. Swiss Fintech company VeryPay presented one of such solutions at AFSIC: a connected bracelet costing only a few USD to manufacture and allowing to pay by NFC even in total absence of connectivity, allowing to extend the reach of mobile money to the 75% of the African territory where it is still absent. Perfect example of making the world a better place, one simple solution at a time. Forward all! #africa #afsic #fintech #development #globalpartners4digitaldevelopment

🌐 The Conference "#Fintech for #SMEs", the first of its kind in Moldova, brought to the forefront the crucial role of financial technologies for SMEs, as a key to their future #development. 🌟 The conference emphasized the need for improved access to financial services, better regulatory environments, and international #business #opportunities for Moldovan SMEs. 🥇 We are proud to be among the first to bring this crucial subject to the spotlight, alongside the organizers and partners. 🤝 Together with other key stakeholders, Helvetas Moldova/OPTIM Project will continue to provide the necessary support and contributions to modernize the financial sector and offer innovative financial services to SMEs in Moldova, so that everyone can be a beneficiary of a modernized, accelerated economy. ✅ Stay tuned to our page for upcoming updates, events, and strategic partnerships aimed at driving significant advancements in Moldova. #fintech #technology #digitaleconomy #innovation #accesstofinance #supportlocal #businessdevelopment ✅ Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Helvetas Eastern & Southeastern Europe ✅ Bojan Kolundzija, Stefan Nistor, Fintech Moldova, Cristina Butuleac, Nikola Babic, Matthias Herr, Mastercard, Moldindconbank, Vadim Codreanu, Veronica Arpintin, Alliance of Small and Medium Enterprises from Moldova

The Fintech Association of Kenya is excited to announce a collaborative agreement with leading fintech associations from East Africa. This partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, will bring together the DRC Fintech Association, Association of Fintechs in Kenya, Tanzania Fintech Association (TAFINA) and FITSPA Uganda to co-host the East African Investment Forum -EAIF2024. Taking place on September 12th-13th at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, EAIF2024 aims to promote innovation, showcase investment prospects, and drive the advancement, inclusivity, and sustainable growth of the financial technology industry in East Africa. “By working together, we can create a more robust and inclusive financial landscape for all East Africans and attract investment opportunities," stated Ms. Zianah Muddu, Team Lead at FITSPA. "This MoU represents a significant step forward in fostering innovation, knowledge sharing, and cross-border partnerships within the region’s fintech space.” Key areas of focus will include 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, and 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. Duncun Motanya, Chairperson of FINTAK, stated that this partnership unites efforts to create a robust, interconnected ecosystem capable of competing globally. "Together, we will accelerate financial inclusion, drive economic growth, and position East Africa as a fintech powerhouse," he added. EAIF2024 will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to foster investment attraction, partnership development, and meaningful dialogue within the region's fintech sector. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dCJT8mS6 Andrew Barden Juliet Ongwae, PhD Frank Molla Joseph Githaiga #Fintech #EastAfrica #Innovation #Investment #EAIF2024

📺 SHORT: Role FinTech & Microfinance Should Play to Boost Financial Inclusion in Cambodia - CamTech 2024 Tomas Pokorny, Board Director & Secretary-General of the Cambodian Association of Finance and Technology (CAFT), shared what he sees as the role FinTech startups and microfinance institutions should play to introduce new technologies to underserved areas in Cambodia, which expands to a duty to educate and raise awareness. In order to successfully do this, however, Pokorny stresses that financial institutions must not see new technological solutions that allow members of the public to be more independently informed and financially literate – without the need to always rely on, for example, a loan officer at a bank – as "competition". Pokorny made this point during a panel discussion at CamTech Summit 2024, held on September 18 at the Centre for Banking Studies in Phnom Penh. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gbHe3WBT #Camtech2024 #fintech #Cambodiafintech #bankingstudies #Cambodiabanking #Cambodiafinance #Cambodiaeconomy

"Digitale Sparkasse der Zukunft" meets DSIK 🧩  As promised, I will give you a detailed insight into one of our key projects: 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. 💻 In 2019, the German Sparkassenstiftung Eastern Africa in Tanzania launched an initiative to help advance digitalization in the #microfinance sector. Through collaboration with various partner institutions, this initiative aims to aid our partners in providing digital solutions to #SACCOS and microfinance institutions, improving their digital infrastructure, digitalizing manual processes, and achieving interoperability. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗦 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 One of our most significant current projects is implementing the Core SACCOS System for SCCULT. This shared system aims to enhance the operational efficiency of SACCOS. The system development is at the final stage, with User Acceptance Tests completed and verification continuing. The pilot phase has started with selected SACCOS, and the system launch has been completed. DSIK supports this project through funding and fundraising, providing technical advisory services, managing the project, conducting workshops and training sessions, and offering mentoring and coaching for SCCULT. 🚀 Our digitalization efforts also include the development and implementation of the Digital Competence Assessment (DCA). This initiative focuses on developing a detailed methodology for assessing the digital competence of SACCOS. We adapt, design, and develop assessment tools, which may include surveys, interviews, and panel discussion guides. Additionally, we create a Reporting Template to outline assessment findings, identified gaps, recommendations, and proposed strategic actions for improvement. Training sessions are prepared and delivered to partner institutions on the assessment methodologies, tools, and reporting. My primary responsibility within this initiative is to manage and further develop the DCA, ensuring it meets the needs of our target groups and aligns with our broader #digitalization strategy. I'm super happy to support this project as its scope closely aligns with a subproject of the "Digital Agenda" in the DSGV - Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband I worked with. The core findings of this project have also been integrated into the regional initiatives during my time at the Sparkassenverband Westfalen-Lippe. In this role, I work closely with my colleague Luciana Murimi, who has warmly welcomed and guided me in this project. Together, we are currently developing the methodology for the DCA. Perhaps my colleagues in Germany have some insights and would like to share their experiences? 🤔 Henning Genz, Frank Krallmann, Achim Wyen, Marvin Bellmann, Tobias Grapentin, Christoph Wienert, Oliver Ludwig

Are you a fintech operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina and looking for more opportunities but lacking visibility at a regional level? Or are you a fintech facing regulatory barriers? Do you need to network and share experiences with your peers at a local or regional level, but are unable to get organized? Or are you a fintech looking for opportunities on a regional level, but there are many obstacles along the way? Or are you a local or international support program or project, innovation or accelerator hub, regulator or government agency actively supporting the development of the fintech sector in the Balkan region? We at IFC - International Finance Corporation together with our local partners, under the Western Balkan Digital Financial Services and Embedded Finance Project funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (#SECO), now have a solution: The Balkan Fintech Association! If the answer to the above questions is Yes, we would like to welcome you to our initiative as a member, partner or donor. Please feel free to contact us in DM or at the contact points listed in the BFA flyer. Bit Alliance European Women Payments Network (EWPN) Finshark Ministry of Programming ZenDev Codecta Invenit Solutions d.o.o. Banja Luka Omnitask misija BAMCARD PING Fondacija 787 (Foundation 787) Virtuo INTERA Technology Park HUB387 School of Economics and Business Sarajevo Sarajevo School of Science and Technology International Burch University Linnovate Business Park HUB387 Mozaik Foundation Bloomteq Asocijacija za internet trgovinu “eComm” u BiH Association of Microfinance Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina #balkanfintechassociation #bfa #fintech #balkan #innovation #digital #payments #bosniaandherzegovina

#SignedPartnershipAgreement Amplifying the development and implementation of innovative financial services, Rwanda ICT Chamber signed partnership agreement with RSwitch to improve financial inclusion in Rwanda by enhancing the quality and accessibility of financial services across Rwanda. What's on the Partnership? By this #partnership, we aim: 1. To cultivate a collaborative ecosystem that drives innovation and facilitates the exchange of cutting-edge ideas between Rwanda ICT Chamber and RSwitch on a global scale, 2. To advance the development and deployment of pioneering financial technologies and solutions, positioning Rwanda as a leader in the #fintechindustry, 3. To enhance the expertise and competencies of fintech professionals through joint, globally recognized training and capacity-building initiatives, 4. To promote the adoption and expansion of secure, efficient electronic payment systems across Rwanda, aligning with international best practices, 5. To establish Rwanda as a #hub for fintech innovation in Africa, attracting international partnerships and investments that fuel growth and development, 6. To foster a regulatory and policy environment that supports #sustainablefintech growth, ensuring alignment with global standards and compliance. Walking the arduous journey of digital transformation requires collective efforts and being part of a technology visionaries community. Not a Rwanda ICT Chamber member yet? Join today via https://lnkd.in/dbzn5ZgK #fintech #Inclusion #Rwanda #Africa #world

Excited to have represented Vitas Group as a panelist at the Sanabel Conference in Jordan this past week! It was an incredible opportunity to connect with over 360 microfinance professionals from across the MENA and discuss the future of business innovation through partnerships. In our panel session, I focused on how Vitas Group was the first to create business innovation lab in the region. And how innovation through collaboration with B2B digital platforms is transforming the industry. By leveraging these partnerships, microfinance institutions (MFIs) can tap into new customer segments, offer innovative loan features based on valuable platform data, lower operational costs, and streamline digital disbursements and repayments. A true win-win! During my session, I passionately called on MFIs to invest in innovation labs and to break free from silos. By embracing multiple partnerships, we can create a robust ecosystem that not only fosters growth but also provides a much-needed safety net in our fragile region. #SanabelConference #VitasGroup #microfinance #innovation #partnerships #MiddleEast #fintech #Vitasinnovationlab

🌍 Exciting News! 🌍 We are thrilled to announce that IFC has made a $20 million equity investment in Zepz, a digital cross-border remittance platform dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance financial inclusion in Africa and beyond. This investment will help Zepz scale its remittance services, particularly in underserved regions in Sub-Saharan Africa, making money transfers more affordable and accessible for millions of migrants and their families. In 2022, remittance flows to Africa reached $99 billion, serving as a crucial lifeline for households across the region. However, Africa still faces some of the highest remittance transfer costs globally. Zepz aims to address this challenge by reducing costs and expanding access to fast, affordable, and secure money transfer services. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eKiNNjd9 IFC Disruptive Tech, VC & Funds IFC Africa IFC Financial Institutions #IFCDisruptiveTech #FinancialInclusion #Fintech #FinancialServices #DigitalEconomy #ImpactInvestment Mark Lenhard, Mohamed Gouled, Andi Dervishi, Stephanie Leydier, Kareem Abdel Aziz, Lavanya Srivastava Choudhary, Damilola Adeola Adebiyi, Dahlia Khalifa, Jane Zhang, Nicola Vesco

Africa’s rapidly growing mobile economy is unlocking new possibilities in finance and technology. From groundbreaking solutions like M-PESA Africa and Djamo to the continent’s thriving startup culture, Africa has emerged as a hotbed for FinTech innovation. 🌍 If you’re looking to explore the region’s high-impact opportunities — be it investment, partnership, or the next disruptive idea — look no further than the Africa Gate to Growth Forum 2025. You’ll gain insights into: 🔹 Key enablers of financial inclusion 🔹 Regulatory trends shaping the #UEMOA market 🔹 The potential for scalable FinTech solutions across Africa Join us at UC Berkeley Haas Africa Business Club and discover how Africa is fast becoming the new epicenter of global FinTech innovation! 🚀 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e-xt2wR7 ℹ️ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eujf2BUw Share your thoughts on Africa’s evolving FinTech landscape in the comments! #FinTech #Africa #Innovation #AGG2025 #InvestInAfrica The eHub at Berkeley (powered by Haas) | CLKA Law Firm | Ministère de la Transition Numérique et de la Digitalisation | ARTCI | AFRICA FINTECH FORUM | Abidjanaises In Tech | HTS Partners | Guineans Succeeding In America