Inclusive Fintech 50

What Inclusive Fintech 50 does

The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) at Accion is an independent global think tank founded by Accion in 2008 to advance inclusive financial systems for underserved populations. Operating from Washington, D.C., with a staff of 11–50, CFI conducts rigorous research across six thematic areas—consumer protection, responsible data practices, climate adaptation and resilience, women's financial inclusion, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the digital economy—and disseminates findings through publications, technical resources, and global convenings including Financial Inclusion Week and the Responsible Finance Forum.

CFI does not sell products or services; its operations are funded through grants and partnerships with philanthropic foundations and development organizations. Disclosed financial supporters include Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, MetLife Foundation, FMO Entrepreneurial Development Bank, and the Institute of International Finance, with all CFI staff employed by parent entity Accion International. The organization maintains a multi-country research footprint spanning the United States, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Brazil, the Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, and Colombia.

The leadership team—Managing Director Nataša Goronja and Deputy Managing Director Edoardo Totolo—is drawn from the World Bank, IFC, and other development finance institutions, and the organization runs community initiatives such as the Global DPI Insights Community and the PROTECT Initiative on fraud and scams. Inclusive Fintech 50 (IF50), a global innovation competition identifying emerging inclusive fintech startups for investor access, is presented alongside CFI as part of the broader Accion inclusive-finance ecosystem, headquartered in San Francisco.

Name

Inclusive Fintech 50

Legal name

Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion

Website

https://inclusivefintech50.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) at Accion is an independent global think tank that conducts research, pilots innovative solutions, and convenes the inclusive finance sector to advance evidence-based financial inclusion for underserved populations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Fintech Competition & Awards

NAICS

Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

Keywords

• Inclusive fintech competition
• Fintech startup awards
• Financial inclusion program
• Emerging market fintech
• Investor deal flow

Headquarters

HQ city

Lowell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Inclusive Fintech 50 is a global innovation competition that identifies, evaluates, and promotes emerging inclusive fintech companies to make them accessible to investors. The program is operated by the Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI), an independent think tank housed at Accion International, and selects a cohort of startups working on financial inclusion across emerging markets. Selection and recognition are supported by CFI's research capabilities and partner network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inclusive Fintech 50 Competition

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• AccioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFI is an independent think tank housed at Accion. Accion founded CFI in 2008 to serve as an independent think tank on inclusive finance. Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy.
• Institute of International Finance (IIF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIF partnered with CFI on the Mainstreaming Financial Inclusion initiative to help advance efforts of financial institutions to reach customers at the base of the economic pyramid.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA): Research and policy nonprofit designing and evaluating programs for poverty reduction. Comparable in evidence-based approach and policy-influencing model; overlap with CFI on consumer protection and financial inclusion impact studies.
• J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab): Global research network running randomized evaluations on poverty alleviation. Comparable to CFI in evidence-based research orientation but with a stronger academic/RCT focus rather than sector-policy convening.

Broad incumbents

• UNCDF (United Nations Capital Development Fund): UN agency providing capital and technical assistance to inclusive finance and local development in LDCs. Comparable mission and donor base; broader mandate with capital deployment, while CFI focuses on research and convening.
• Accion International: CFI's parent organization and broader global nonprofit operating inclusive financial services, impact investment, and advisory programs. Direct counterpart in the inclusive finance ecosystem with overlapping leadership and donor base.

Direct peers

• SEEP Network: Membership network building capacity of financial inclusion and market systems practitioners globally. Comparable convening and peer-learning model with overlapping practitioner audiences.
• FinEquity: Member-led network advancing gender-lens inclusive finance through research, peer learning, and advocacy. Comparable to CFI's Women’s Financial Inclusion and consumer-protection work, with overlapping funder and practitioner audiences.
• CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor): World Bank-hosted research and advisory body focused on financial inclusion for the poor. Closest direct peer to CFI: both publish flagship research, run global convenings, and shape inclusive-finance policy for funders and providers.
• BFA Global: Financial inclusion research, advisory, and program-design firm serving funders, FSPs, and fintechs. Comparable to CFI in customer base (DFIs, foundations, fintechs) and in producing applied research plus convenings on inclusive finance.

Others

• Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth: Private-sector philanthropic arm funding inclusive-finance research and is a current CFI partner. Adjacent funder/ecosystem participant with overlapping inclusive-finance portfolio.
• FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank): European DFI and current CFI funder/partner. Included as adjacent ecosystem participant representing the DFI funder class whose priorities and capital flows CFI's research influences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/centerforfi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRc7lcmozch4UwirFfXjU6g
• Facebookfacebook.com/accionintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/center-for-financial-inclusion-at-accion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Inclusive Fintech 50