May 18, 2023

May 18, 2023 Jia , a fintech company leveraging blockchain technology to offer loans to micro and small businesses in emerging markets, has successfully secured $4.3 million in seed funding. Additionally, the company has received a commitment of $1 million for on-chain liquidity. This funding round was led by TCG Crypto, an early-stage backer, with participation from several funds including BlockTower, Hashed Emergent, Saison Capital, and Global Coin Research. Several notable angel investors also contributed to the round, including Packy McCormick, the founder of Not Boring, Anand Iyer from Canonical Crypto, and Jared Hecht and Rory Eakin, the founders of fintech lending companies Fundera and CircleUp, respectively. With the newly raised funds, Jia aims to strengthen its operations in Kenya and the Philippines before expanding into new markets in West Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Credits: Jia Founded just last year by former Tala executives Zach Marks, Cheng Cheng, Ivan Orone, and Yuting Wang, Jia utilizes decentralized finance to provide loans to borrowers. After repayment, borrowers receive tokens that can be redeemed based on an agreed-upon rate determined by Jia’s profits. This approach allows micro-businesses to access affordable financing, and as they repay their loans, they also become owners through token rewards. Each token entitles the holder to a share of revenues generated by Jia’s lending protocol. Currently, Jia offers its tokens as Jia points, which can be claimed once the token system is fully established. Borrowers can utilize these tokens as collateral to secure lower interest rates, higher loan amounts, and more flexible loan terms. This model is inspired by the concept of community finance groups, such as table-banking groups popular in markets like Kenya, where members who are borrowers themselves hold shares and earn from the groups. To further enhance its services, Jia has launched its first on-chain pool in collaboration with Huma Finance, an income-backed decentralized finance protocol. Jia addresses the financing gap left by digital lenders and loan apps that offer credit limits of no more than $1,000. By providing loans of up to $5,000, Jia aims to cater to small businesses in need of larger sums for extended periods. The repayment period varies based on the borrower’s profile, ranging from up to six months for general loans to three months for inventory and invoice financing. The interest rates range from 2% to 6% per month, depending on the borrower’s circumstances. Marks emphasizes that Jia’s interest rates are significantly lower compared to typical consumer fintech lenders, making their loans more competitive. Jia acquires customers by integrating with the applications of local partners, including Ilara Health, a provider of medical inventory to a network of over 2,000 small clinics. By financing an inventory program for Ilara Health, Jia assists clinics in growing their operations while avoiding credit risk on their balance sheets. Jia gains access to valuable proprietary data from these clinics, enabling them to underwrite loans in a way that traditional banks and lenders cannot. Jia is part of a growing cohort of fintech companies working to bridge the financing gap that hinders the growth of businesses in markets like Africa. Small enterprises constitute 90% of Africa’s businesses but face a substantial $330 billion financing deficit. Traditional lenders require collateral and impose time-consuming requirements, making it challenging for these businesses to access loans. Fintechs like Jia are stepping in to fill this void and provide much-needed financial support. Marks expresses enthusiasm about Jia’s mission, stating that they are not only offering financing but also providing a pathway to economic resilience and a unique opportunity to build wealth. Jia aims to open up the world’s capital to micro , small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Jia blockchain Jia blockchain Charles Rapulu Udoh Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc. ), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert. As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard Share this: