Propelle, a new investment platform tailored specifically for women, launched on September 25 with an ambitious aim: to close the UK’s gender wealth gap. The platform, founded by 40-year-old Ayesha Ofori, a former Goldman Sachs Executive Director, empowers women to invest confidently and build wealth. Closing The Gender Investment Gap During her six years at Goldman Sachs, Ofori managed over £500 million ($663 million) in client assets and saw firsthand how the investment world primarily benefited the wealthy—and predominantly men. With the UK’s gender investment gap currently standing at £1.65
Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latine communities in the US. It began as a week-long event in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was extended to a month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The dates are significant because they coincide with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile. In keeping with this year’s theme, “Inspiring Innovation and Empowering Communities,” here are
This article is sponsored by Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab The Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab (MSIVL) is proving that inclusion really does fuel innovation. Since 2017, Morgan Stanley’s in-house startup accelerator has helped over 100 companies raise over $200 million and reach a collective valuation of more than $1 billion. MSIVL provides early-stage technology and technology-enabled startups with $250,000, handpicked mentors, custom curriculums in finance, sales, and marketing, and a coveted opportunity to pitch to investors following their five-month accelerator participation on a Demo Day, setting founders up for
Kredete, a Nigerian fintech platform, has raised $2.25 million in seed funding, enhancing its ability to serve African immigrants in the U.S. The funding round, led by Blockchain Founders Fund (BFF), also included investors like Techstars, Tezos Foundation, Polymorphic Capital, among others. Kredete’s mission is to help African immigrants build credit while simplifying remittances, transforming how they send money home. Addressing Financial Barriers for African Immigrants Kredete’s innovative approach has attracted a user base of over 300,000 and processed transactions exceeding $100 million. The platform allows immigrants to send money
WealthMore, the fintech startup founded by Mical Jeanlys-White, has secured over $1 million in pre-seed funding according to Forbes. The company aims to make financial advice more accessible and affordable, particularly for individuals who have been historically underserved by traditional wealth management firms. Bridging the Wealth Gap with Hybrid Financial Solutions Wealthmore is a premium wealth advisor-ed, tech-enabled investing and planning service and community, launched in August 2023. The company’s approach to wealth management combines the efficiency of fintech with the personal touch of traditional financial advisors. This hybrid model
Waza, a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup, has officially launched from stealth mode, securing $8 million in seed funding to transform how African businesses manage cross-border trade. The funding round was led by major investors including Byld Ventures, Norrsken Africa, and Timon Capital, with the aim of empowering enterprises across the continent to navigate global markets more effectively. Solving Africa’s Trade Imbalance The African continent faces a significant trade imbalance, driven by a persistent demand for the dollar—a currency essential for international trade. This demand often surpasses supply, resulting in higher costs
London-based fintech startup Jarvis has secured £1.8 million ($2.3 million) in funding to transform retirement planning. The funding round was led by Ascension VC and Cornerstone VC, with additional participation from Tokio Marine Future Fund. This capital injection will support Jarvis’s growth and product development as it integrates with the broader ecosystem of pension-related services. Addressing The Retirement Planning Gap In today’s workforce, financial autonomy is on the rise, with the global shift towards self-employment and gig economy work has made traditional workplace benefits like pensions increasingly inaccessible. Projections indicate
Mexican fintech company OCN, which offers car rental models for gig workers in Mexico and the US, has successfully raised $86 million in equity and debt. The Series A funding round was led by Brazil’s Caravela Capital, with additional contributions from Collide Capital and Great North Ventures on the equity side, and New York-based i80 Group leading the debt portion. Innovative Solutions For Gig Workers Launched in 2022, OCN provides gig workers with new car rentals on a weekly fee basis, inclusive of maintenance and insurance. Users also have the
Caliza has secured $8.5 million funding. Founded in 2021 by Ezra Kebrab, the Brazil-based startup transforms cross-border transactions in Latin America through the use of crypto stablecoins. The company recently secured funding led by Initialized Capital, enabling them to expand their innovative payment solutions that leverage Circle’s USDC (USD Coin), according to TechCrunch. “Caliza is building global financial infrastructure that removes borders from commerce,” Kebrab wrote on LinkedIn. “I’m excited to unveil the latest including our recent $8.5M round.” Bringing Speed and Stability to Cross-Border Payments Unlike traditional transfers made
South Africa’s leading digital bank, TymeBank, has successfully raised $77.8 million in a pre-Series C funding round. The round was co-led by African growth-stage investor Norrsken22 and global impact investment firm Blue Earth Capital. This increase of capital brings TymeBank’s total raised funds to over $260 million, marking a milestone in the bank’s growth and expansion plans. Existing investor Tencent, which spearheaded TymeBank’s $180 million Series B round in December 2021, also participated in this round, further increasing its stake to become the third-largest shareholder. Strategic Investments and Growth Launched
