Fintech start-ups to get equity-free investments

Five start-ups that are building financial technology (fintech) solutions have been chosen to receive equityfree investments, as well as technical and business mentorship, for one year under the “Fintech for Impact” initiative of ING Bank and UN children’s agency Unicef, the organizations said.

“The global initiative, launched in the Philippines last year, seeks to support startups developing digital solutions that aim to empower young people, children and families,” ING Bank and Unicef said in a statement issued last October 13.

▫The five start-ups selected are: Agrabah, which is building a digital platform that connects farmers and fisherfolk directly to buyers and loans, providing them greater autonomy, and their families improved financial resiliency;

▫ Beamandgo, which is adding to the functionality of their remittance-based platform to help migrant workers (including overseas Filipino workers) and their families better manage their finances and make responsible spending decisions for the household;

▫ Educ4all: Invested, which connects students to educational loans, and will be producing a set of financial education and transition-to-adulthood courses that will guide graduates into meaningful employment and financial stability;

▫ Reach52, which is expanding their set of apps that provide affordable microinsurance, healthcare and health products to rural communities, as well as livelihood opportunities, to local women; and,

▫ Saphron, which seeks to empower grassroots microinsurance agents to collect accurate, efficient data with a powerful new Ai-enabled platform. All investments are in open source technology and content, to allow the tools to be adapted and re-used in other contexts.

“In the Philippines, over nine million children live below the poverty line. They not only suffer from poor health and nutrition but also miss out on opportunities later in life such as education, training, work and entrepreneurial opportunities,” Unicef Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov was quoted in the statement as saying. “The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated these existing challenges for the most vulnerable. Health systems are overwhelmed, borders have closed, and families have been struggling to stay afloat.”

The joint statement said that “As the world starts thinking about how to build back better after the pandemic, investments in fintech solutions for the most impacted communities present both challenges and opportunities.”

“New digital financial tools need to be designed responsibly and address the specific needs of young people, children, and families, to help build economic security, encourage more equitable access to services and lift the financial barriers to opportunities for improving their lives,” the organizations said.

“Financial services have been expanding quickly. Governments are also pushing for greater inclusivity in financial services including families and young people,” ING Philippines country manager Hans B. Sicat was quoted in the statement as saying. “Digital financial platforms allow for wider financial services, while providing social protection.”

“This is why we have partnered with Unicef to help develop fintech solutions by providing an equity-free investment, and mentoring early-stage open source startups in the Philippines,” Sicat added.

According to the institutions, “the investment supports open source solutions that contribute to a growing body of digital public goods that can advance society.”