Dubai, UAE: ‘Finance Forward: Middle East and North Africa 2019’, a Village Capital investment-readiness program, has announced the winners of the initiative. The program was held in partnership with MetLife Foundation, an advisory board of MENA-based investors and experts, and local partners including Beyond Capital and Endeavor Jordan.

Two fintech startups, Solfeh (from Jordan) and Kaoun (from Tunisia), will share $50,000 in grant capital provided by MetLife Foundation after being selected by their peers through a process known as “peer selected investment.”

Solfeh is a Jordanian micro-lending platform, providing same-day emergency cash advancements to salaried employees.

Kaoun enables unbanked and underbanked individuals and businesses access to financial services through identification, payment and credit solutions and is based in Tunisia.

The cohort included eleven startups working on many aspects of financial health — including helping unbanked individuals gain access to formal financial services, creating digital identities for refugees and migrant workers, helping small business owners access affordable credit, and helping people in the region earn, save and invest for the future.

The startups competed in a Venture Showcase in front of a panel of judges from MetLife Foundation, Endeavor Jordan, Flat6Labs and Arab Bank. Kader, a Jordanian-based online recruitment platform targeted towards blue-collar and fast-moving jobs, took home a cash prize of $5,000 from MetLife Foundation.

The program was part of Finance Forward, a multi-year global coalition led by founding partners MetLife Foundation, PayPal, and Village Capital to support entrepreneurs on four continents who are building tech-enabled solutions to challenges around financial health, economic mobility, and community resilience.

Village Capital operates the most active financial health accelerator in the world, including more than 20 past accelerators and bootcamps that have supported more than 200 startups. In 2019 Village Capital was named Best Fintech Accelerator by Finovate.

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For further information please contact: Lisa George/Yasmeen Howeidy, Iris Public Relations, Dubai, UAE. Tel: +97144341207. E-mail: Lisa@irispr.net   or Yasmeen@irispr.net .

Website: www.irispr.net 

About Village Capital

Village Capital operates the most active financial health accelerator in the world, with 22 past accelerators and bootcamps that have supported more than 200 startups. We were recently named Best Fintech Accelerator by Finovate. Prior programs in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates identified and awarded funding to fintech entrepreneurs working on solutions ranging from digital financial management tools to digital payment apps.

About MetLife Foundation

At MetLife Foundation, we believe financial health belongs to everyone. We bring together bold solutions, deep financial expertise and meaningful grants to build financial health for people and communities that are underserved and aspire for more. We partner with organizations around the world to create financial health solutions and build stronger communities, engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was created in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its founding through the end of 2018, MetLife Foundation provided $822 million in grants and $85 million in program-related investments to make a positive impact in the communities where MetLife operates. To date, our financial health work has reached 9.9 million low-income individuals in 42 countries. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit metlife.org. 

About PayPal

PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering more than 286 million consumers and merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit paypal.com. 

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