Villgro has announced that the innovative financing solutions powered by Villgro and its partner organizations have, to date, enabled 106 women micro entrepreneurs across India to take business loans.

With support from The Coca-Cola Foundation, Accion will partner with financial service providers in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, and Mexico to address challenges faced by women when accessing financial services.

The program is currently inviting applications from startups working on gender-inclusive financial solutions, targeting those with a demonstrable minimum viable product and having received pre-seed to pre-Series A funding, or generating revenues or traction.

This long-tenor co-financing arrangement is one of its kind in the Indian microfinance industry, representing a significant step in strengthening CA Grameen's funding profile to further its mission of providing affordable financial services to women entrepreneurs across India.

The funding aims to increase competitiveness in the climate finance market, support the country’s climate goals, and promote financial inclusion.

This is IFC’s first blue investment in India and the first blue transaction by a financial institution in the country.

The fresh capital will be used by Jeff App to continue its aggressive expansion into new markets, with India being the next target. 

The fund will support and invest in social entrepreneurs working in the fields of agriculture, financial inclusion, supply chain and mobility, with the aim of solving social issues in India through business.

Axis Bank and Piramal Finance's recent partnership aims to boost financial inclusion for underserved borrowers, facilitate easier access to credit for MSMEs to foster business growth.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said it has come across instances of micro lenders and non-bank financiers charging high, 'usurious' interest rates on small-value loans, reminding them to judiciously use their pricing power.