ValueFin Limited is reshaping access to finance and markets for Zambia’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a special focus on low-income entrepreneurs. Through a mix of technology and human touch, the FinTech is addressing the persistent gaps that hinder business growth and financial inclusion.
According to Mukuka Bwalya, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, ValueFin provides three key services: access to finance, market linkages, and business formalization. These services are critical for MSMEs that often lack visibility, working capital, and formal systems to scale.
“Our loan management system is web-based, allowing us to collect and analyze customer data in informal settings using AI. This helps us understand customer needs and reduce credit risk,” Bwalya explains. The platform is accessible on entry-level smartphones, empowering field agents to make real-time credit decisions.
ValueFin’s hybrid model blends digital tools with a strong on-ground presence to foster trust. Operating in 13 market locations, the FinTech disburses loans averaging 1,500 Kwacha to about 500 entrepreneurs monthly—80% of whom are women.
Despite this progress, challenges such as low digital literacy and limited access to smartphones still hamper financial inclusion at the last mile. Bwalya notes the need for more collaboration to address broader issues, including the absence of micro-insurance solutions for their customer base.
ValueFin’s story is featured on Day 25 of the #40Days40FinTechs initiative, Zambia and Malawi edition. The campaign, spearheaded by HiPipo, aims to spotlight innovations driving financial inclusion across Africa, offering platforms like Mojaloop Open Source Software and the Level One Project to support such progress.
Through strategic partnerships and tech-driven solutions, ValueFin is helping underserved communities unlock new economic possibilities—one loan and market link at a time.
