Legendary hip-hop MC RAKIM is entering fintech with his new platform, Notes. The artist created a platform with the hope of helping artists capitalize on their creative projects and gain financial independence. Recognized by many as one of the greatest MCs of all time, RAKIM rose to fame as one-half of the rap duo Eric B. and Rakim. Now, he has launched an AI-powered platform as a one-stop shop for music, money, and knowledge for artists and creators. “Independent urban music artists and creators often struggle to gain financial stability
South Africa’s digital lender Tyme Group has raised $250 million in a Series D funding round, pushing its valuation to $1.5 billion and securing its place as Africa’s ninth unicorn. Nu Holdings Backs Tyme’s Global Ambitions The round was led by Nu Holdings, Latin America’s largest fintech company. Nu Holdings, the parent company of Nubank, invested $150 million for a 10% stake, marking its first major bet outside of Latin America. M&G Catalyst Fund contributed an additional $50 million, while existing investors, including Tencent and Gokongwei Group, also participated. Tyme’s
Nigerian fintech startup Billboxx has raised $1.6 million in a pre-seed funding round, aiming to empower African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with cash flow management solutions. The funding, a combination of debt and equity, was led by Norrsken Accelerator, Kaleo Ventures, 54 Collective, P2Vest, and Afrinovation Ventures. Addressing SME Cash Flow Issues Founded in 2023 by Justus Obaoye and Abdulazeez Ogunjobi, Billboxx offers invoice financing and payment processing services to help SMEs combat cash flow challenges caused by delayed payments from enterprise clients. The platform facilitates upfront payments for
Latina-owned fintech platform Hello Alice has announced it has distributed more than $50 million in grants to small businesses across the US since 2020. Founded by Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, the digital platform has become a cornerstone of support for entrepreneurs nationwide, providing funding, mentorship, and tools to help their businesses grow. Empowering Entrepreneurs Nationwide Hello Alice was born out of co-founder and CEO Carolyn Rodz’s struggles as an entrepreneur. A former JPMorgan investment banker from Bolivia, Rodz told American Banker she faced significant hurdles when raising capital for
Gig Wage, Dallas-based payments platform for the gig economy, has relaunched with a $8.25 million Series A funding extension, bringing total funding to $20.2 million. The company is also rolling out new tools designed to streamline payroll and benefits for independent contractors. A Fresh Start After Challenges Gig Wage’s latest funding round includes new investors Discover, Motley Fool, and Chartline Capital Partners, with additional support from existing backers like Green Dot and Foundry Group. The funding comes after a challenging period for the company, which had to rebuild its platform
Sandbox Wealth, a modern banking platform tailored for non-bank financial institutions, has raised $1.25 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by NextGen Venture Partners with additional backing from Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, gener8tor, and RevTech Labs. Transforming Wealth Management Founded in 2023 by Ray Denis, Sandbox Wealth seeks to fill gaps in the wealth management sector by offering a platform that integrates deposits, lending, and advanced analytics. This innovation particularly benefits Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and Family Offices by providing tools that enhance client relationships and support business
9fin, a London-based debt market intelligence startup, has secured $50 million in Series B funding led by Highland Europe, a prominent growth capital investor. As first reported by The Financial Times, this latest funding is expected to drive 9fin’s expansion, particularly in the United States, where the company’s growth is accelerating. It also marks a milestone in 9fin’s journey, bringing total funding to nearly $90 million since its inception in 2016. Aiming for Billion-Dollar Revenues Co-founded by Huss El-Sheikh and Steven Hunter, 9fin began as a response to the lack
Michael Rainey Jr., star of PowerBook II: Ghost, has introduced a $2.4 million financial literacy program targeting high school students in his hometown of Staten Island, New York. In partnership with the Restoring America Recovery Education (RARE) Foundation and Equifax, the initiative—called “Educate a Student. Protect Yourself”—aims to provide up to 250,000 students with the tools they need to secure their financial futures. Empowering Students With Financial Knowledge Rainey officially launched the program on November 24 at Port Richmond High School, where he engaged directly with students, sharing his journey
New York-based fintech startup StoreCash has raised $3.7 million in a seed funding round led by Black Operator Ventures, with participation from notable investors like MaC Venture Capital, 43North, Alumni Ventures, and others. This brings StoreCash’s total funding to $6.4 million since its founding in 2019. Instant Cash Back Rewards Founded by Daricus Releford, StoreCash is a mobile app that helps users earn immediate cash-back rewards when shopping at brands such as Gap, H&M, and AMC Theatres, offering users an average of $900 annually. The app integrates its API with
Visa has announced investments in four African fintech startups that recently graduated from its Africa Fintech Accelerator program. While Visa did not disclose specific investment amounts, the initiative reflects its ongoing efforts to drive financial inclusion and support digital innovation in Africa. Supporting Fintech Innovation Across Africa The four startups—Oze, Workpay, OkHi, and ORDA—each offer digital solutions tailored to address key financial and logistical challenges in African markets. By backing these companies, Visa is betting on a diverse range of technologies to enhance access to financial services for small businesses,
