Accion Ventures is the venture capital arm of Accion, a global nonprofit focused on financial inclusion. Established in 2012 as Accion Venture Lab and rebranded in 2025, the firm combines venture capital discipline with a social mission to catalyze inclusive financial systems worldwide. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Accion Ventures invests in early-stage fintech startups that deliver affordable, high-quality financial services to underserved populations across emerging markets and beyond.
The firm backs fintech companies with the potential to disrupt traditional financial services and expand access for low-income individuals, small businesses, and marginalized communities.
Its focus areas include:
Accion Ventures maintains a global perspective, investing in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the United States.
In September 2025, Accion Ventures announced the close of its second early-stage fintech vehicle, Accion Venture Lab Fund II, LP, with commitments totaling $61.6 million. The fund is supported by a diverse group of limited partners, including commercial and impact asset managers, development finance institutions, foundations, family offices, and strategic corporates. Notable LPs include FMO, Proparco, ImpactAssets, the Ford Foundation, MetLife, and Mastercard.
Accion Ventures Fund II is designed to provide first institutional checks to early-stage fintechs while reserving capital for follow-on investments as companies scale.
The fund has already begun deploying capital, with initial investments in PaidHR (Nigeria, payroll and HR for SMEs), Foyer (United States, financial tools for renters), FinFra (Indonesia, small business financing), and Flowcart (Kenya, AI-powered e-commerce). With 1.6 billion people globally still unbanked or underbanked and an estimated $5.7 trillion SME financing gap, the fund positions itself at the intersection of social need and venture opportunity.
Leadership
Accion Ventures is led by Managing Partners Rahil Rangwala and Amee Parbhoo, alongside Michael Schlein, President and CEO of Accion. Rangwala emphasizes the use of cutting-edge technologies, from satellite imagery to conversational commerce, to drive financial inclusion. Parbhoo underscores the importance of being among the first institutional investors in portfolio companies, while retaining reserves to support winners through scaling. Schlein frames the initiative as part of Accion’s broader mission to connect underserved populations to the digital economy.
Investment Strategy
Accion Ventures seeks to be an early partner for fintech innovators, typically investing at the seed and early stages. The firm looks for founders building solutions with proven traction, whether through technology, partnerships, or early customer adoption.
Its strategy combines patient capital with hands-on support, including strategic guidance, governance expertise, and introductions to financial institutions and impact networks. With a threefold mandate—financial return, scalability, and measurable social impact—Accion Ventures operates at the intersection of impact investing and mainstream venture capital.
Notable Investments
Since 2012, Accion has invested $59.4 million across 76 companies in over 30 countries. Notable portfolio companies include:
These investments highlight Accion Ventures’ emphasis on fintech solutions that directly improve financial access and resilience for underserved communities.
Notable Exits
Accion Ventures has achieved 13 full or partial exits from its portfolio.
These include Apollo Agriculture, Lula, and Pula, along with other fintech companies that have delivered measurable social outcomes while generating attractive financial returns.
Exits reflect the firm’s ability to identify commercially viable fintechs with the scale to attract follow-on capital or acquisition.
Other
Accion Ventures' Portfolio Engagement team works directly with founders, offering operational support, market insights, and introductions to funders and partners. Founders benefit from Accion’s global networks, access to development finance institutions, and deep expertise in financial inclusion.
