EA Consultants

What EA Consultants does

EA Consultants is a privately held boutique consulting firm based in New York that advises financial institutions, fintech companies, impact investors, governments, and development organizations on designing and distributing financial products and services for low-income markets. Founded in 2006 (per the firm's own materials, though one firmographic source lists 1974), the firm has operated for nearly two decades in the financial inclusion and microinsurance space, with documented engagement across Latin America, the Caribbean, East and Southern Africa, South America, and the United States. Its core services span product design, business model strengthening, operations enhancement, policy development, market research, impact measurement, and program evaluation, delivered through direct consulting engagements on a project-based pricing model.

The firm has developed three proprietary methodologies that differentiate its advisory practice: the NICE Research Approach for respectful, client-centered field research; the Slices of Healthcare Model for designing affordable narrow-scope health insurance products; and Bottom Up Segmentation, which combines small-data observable characteristics with front-line staff knowledge to identify actionable customer segments. EA Consultants supplements its consulting work with a content and knowledge distribution layer that includes the EA Learning online platform, the Small Business Tool Box (containing reusable guides such as "Before You Pitch" and "Plan Backwards"), and an extensive publications library covering financial inclusion, migrant finance, consumer protection, and entrepreneurship. Technology usage is operational rather than core to the offering — the firm relies on standard productivity tools including ChatGPT for drafting and synthesis, Fathom/Zoom for transcription, Excel and SurveyMonkey for analysis, Wix for its web/learning platform, and Campaign Monitor for newsletters. Partnerships span multilateral and academic institutions including IDB Lab, the Financial Access Initiative at NYU Wagner, the Aspen Institute, UNCDF, UN Women, Grameen Foundation, and Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, where the firm's president Barbara Magnoni teaches.

EA Consultants operates on a professional services revenue model with non-publicly disclosed project-based pricing. The firm maintains a roster-based staffing model with 1–10 core employees and engages consultants on demand, which keeps fixed costs low but limits scalability without partnership expansion. The business is founder-led by President Barbara Magnoni, with no disclosed external investment, no funding rounds, and no parent company. The combination of institutional client diversification, proprietary methodologies, academic affiliations, and active thought-leadership distribution positions EA Consultants as a specialized niche player in the financial inclusion advisory market rather than a scaled platform business.

Name

EA Consultants

Legal name

EA Consultants

Website

https://eac-global.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EA Consultants is a New York-based boutique consulting firm advising banks, insurers, microfinance institutions, fintech companies, impact investors, and governments on designing financial products and services for low-income markets across multiple regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Inclusion Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Management & Performance Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)

Keywords

• Financial inclusion consulting
• Microfinance advisory
• Financial product design
• Microinsurance consulting
• Development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: EA Consultants provides consulting services to financial service providers, governments, and development organizations. Services include product design, business model strengthening, operations enhancement, and policy development for reaching low-income households with financial services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EA Consultants is a consulting firm that designs financial products, builds business models, strengthens operations, and develops policy for institutions serving low-income households. Since 2006, the firm has worked with banks, insurers, microfinance institutions, fintech companies, impact investors, governments, and development organizations, combining field-based research with practical product design. It also publishes educational resources and small business tools under its EA Learning platform.

Product overview

EA Consultants is a consulting firm offering financial inclusion consulting services, working since 2006 to help financial institutions, fintech companies, impact investors, governments, and development organizations design products, build business models, and strengthen operations for low-income markets. The firm provides complementary resources including the Small Business Tool Box (featuring tools like 'Before You Pitch: 13 Questions' and 'Plan Backwards'), the EA Learning knowledge platform with articles and research, and an extensive Publications library covering financial inclusion, health financing, migrant financial inclusion, and consumer protection topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Inclusion Consulting Services Project-based consulting engagements helping financial service providers, governments, and development organizations design financial products, build sustainable business models, strengthen operations, and develop policy grounded in evidence about low-income households.
• EA Learning An online knowledge platform that publishes articles, research insights, and practical tools covering financial inclusion, microfinance, survey methodologies, and small business development.
• Small Business Tool Box A library of practical guides and exercises for small business owners, including pitch preparation tools (Before You Pitch: 13 Questions) and a long-term planning exercise (Plan Backwards / Letter From My Future Self).
• Publications Research publication library covering distribution of financial services to low-income markets, health financing, migrants and financial inclusion, consumer protection, and entrepreneurship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Surveyed 2,145 migrants across 3 US cities in 6 weeks using technology-enabled methodology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IDB LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaborated on cross-sectional survey of remittance habits of 2,145 migrants from Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Mexico across three US cities. Study 'Remittances from the U.S. to Latin America and the Caribbean: Following the Money Journey' explored cross-border transactions and digital adoption barriers.
• Grameen FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Adopted Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI) methodology since 2013. First endeavor was with LeapFrog Labs to design process for BIMA Mobile to gain insights about mobile microinsurance clients.
• Financial Access Initiative (FAI) at NYU WagnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on the Small Firm Diaries study, evaluating how small businesses can improve quality of jobs they offer. FAI is conducting research on U.S. small business financial challenges.
• Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to evaluate the Shared Success program, examining how small businesses can improve job quality and employee outcomes.
• Appalachian Community Capital (ACC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on RADI initiative to explore how small businesses in Appalachian region can become more self-reliant and resilient facing climate change pressures.
• Shining Rock VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on RADI initiative focused on climate resilience for small businesses in Appalachian region.
• UNCDFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored thinkshop on financial inclusion and women, discussing how to better include women in mobile financial services.
• UN WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored thinkshop on financial inclusion and women, focusing on mobile financial services for women.
• LeapFrog LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on PPI methodology implementation for BIMA Mobile to understand microinsurance client demographics and socioeconomic information.
• Mexico Consulate (New York and Los Angeles)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulates opened doors for survey research with migrant communities, providing trusted venues and introductions to other consulates including Colombian Consulate.
• Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)minorOthersEA Consultants founder Barbara Magnoni teaches at Columbia SIPA, using the institution as a platform for sharing expertise and training future professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor): Global partnership housed at the World Bank that advances financial inclusion through research, advisory, and policy. Overlaps with EA Consultants in setting standards and advising on inclusive finance, but operates at multilateral scale rather than as a private firm.
• FHI 360: Large international development organization delivering programs in economic development and financial inclusion. Comparable in serving development organizations and governments, but with a much broader portfolio beyond financial services.

Direct peers

• MicroSave Consulting: International development consulting firm specializing in financial inclusion, digital finance, and inclusive markets. Directly comparable in working with MFIs, banks, and development organizations on product design and customer research.
• Palladium: International development consulting firm with a Financial Services and Inclusion practice working with DFIs, foundations, and governments. Comparable in delivering advisory, research, and program design for low-income markets.
• BFA Global: Financial inclusion-focused consulting and research firm that advises banks, fintechs, and investors on serving low-income customers. Highly comparable to EA Consultants in client base, methodology-driven approach, and emerging-market focus.
• Dalberg Advisors: Global strategy consulting firm focused on development, social impact, and emerging markets. Overlaps with EA Consultants in serving DFIs, governments, and impact investors on inclusive finance and financial sector strategy.

Emerging players

• J-PAL: Global research center based at MIT studying poverty and financial inclusion through randomized evaluations. Shares EA Consultants' evidence-driven, research-first approach to serving low-income populations, though its primary deliverable is academic research rather than consulting.
• Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA): Research and policy nonprofit that designs and evaluates programs in financial inclusion and economic development. Comparable in evidence-based approach to understanding low-income households, though focused on impact evaluation rather than commercial product design.

Others

• Accion: Global nonprofit committed to financial inclusion that also runs an advisory practice supporting financial institutions serving low-income customers. Adjacent to EA Consultants through its consulting arm, though Accion also operates as an investor and operator.
• Women's World Banking: Nonprofit that works with financial institutions to design products for low-income women. Shares EA Consultants' focus on inclusive product design and financial institutions, but is a mission-driven nonprofit with its own network rather than an independent consultancy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BarbaraatEA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF8o9VlSv8UvMLZoJzLC0ig
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ea-consultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EA Consultants