Accion Ventures, a global nonprofit dedicated to financial inclusion, has announced the launch of a new investment fund targeting early-stage fintech startups. The initiative is aimed at expanding access to affordable financial services for underserved individuals and small businesses worldwide.
The fund is backed by prominent global investors including FMO, Proparco, Ford Foundation, MetLife, and Mastercard. It will focus on innovators leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), satellite imagery, and embedded finance to create scalable solutions for financial access.
Initial investments have already been made in startups based in Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, and the United States, signaling the fund’s broad international footprint.
Since 2012, Accion has invested in 76 companies across 39 countries, with a strong track record of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through access to credit, insurance, and digital finance solutions. This new fund builds on that legacy, seeking to close the financing gap that continues to hinder MSME growth globally.
Accion noted that the initiative will help small businesses strengthen resilience, adapt to digital economies, and expand opportunities for long-term growth. By doing so, the fund is expected to play a pivotal role in unlocking inclusive prosperity in emerging markets.
The launch of this fund comes at a time when platforms such as the upcoming Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027 in Lagos are opening new doors for SMEs to access markets, partnerships, and financing opportunities across the continent.
