Our events

About the Virtual SME Marketplace  

Each month we are running sessions featuring leading small business lenders and SME growth facilitators who present their MSMEs offerings in a 7-minute pitch to an audience of potential financial institution clients and partners looking for impactful fintech solutions. Through those sessions - run by the SME Finance Forum - we foster collaboration between financial institutions, fintech companies, development finance institutions and investors. 

Since its inception in April 2021, we have featured 200+ companies active in many different markets, attracted +3000 participants and generated many business leads, leading to investments, partnerships, and innovation advancement. 

Topic

This Marketplace session will feature lenders which are strategically targeting women entrepreneurs, who face unique challenges in accessing traditional financing. They will share the innovative tools they are using to make a difference.

Agenda

Context Setting – 10 minutes
The session will open with a presentation highlighting key findings from the report “Cracking the Credit Code: Alternative Data and AI for Financial Inclusion.” The presentation will set the scene on how alternative data and AI‑driven approaches can unlock financing for women entrepreneurs who remain underserved by traditional credit models.

Company Pitches – 45 minutes
This will be followed by five company pitches, each lasting 8 minutes, showcasing innovative, investable solutions that are expanding access to finance for women entrepreneurs across emerging markets.

• IPDC Finance (Bangladesh)
  IPDC supports women entrepreneurs through dedicated SME financing programs that provide affordable loans and advisory services. Its products include women‑focused business loans, leasing, and savings solutions delivered through digital and branch channels.
   
• Sub-K (India)
  Sub-K designs products and underwriting approaches to overcome constraints faced by women‑owned enterprises who often lack formal credit histories, collateral or audited financial statements. Sub-K’s AI-led underwriting model departs from conventional bureau‑centric lending by integrating digital, transactional, and behavioral data into credit decision‑making.
   
• Vexi (Mexico)
  Vexi helps women entrepreneurs and consumers build formal credit histories through accessible credit cards. Its product enables women with limited credit access to manage payments digitally and qualify for future business financing.
   
• Accial (Latin America & Caribbean)
  Accial enables financial institutions to better serve women entrepreneurs by providing digital lending and core banking infrastructure. Its platform supports gender‑inclusive credit products, portfolio management, and data analytics for women‑focused finance providers.
   
• Kaleidofin (India)
  Kaleidofin provides customized financial solutions for low‑income women entrepreneurs using data‑driven risk assessment. Its offerings include tailored credit, savings, and insurance products aligned with women’s cash‑flow patterns.

3. Q&A – 5 minutes
The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A, allowing participants to engage directly with the presenters and explore partnership and investment opportunities.

Speakers

• Namita Datta, Principal Economist, IFC
• Cinthia Merlos, COO, Vexi
• Sasidhar N. Thumuluri, Sr. Advisor, BASIX Social Enterprise Group (Sub-K)
• Carrie Ruh, VP of Risk & Head of Impact, Accial Capital
• Moutusi Hina Hannan, Specialist Women Entrepreneur Development, IPDC Finance  
• Deepak Srinivas, Executive Vice-President, Kaleidofin 

Organizer
The SME Finance Forum (SMEFF) is a network of 250+ members and affiliates with a coverage spanning across 190+ countries. The members are primarily financial services providers such as banks, fintechs, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, credit guarantee companies, and microfinance institutions. The affiliates consist of policy advocacy groups, academia, SME and banking associations, training providers, and non-profit organizations. SMEFF was established in 2012 by the G20 and is managed by the International Finance Corporation with a core objective to scale financial services for SMEs. As the leading SME finance network globally, the forum steers industry innovations, supports replication of best practices, recognizes global champions, drives thought leadership, convenes influential stakeholders, and fosters global knowledge transfer.