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Dalberg, a Global Leader in Inclusive and Sustainable Development, Joins the SME Finance Forum
Financial Inclusion
Sustainable Finance
Washington D.C, May 14, 2025 – Dalberg , a global leader in inclusive and sustainable development, has joined the SME finance forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "SME Finance Forum proudly welcomes Dalberg. Dalberg’s innovative approach—spanning advisory, investment, research, analytics, media, and design—aligns perfectly with our mission to expand access to finance for small and medium enterprises worldwide," said Qamar Saleem, Head of SME...Read more
GFTN and the SMEFF join forces on SME financing across developed and emerging markets
Financial Education
Financial Inclusion
Non Financial Services
Global Finance & Technology Network and the SME Finance Forum j oin f orces on SME financing across developed and emerging markets 18th May 2025 – The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), a Singapore head - quartered G lobal F oru m s , A dvisory and Investment company and the SME Finance Forum, a global network established by the G20 and managed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are partnering to further organize and grow the annual Global SME Finance Forum event and create value-added services to enhance the SME knowledge bank and digital services offered by the...Read more
M1xchange, Revolutionizes MSME Financing in India with Digital TReDS Platform, Facilitating Over Rs 170,000 Crores in Invoice Discounting, joins the SME Finance Forum
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Washington D.C, Apr 16th, 2025 – M1xchange revolutionizes MSME Financing in India with Digital TReDS Platform, Facilitating Over Rs 170,000 Crores in Invoice Discounting has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome M1xchange. By enabling digital transactions that streamline the process from invoice raising to payment within 24 hours, M1xchange has significantly enhanced...Read more
Sustainable Innovation Hub [Solution Clinic]
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Sustainable Finance
The Sustainable Innovation Hub will be holding its Solutions Clinic at 8.00am EDT on Tuesday June, 4th 2025. This is a member and affiliate only event. If you have not received an invitation to join, register through the  member portal. *More information to be added.Read more
Digital Finance Innovation Hub [Solutions Clinic]
Supply & Value Chain Finance
This Innovation Hub is a supportive and innovative community of SME finance professionals dedicated to expanding access to finance for SMEs through digital transformation. The Hub focuses on: • Managing the risk of disruptive technologies (Artificial intelligence and Machine learning) • Making successful partnerships with digital enablers • Navigating digital regulation (open banking) • Improving customer experience and SME digitalization • Deploying alternative data and big data analytics • Promoting embedded finance The Digital Finance Innovation Hub will be holding its third Solutions Clinic at 8.00am EDT on Tuesday June, 24th 2025. Our solutions clinics are member-only interactive, roundtable-style events, in...Read more
Innovations and Technology Disrupting SME Insurance in Asia
Non Financial Services
Background One of the many financial instruments available – insurance – is a central aspect of any risk management strategy. In times of unexpected events, insurance coverage seems to be the most obvious solution to protect business sustainability. However, for SMEs, unlike for large corporates, time and cost associated with acquiring an insurance protection plan could act as a deterrent, creating a huge risk gap.  This webinar will focus on how technical innovations are bringing better insurance solutions to SMEs based in Asia. Topics New risks for SMEs: natural disasters and climate change, cyber risk (privacy and data loss), supply...Read more
FCI 57th Annual Meeting – Connecting the Global Trade & Receivables Finance Network
Supply & Value Chain Finance
22–26 June 2025 | Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Join the global receivables finance community at FCI’s 57th Annual Meeting from 22–26 June 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. This flagship event will gather senior professionals from across the world, offering a week of expert insights, international networking, and strategic business development. Highlights include: • Keynote addresses by Cristiane Quartaroli, Chief Economist at Ouribank, and Welber Barral, Advisor and Founding Partner of BMJ • Deep-dives into digitalisation, supply chain finance (SCF), fraud prevention, and global regulatory updates • The return of the highly anticipated Import/Export Factoring Speed-Meeting...Read more
10x1000 Tech for Inclusion's Global Challenger Video Contest 2025 is now accepting submissions
Financial Inclusion
10x1000 Tech for Inclusion's Global Challenger Video Contest 2025 is now accepting submissions until June 1, 2025. This is an opportunity for potential game-changers and innovators to gain global exposure, receive mentorship, and fast-track their innovations. Together, let's make your voices heard and make a difference on a global stage. Quick Links: Contest Details and Submission Testimonials and stories from previous participants, including last year's winners like Lumbie Mlambo, Monish Mithra Waran, and Wendy Leong. You can read more about their journeys here , here , and here . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion...Read more

ezee.ai

ezee.ai is a fintech firm which is providing end to end digital lending solutions via zero code platforms. Our platforms are used by various banks and financial institutions across different countries.

Cascade Debt

Cascade is a global end-to-end technology platform built for the specialty finance and asset-based lending markets to help originators and investors streamline workflows from pre-deal diligence to post-close monitoring. Cascade cleans and validates data tapes by recalculating values from raw inputs, providing almost real-time visibility on performance metrics, borrowing bases, covenants, and more. Our users experience significant time savings on structuring and managing debt facilities, allowing them to scale debt portfolios without worrying about additional operational overhead. Backed by top VCs in the US, Cascade is one of the fastest growing platforms in the private credit space and works with over 80+ originators and over two dozen institutional investors.

Produbanco

Produbanco is part of Grupo Promerica with a presence in 9 countries in Central and South America. Produbanco's purpose is to generate value with a sustainable approach to transcend people's lives; through its business segments: corporate, business, affluent high network, institutional, SME and consumer. During its 47 years of successful existence, Produbanco has received numerous local and international awards that endorse its prestige. Among the most outstanding are: First place in the PXI Ecuador 2024 ranking of the Praxis Xperience Index. Best Financial Institution for SMEs led by Women (2023) awarded by the SME Finance Forum; Best Bank Ecuador (2017 to 2024), Sustainable Finance Awards in the Country and Territory Awards category for Latin America for Ecuador (2024) awarded by Global Finance; Bank of the Year Ecuador for the fourteenth time (2002, 2007, 2009 to 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), Best Innovation in Retail Banking Ecuador (2017 to 2023) awarded by The Banker magazine, among others. 

Produbanco, A key player in Ecuador's financial sector, joins the SME Finance Forum
Washington D.C, May 2nd, 2025 – Produbanco , stands as a key player of Ecuador's SME sector, offering significant financial resources and strategic partnerships that foster sustainable progress, they have joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “The SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome Produbanco. As a leading financial institution in Ecuador, Produbanco prioritizes the advancement of SMEs by offering...Read more
The Use of Alternative Data in Credit Risk Assessment: Opportunities, Risks, and Challenges
Data Analytics
Digitalization accelerated by the pandemic has exponentially increased the number and variability of alternative data sources. The stay-at-home requirements during the pandemic forced several business models to be digitized. This helped spur the digitization that had been ongoing pre-pandemic, largely driven by governments as countries sought to leverage the benefits of the digital economy. Advances in technological innovations are also facilitating the development of advanced credit underwriting models and the use of structured and unstructured data to assess creditworthiness. This has enabled the financial industry to actively integrate alternative data to gain a competitive edge. This study examines the evolution...Read more
Yemen Microfinance Network (YMN), Yemen's microfinance institutions association, an NGO co-funded by UNDP and SFD, joins the SME Finance Forum
Financial Education
Financial Inclusion
Washington D.C, March 7, 2025 – Yemen Microfinance Network (YMN) , Yemen's microfinance institutions association, an NGO co-funded by UNDP and SFD has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome Yemen's microfinance institutions association. It is with great pleasure I welcome Yemen Microfinance Network to SME Finance Forum. Yemen Microfinance Network's efforts in strengthening...Read more

Kifiya

Founded in 2012, Kifiya's vision is creating equitable access to market and finacial services for micro, small and medium enterprises(MSMEs), smallholder farmers (SHFs) & low and middle-income individuals. 
 
At the center of our technology stack are: 1) an AI driven alternative data-based scoring plateform that enables MSMEs, SHFs, and Individuals to be credit scored, and 2) an embedded finance infrastructure supporting credit, payment, insurance, and wallet services that drive the development of nine platforms. Together, these technologies enable FIs, MFIs, and FinTechs to offer various types of micro and small credit, micro insurance, and payment products and services. 
 
One of our key platfoms released 18 months ago is Qena, our intelligent financial services platform with KYC+ loan origination, complete credit management and collection modules. It leverages the credit scoring platform to enable banks and MFIs provide uncollateralized digital micro and small credit to MSMes, SHFs & Individuals.
 

M1xchange

M1xchange TReDS is a digital marketplace that enables seamless invoice discounting for MSMEs. It helps unlock working capital efficiently, enhancing liquidity and financial stability.

Business Partners

Business Partners was established in South Africa 1981, and to date has unlocked business value in over 71 000 business finance transactions, providing customized finance solutions to SMEs using debt, equity and blended finance as well as providing comprehensive technical assistance to help portfolio companies grow. Apart from our extensive experience in South Africa, Business Partners has also invested and managed various funds in East and Southern Africa over the last 20 years. The Global SME Finance Awards named Business Partners the 2019 Gold winner in the SME Bank of the Year – Africa.

Fauree, UAE’s Leading Supply Chain Finance & Working Capital Solutions Provider, Joins SME Finance Forum
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Washington D.C, March 12, 2025 – Fauree , UAE’s leading provider of supply chain finance and working capital solutions, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "The SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome UAE’s leading provider of supply chain finance and working capital solutions. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Fauree to the SME Finance Forum. Fauree's...Read more
Non Financial Services Innovation Hub - Solution Clinic
Non Financial Services
While there are many challenges for SMEs, there are important steps SMEs can take to build resilience, including improvements in financial literacy to navigate uncertainty. Business decisions can be challenging for SMEs if they fail to identify key metrics to measure performance and report relevant data to financial service providers. This hub will discuss how to help SMEs improve financial understanding and awareness, get relevant business advice and effectively manage liquidity and debt. On the other end, members will also tackle how financial service providers can improve their own understanding of digital disruptions in financial services​ so they can implement...Read more
G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion - Action Plan for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Financing
G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion - Action Plan for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Financing Join us on May 29 th , 2025 , at 8:00 AM EDT for an insightful discussion of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) Action Plan for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Financing, recently released. The Action Plan The G20/GPFI for MSME Financing Action Plan is a call to action for G20 and non G20 countries to intensify their efforts to close the MSME financing gap given the potential impact on productivity, job creation and achieving the sustainable development goals. The credit...Read more
Convergence Blended Finance, the Global Blended Finance Network Driving Private Investment in Developing Countries, joins the SME Finance Forum.
Equity
Data Analytics
Washington D.C, March 26, 2025 – Convergence Blended Finance , the global blended finance network driving private investment in developing countries, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "SME Finance Forum proudly welcomes Convergence Blended Finance (Convergence). Convergence’s expertise in blended finance and commitment to increasing private sector investment in developing countries align perfectly with our mission to expand financial...Read more
Vayana, India's largest Supply Chain Finance Network, joins the SME Finance Forum
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Washington D.C, April 7, 2025 – Vayana , India's largest Supply Chain Finance Network has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome India's largest Supply Chain Finance Network. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Vayana to the SME Finance Forum. Vayana’s pioneering efforts in operationalizing the ITFS platform demonstrate their dedication to...Read more

Seu Ativo

Seu Ativo, founded by seasoned professionals with expertise in investments, payments, and technology, aims to develop Brazil's invoice financing market amidst regulatory transformation by the Brazilian Central Bank. Focused on MSMEs and e-invoice issuers, Seu Ativo offers a fully digital process ensuring legitimacy and unicity for e-invoices and receivables. In association w/an Payment Institution, Seu Ativo have created a unique settlement process to ensure payments reach the true owner of the receivable.

Enhancing SMEs’ integration in regional value and supply chains for job creation and sustainable growth in African vulnerable countries
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Sustainable Finance
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are central to Africa’s economic transformation, representing a significant share of employment, innovation and GDP. However, their integration into regional value and supply chains remains limited, particularly in vulnerable countries. This virtual side event emphasizes the importance of strengthening SMEs’ participation in regional markets as a pathway to job creation and inclusive economic growth, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Co-organized with the Uganda Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, this side event will take place during the Eleventh Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) to address the critical role of...Read more
Policy & Regulation
Global Symposium on Credit Guarantee May 29 – 30, 2025 Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro & Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) (Setup by Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India and SIDBI) This symposium organized by CGTMSE, a subsidiary of our member SIDBI. This is by invitation only for SME Finance Forum members and if you are interested in joining, please reach out to us at smefinanceforum@ifc.orgRead more
C2FO: Connecting SMEs with Equitable Access to Working Capital
Supply & Value Chain Finance
IFC and C2FO are working under a strategic partnership to bolster job growth and economic prosperity in emerging markets and developing economies. The first initiative will work to enhance financing for local enterprises in Africa by developing a specialized, web-based multinational working capital platform for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative is IFC's first dedicated supply chain financing facility in Africa for smaller businesses, and aims to provide much-needed liquidity to MSMEs without the need for risk-based underwriting. C2FO won the SME Financier of the Year Award at the Global SME Finance Forum Awards 2024 , the...Read more
FaturamPara, Turkey's first company with both RegTech and FinTech features, has joined the SME Finance Forum
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Washington D.C, April 3, 2025 – FaturamPara , Turkey's first company with both RegTech and FinTech features has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome Turkey's first company with both RegTech and FinTech features. It is with great pleasure I welcome FaturamPara to SME Finance Forum. As the exclusive authorized risk...Read more
OECD Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs Scoreboard: 2025 Highlights
Policy & Regulation
The OECD Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs Scoreboard: 2025 Highlights tracks financing trends, conditions and policy developments across nearly 50 countries. The paper provides official data on SME financing from 2007 to 2023, with additional insights for 2024 and early 2025, covering debt, equity, asset-based finance and overall financing conditions. It shows that SMEs continue to face a restrictive financing environment, with high interest rates and economic uncertainty leading to sharp declines in SME lending. Other financing sources, such as factoring and leasing, also showed weak performance, while venture capital investments fluctuated across markets and sectors. The shift towards smaller-scale, short-term...Read more
SME Finance Virtual Marketplace
Fintech
Empowering SMEs with Simplified ESG reporting Fintech Solutions About the Virtual SME Marketplace   Each month we are running  sessions  featuring leading small business lenders and SME growth facilitators who present their MSMEs offerings in a 7-minute pitch to an audience of potential financial institution clients and partners looking for impactful fintech solutions. Through those sessions - run by the SME Finance Forum - we foster collaboration between financial institutions, fintech companies, development finance institutions and investors. We have featured 150+ companies active in many different markets, attracted +2000 participants and generated many business leads, leading to investments, partnerships, and innovation advancement.  Topic ESG (Environmental, Social,...Read more
Information Session on Sustainable SME Financier of the Year, Global SME Finance Awards 2025
Sustainable Finance
Global SME Finance Awards 2025 Information Session on Sustainable SME Financier of the Year Be recognized, Share impact in SME FINANCE The SME Finance Forum organizes the Global SME Finance Awards (The Awards) as a core part of its mission to create a unique platform for peer connections, knowledge dissemination, and innovations in SME Finance. The Forum’s extensive 240+ global network, crowds in financial institutions, fintech companies, development banks, policymakers, and industry experts from across the globe, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and partnership building on a global scale. Hence, th e Global SME Finance Awards has evolved into a pinnacle...Read more
ADAPTA, US Tech Firm Expanding AI-Driven Risk Management in Global Agriculture, has joined the SME Finance Forum
Data & Cybersecurity
Washington D.C, April 2, 2025 – ADAPTA , US Tech Firm Expanding AI-Driven Risk Management in Global Agriculture has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome the US tech firm expanding AI-driven risk management in global agriculture. It is with great pleasure I welcome ADAPTA to SME Finance Forum. ADAPTA’s pioneering work in AI-driven,...Read more
Sustainable Finance
The two days program offers great insights into AKBANK’s remarkable efforts and achievements in digital design and innovation especially how the bank integrates digital technology including AI to deliver customer experiences. Serving almost one third of the SMEs market in Turkey, some of the key factors driving the bank’s significant growth in market share include: Automation and digitalization - The bank has heavily invested in automating its marketing, credit approval, and customer engagement processes, which has enabled it to be more efficient and responsive. Focus on qualified customers - The bank has deliberately targeted customers with higher credit scores and...Read more

ADAPTA

ADAPTA is a US-based technology company operating in East Africa, Latin America, and soon Asia. It offers an AI-driven, cloud-based risk management software solution that equips financial intermediaries with the necessary data and insights to assess and mitigate climate, soil, water, and biodiversity risks in agricultural loans and investments. Through its innovative technology, ADAPTA has received support from the Climate Catalytic Finance Facility to launch the Climate Finance Facility—a unique bank of banks providing technology, blended finance, and capacity-building to scale nature-based agricultural practices globally.

Agrifinance Innovation Hub - [Solutions Clinic]
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Agrifinance plays a very significant role in providing crucial access to capital for farmers and SME agribusinesses, allowing them to invest in necessary equipment, land, and seeds, enabling them to enhance their productivity, yields, and grow their operations and income. Due to the inherent uncertainties in agriculture, especially volatile weather patterns, unpredictable crop yields, unstable commodity prices, and access to input and output markets, which can considerably impact on the ability of farmers and agribusinesses to repay loans, creating the perception of a high-risk investment for lenders, particularly banks, compared to other sectors. This upcoming innovation hub on agrifinance, scheduled...Read more
Viet Nam: Creating Pre-Conditions for a Nonperforming Loan Market
Credit Risk & Scoring
Since 2020, #VietNam has experienced a surge in nonperforming loans (NPLs). Not only does the growing number of NPLs reduce the stability of the banking system, but each one represents a borrower excluded from credit markets. Many of the NPLs are consumer debts, meaning poorer households are particularly hard hit. IFC - International Finance Corporation ’s collaboration with The World Bank , SECO Economic Cooperation and Development , and local Vietnamese partners has led to the creation of specialized bankruptcy courts and increased private sector investment. IFC's investment aims to strengthen Viet...Read more
AI in SME Finance: Opportunities and Threats
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Payments
AI technology plays a pivotal role in revolutionizing SME finance by offering many benefits and transforming traditional practices. It brings new opportunities for the financial and non-financial institutions by automating operational workflows, harnessing alternative data sources, and building new forecasting and credit models to serve previously excluded MSMEs. Nonetheless, the integration of AI technology also poses its own set of challenges. The utilization of AI within their respective organizations, both internally and in their interactions with SME clients; How their institutions operationalize AI for maximum gain; How their institutions navigate the inherent risks associated with the implementation of AI. Keynote...Read more
Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), which enhances market transparency and combats financial crime through the implementation and use of the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI), joins the SME Finance Forum
Data Analytics
Washington D.C, March 26, 2025 – The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) , which enhances market transparency and combats financial crime through the implementation and use of the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "SME Finance Forum proudly welcomes the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), which enhances market transparency and combats financial crime...Read more
 What is the Role of Modern Law on Warehouse Receipts in Increasing Investable Opportunities
Rural & Agriculture Finance
What is the Role of Modern Law on Warehouse Receipts in Increasing Investable Opportunities? [Open Webinar] - April 14, 2025 Click here to join the meeting Modern regimes or laws for warehouse receipts are necessary to facilitate agricultural finance and transactions with commodities. Many States have outdated or non-existent warehouse receipts laws that increase the cost of transactions and credit, exacerbating risks within the ecosystem. The 2024 UNCITRAL-UNIDOIT Model Law on Warehouse Receipts provides a framework for States to modernize their regimes, including enabling the use of electronic receipts, establishing registries, and operationalizing exchanges. This webinar...Read more
First Finance, a leading SME financial services provider in Iraq, adheres to the best international practices to support and empower small and medium-sized enterprises, joins the SME Finance Forum
Financial Inclusion
Washington D.C, March 24, 2025 – First Finance , a leading SME financial services provider in Iraq which adheres to international best practices to support and empower small and medium-sized enterprises has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum operate in 190 countries and share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome First Finance. We appreciate First Finance's commitment to providing financial services to small and medium enterprises. This will significantly...Read more