A key challenge in empowering women in extreme poverty through entrepreneurship is securing access to capital for business growth after training. Small and microenterprises often face exclusion from formal financial systems due to a lack of traditional credit data, guarantors, and financial statements, resulting in high-interest informal loans ranging from 80% to 300%. This report examines the potential of a credit scoring system using alternative data such as peer group (Chama) lending performance and business income to assess creditworthiness. The goal is to demonstrate that alternative data can unlock capital from local financial institutions for women entrepreneurs at scale.
BUZZEBEES CEO Michael Chen discusses the company's journey from startup to Thailand's leading CRM platform and his vision to connect the digital world.
Spark Talk: DREEM empowers young refugees in Kenya with digital skills and support, transforming online entrepreneurship into a path for sustainable change.
On this Spark Talk, TrustLaw's Emmanuele Marie Parra presents a vital resource for nonprofits: free legal expertise that enhances their operations and amplifies their social missions.
Alicia Okeyo from Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies navigates the complexities of systemic change, offering actionable insights through the Iceberg Model to reshape and measure impactful entrepreneurship ecosystems. Watch the Spark Talk.
In this Spark Talk, Davis Albohm of Stanford SEED shares original insights on creating lasting support ecosystems.