💰 Accion Closes $61.6m Fund to Back Early-Stage Fintechs

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Hope you’re easing into the day with something you enjoy (and if this newsletter is part of that, even better). Today’s edition comes with a little extra fuel: job opportunities we’ve handpicked for you.

So whether you’re just curious about what’s out there or seriously hunting for your next big move, scroll down, something might just catch your eye. If not, at least you’ve got us keeping you company this morning.

Today’s Menu ☕️

💰 Accion Closes $61.6m Fund to Back Early-Stage Fintechs Driving Global Inclusion
🩺Nigeria Digitizes Healthcare Fund for Transparency and Better Service
⚙️ Nigeria to partner with Tech Companies to build Hyperscale Data Centres
🏦 FSDH Refocuses Strategic Priorities, Exits PAL Pensions
🚗 inDrive Bets on Super App Future for frontier economies
📣 EU Slaps Google with Nearly €3 Billion Fine Over AdTech Dominance

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💰FUNDING

Accion Closes $61.6m Fund to Back Early-Stage Fintechs Driving Global Inclusion

Accion is doubling down on its mission to make finance fairer with the launch of a $61.6 million venture fund, Accion Venture Lab Fund II, now rebranded under Accion Ventures. The fund is designed to back early-stage fintech startups solving financial exclusion, with a dual goal: driving social impact while delivering returns. Investors include FMO, Proparco, Mastercard, MetLife, Ford Foundation, and others, showing the wide coalition behind this push.

The timing couldn’t be more urgent. Over 1.6 billion adults worldwide are still unbanked, while small businesses face a $5.7 trillion annual financing gap. Accion wants to change that by funding startups like PaidHR (Nigeria), Foyer (US), FinFra (Indonesia), and Flowcart (Kenya) — innovators using mobile tech, alternative data, and embedded finance to expand access to financial services........…continue reading

🩺HEALTHCARE

Nigeria Digitizes Primary Healthcare Fund to Boost Transparency and Service Delivery

Nigeria is taking a bold step to clean up its healthcare system by digitizing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). Since 2019, over ₦159 billion has been disbursed, but mismanagement and inefficiencies have plagued the program. The new digital framework introduces real-time fund tracking, transparent procurement, and direct salary payments to health workers, cutting out middlemen and loopholes. The goal is clear — strengthen primary healthcare, improve accountability, and rebuild trust in the system. While challenges like patchy infrastructure and internet access remain, this reform signals a turning point, showing how technology can safeguard public funds and deliver better health outcomes for Nigerians........…continue reading

⚙️ TECHNOLOGY

Nigeria to partner with Tech Companies to build Hyperscale Data Centres

Nigeria is finally taking big steps toward owning its digital future. The government (through NITDA) wants to partner with Big Tech and hyperscalers to set up hyperscale data centers right here at home. The idea is simple but powerful — keep our data local, build stronger infrastructure, and stop relying so heavily on foreign servers.

If done right, this move could be a game changer: more jobs for local talent, better services for startups and businesses, and fresh investor confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy. We’re already seeing early signs with Rack Centre, OADC, and Kasi Cloud putting money into hyperscale projects across Lagos and Lekki.

Of course, challenges remain — from power supply to reliable internet — but the vision is clear. Nigeria wants digital sovereignty, and hyperscale data centers are the backbone of that ambition......…continue reading

🏦BANKING

FSDH Refocuses Strategic Priorities, Exits PAL Pensions

FSDH Group has quietly stepped away from its stake in PAL Pensions, signaling a deliberate strategic pivot. While PAL has been part of the group for two decades, FSDH is now streamlining its portfolio to concentrate on areas where it sees the most growth potential—banking, capital markets, and asset management. The exit frees up capital for innovation and global expansion while reducing distractions from non-core operations.

For PAL Pensions, the transition doesn’t diminish its standing, it remains a top player in Nigeria’s pensions industry with strong leadership and assets under management. For FSDH, the move reflects a mature understanding that in today’s financial services landscape, focus matters more than breadth. By narrowing its scope, the group is betting on sharper execution and long-term competitiveness, even as it navigates the risks of letting go of a profitable arm.....…continue reading

• Moniepoint-Senior Frontend Engineer- Lagos, Nigeria

• FSDH-Enterprise Risk Officer- Lagos, Nigeria

• Glovo-Expansion Associate- Lagos, Nigeria

• Dangote Groups-Executive Assistant- Lagos, Nigeria

• PZ Cussons-IT Support Manager- Lagos, Nigeria

• Moniepoint-Business Development Executive- Lagos, Nigeria

🚗 RIDE-HAILING SERVICE

inDrive Bets on Super App Future for frontier economies

inDrive, known for its bidding-based ride-hailing model, is evolving into a “super app” for frontier markets, starting with grocery delivery in Kazakhstan. The company, with over 360 million downloads and 6.5 billion transactions, aims to expand beyond transport into daily essentials to deepen customer engagement in markets like Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Colombia, Pakistan, and Peru. Groceries were chosen due to fast growth — 41 million orders in 2024 and 14 million in Q2 2025 alone.

Kazakhstan, with its $26 billion tech ecosystem and inDrive’s largest local headcount, serves as the testbed. Targeting cost-conscious consumers, inDrive hopes to differentiate from rivals like Uber by offering affordable services. With plans to expand into financial services and micromobility, inDrive is investing $100 million to position itself as a digital companion in emerging economies..…..continue reading

  OTHER STORIES

• EU Slaps Google with Nearly €3 Billion Fine Over AdTech Dominance...continue reading

• LemFi & GCash team up to help 94 million Filipinos receive instant remittances…..continue reading

• Bank of Ghana Cracks Down on Unauthorized Fintech Remittance Activities…….continue reading

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