Who can exhibit at the Innovators' Village?
Companies and organisations working to create value with unique, user-friendly responses to the unmet or poorly satisfied financial needs of vulnerable people with a low income.
In line with SAM’s theme of "Inclusive finance centred on people to meet the challenges of tomorrow", promoters of all forms of innovation (whether social, technological or systemic) are encouraged to participate, provided that they aim for sustainable transformation while placing the emphasis on people at the heart of the challenges of financial inclusion:
- Fintechs and tech companies (digital solutions, financial products, security, e commerce, agriculture, regulation, etc.)
- Organisations offering services that promote access to essential resources such as housing, health, education, clean energy and water to strengthen the autonomy and resilience of vulnerable populations
- Organisations who promote entrepreneurship and the development of SMEs/SMIs, including those run by women, young people or people living with disabilities. These solutions may involve access to finance, skills, management tools and access to markets
- Agricultural initiatives that strengthen sustainable value chains through the promotion of climate-resilient practices and improve access to markets and finance.
The strength of the Innovators' Village lies in the diversity of exhibitors representing organisations that facilitate financial inclusion, including:
- Startups - Tech companies - Private companies (Fintech, Greentech, Insurtech, Agritech, etc.)
- Incubators - Accelerators
- Non-Governmental Organisations
- Development organisations
- Training centres
- Consulting firms
- Research institutes
- Para-public institutions/agencies.
It is essential that these innovations are inclusive and take into account the needs of vulnerable populations. Innovations must integrate the human dimension through one of the Village's main themes, namely:
- Access to basic services: energy, health, water and sanitation, education and housing
- Strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Empowering young people, women and vulnerable people
- Agricultural and forestry value chains
- Inclusive finance in general.
Innovations can therefore include:
- Financial services (credit, savings, insurance and money transfers)
- Digital solutions for financial transactions, insurance, security, cyber security, etc.
- Regulation and decentralised finance
- Market access platforms (e-commerce, distribution platforms)
- Solutions for the internal management of inclusive finance organisations (information and management systems, risk management, governance, etc.).