onetakeVC

Bangladeshi agri-fintech startup iFarmer has previously raised $2.1m from IDLC Venture Capital Fund, Millville Opportunities and Startup Bangladesh Limited, Accelerating Asia and angel investors in Singapore, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The company, founded in 2018, aims to provide farmers with financial access, technology-driven advice, and premium markets for their produce. iFarmer has already empowered >1,500 farmers and facilitated >$1 million in financing.

Ndovu, a Kenyan wealth-tech startup co-founded in 2020 by Radhika Bhachu, Ro Nyangeri, and Gianpaolo De Biase, has secured pre-seed funding from 4DX Ventures, Plug and Play Tech Center, Future Africa, and Oui Capital. Ndovu aims to provide every African with the right tools to grow their wealth, regardless of income level or financial knowledge, by demystifying investments through an easy-to-use platform. Individual users (as retail investors) can invest as little as KSh5,000 ($50) in local and global investments through the regulated platform. Ndovu has also begun offering a B2B product, discussed on this week's episode.

Pharmacies represent the most accessible form of healthcare in emerging markets, but the sector is largely made up of fragmented retail pharmacies that are yet to be digitized. Pharmacies face stock-outs/overstocks, undercapitalized supply chains, and otherwise find it difficult to manage their inventory. Product offerings are not standardized and end-customers face the risk of fake or substandard medications. OneHealth Nigeria, a health tech startup founded by pharmacist Adeola Alli, aims to provide accessible and affordable healthcare for Nigerians through its online pharmacy and digital healthcare platform. The company's subscription-based Wellness Club offers health trackers, access to healthcare professionals, medication delivery, and lab testing at reduced costs. Alli credits her participation in the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program for helping her grow the business and overcome the challenges faced by female tech entrepreneurs in securing investment.

Koban is the first digital-only financial services platform in Bolivia, providing payment products and loans to consumers on a secure digital banking platform. Koban is led by a multidisciplinary team of experienced entrepreneurs who, among them, have previously built and scaled technology-based platforms in emerging markets and have over a decade of experience in the global financial industry. It is backed by leading international investors, including Precursor Ventures, FJ Labs, Class5 Global, and Newtopia VC.

Homebase, a startup out of Y Combinator & Antler, aims to provide an alternative financing option for prospective home buyers in Vietnam. The company acts as a co-investor, buying a share of the property with customers who can later buy equity from Homebase or sell the property for their share of the proceeds. In the meantime, buyers pay rent to Homebase according to the company's stake in the property. Homebase's model is similar to Divvy Homes and ZeroDown in the US. The company focuses on Vietnam due to the high percentage of unbanked adults, which makes it difficult for them to apply for mortgages. Homebase plans to expand into Hanoi and Danang, and ultimately enter other Southeast Asian markets. The company finances its stake in properties by working with third-party financial institutions and performs due diligence on potential properties to ensure aligned incentives with buyers. Homebase is backed by leading investors and partners around the world (YC, Goodwater Capital, Partech Ventures, etc), with the most recent $30M round of equity and debt funding announced in 2021.

Diego Rojas talks about rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs), early stage fundraising, and building a product for the customer.

Lessons in growth and scale from David, the CEO and founder of Jabu Logistics in Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa.

Talking to Yusuf Raza and Daniel West from Panalyt in Singapore about people analytics and building inclusive workplaces.