Microcred
Microcred (operating as Baobab Group) is a Paris-headquartered digital financial inclusion group serving 1.6 million+ micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses across seven African subsidiaries, disbursing EUR 1.2 billion in loans in 2025 via branch and digital channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Microcred does
Microcred, now operating as Baobab Group (formerly Microcred), is a Paris-headquartered digital financial inclusion group founded in 2005 that provides credit and banking services to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses in Africa. The company operates through seven wholly-owned subsidiaries across Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal, serving more than 1.6 million customers and disbursing EUR 1.2 billion in loans in 2025 (over EUR 1 billion annually as a baseline). The core product is a unified Financial Services Platform delivering digital and in-branch lending, with 46% of loan volume processed digitally through a proprietary "dynamic and scalable technology platform." Revenue is generated principally through interest income on disbursed micro and small-business loans (transaction-fee / net interest margin model), with pricing not publicly disclosed. Distribution is primarily direct via the in-country subsidiary branch networks, complemented by self-serve digital lending channels; the company has positioned itself as a pioneer in interoperability across the WAEMU zone and maintains a Core-tier partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for SME financing and advisory services.
Microcred firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Microcred
- Legal name
- Baobab Group
- Website
- https://microcredgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Microcred (operating as Baobab Group) is a Paris-headquartered digital financial inclusion group serving 1.6 million+ micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses across seven African subsidiaries, disbursing EUR 1.2 billion in loans in 2025 via branch and digital channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Microcred industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Microfinance and Digital Lending
- NAICS
- Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)
Keywords
Where Microcred is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Microcred business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Loan Disbursement and Interest Income: Baobab provides loans to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses, generating revenue through interest on disbursed loans. The company disburses over EUR 1 billion in new loans annually and EUR 1.2 billion in 2025.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Microcred product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Baobab Group (formerly Microcred) provides digital financial services, primarily loans, to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses across Africa through seven country-level subsidiaries. The company disburses over EUR 1 billion in new loans annually (EUR 1.2 billion in 2025) to more than 1.6 million customers, with 46% of loans processed digitally via its proprietary lending platform.
Product overview
Baobab Group operates as a single unified financial services platform serving small businesses across Africa through its seven subsidiaries. The company disburses over EUR 1 billion in new loans annually, with 46% of loans being digital. The platform provides financial services including digital loans designed to fit seamlessly into customers' daily lives, powered by a dynamic and scalable technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Services Platform Core lending and financial services offering providing loans and digital financial services to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses across Africa through seven country subsidiaries, with digitalization at its core enabling faster, more inclusive, and accessible financial services.
Quantifiable outcome
- EUR 1.2 billion disbursed to customers in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Microcred
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Microcred technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Microcred partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Microcred competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Oikocredit: International cooperative providing debt and equity to microfinance institutions and small businesses in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Functions as both peer in scale and a potential wholesale funder to platforms like Baobab.
- Accion: Global nonprofit with deep microfinance expertise, both investing in and operating digital lending ventures across Africa. Comparable mission of financial inclusion for SMBs and a likely peer at the ecosystem/investor level.
- Incofin Investment Management: Belgian impact investment manager focused on microfinance and small business finance in developing countries. An ecosystem participant that both funds and competes with microfinance operators like Baobab.
Emerging players
- Branch International: Digital lender providing micro and small business credit across Africa and other emerging markets. Directly competes with Baobab for the same underbanked SMB borrower through a mobile-first underwriting model.
- Tala: Mobile-based consumer and small business lender active in Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines and other emerging markets. Targets the same underbanked micro-entrepreneur segment via smartphone underwriting.
- Carbon (formerly Paylater): Digital lending platform operating across Nigeria and other African markets, serving underbanked consumers and small businesses. Comparable end-customer profile and digital-first origination model.
- FairMoney: Nigerian digital lender offering micro-loans and SMB credit, increasingly expanding into deposit and payment products. Overlaps with Baobab Nigeria on customer segment and digital distribution model.
Direct peers
- ProCredit Holding: Frankfurt-listed group of SME-and-microfinance focused banks across Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa. Closely comparable business model of regulated banking subsidiaries serving small businesses with development-finance backing.
Broad incumbents
- Equity Bank: Large East African banking group with deep microfinance and SME roots serving millions of small customers. Comparable mission and customer segment but operates at much larger scale across more diverse product lines.
- Ecobank Transnational: Pan-African banking group with operations across many of the same countries as Baobab, including SME banking products. Overlaps on geography and SMB target market though as a broad incumbent rather than a microfinance specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Microcred social profiles
Digital presenceMicrocred financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Microcred leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Microcred subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Microcred funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Microcred M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Microcred
What does Microcred do?
Baobab Group (formerly Microcred) provides digital financial services, primarily loans, to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses across Africa through seven country-level subsidiaries. The company disburses over EUR 1 billion in new loans annually (EUR 1.2 billion in 2025) to more than 1.6 million customers, with 46% of loans processed digitally via its proprietary lending platform.
Is Microcred a public or private company?
Microcred is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Microcred founded?
Microcred was founded in 2005. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Microcred based?
Microcred is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Microcred make money?
One revenue line is on record: loan Disbursement and Interest Income.
Who are Microcred's main competitors?
Others on record are Oikocredit, Accion and Incofin Investment Management. Emerging players are Branch International, Tala, Carbon (formerly Paylater) and FairMoney. ProCredit Holding is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Equity Bank and Ecobank Transnational.
Does Microcred have an API?
No public API is recorded for Microcred.
What industry is Microcred in?
Microcred's product category is Microfinance and Digital Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAA, Microloans & Working Capital Loans. Its NAICS code is 5222 and its SIC code is 6159.