FinTech, digital lending, and platforms

FinTech and digital lending have carved out new pathways for financial inclusion. Yet, underserved populations across Asia and Africa continue to stare down at persistent barriers. Traditional credit scoring, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of tailored products prevent many from accessing financial services meaningfully. These challenges also hold back financial institutions and service providers from scaling inclusive solutions effectively.

At MSC, we embed equity, sustainability, and user-centricity into every FinTech, digital lending, and platform solution we design. Our vision is to drive financial, social, and economic inclusion, especially for low-income and underserved segments. Thus, we collaborate with financial institutions, FinTech startups, digital lenders, regulators, investors, multilateral agencies, and development partners to design, scale, and optimize responsible digital financial ecosystems.

Six key areas characterize our work

Strategic financial partnerships

We build catalytic partnerships to unlock responsible credit for underserved communities through collaboration and innovation across the financial ecosystem.

  • Ecosystem collaboration:We align financial institutions, FinTechs, and lenders to cocreate scalable and inclusive credit delivery models
  • Partnership structuring:We design and anchor multi-stakeholder partnerships to mobilize capital and streamline fund flows
  • Innovation to scale: We help pilot and scale up impactful credit solutions through aligned incentives, tech integration, and capacity-building support.

Alternative data and responsible credit scoring

We support the responsible use of alternative data to expand and improve access to credit for underserved segments, including MSMEs, women, and informal enterprises.

  • Data innovation: We use diverse, non-traditional data sources to holistically assess creditworthiness
  • Model development: We develop explainable, inclusive, and bias-aware credit scoring models tailored to thin-file and first-time borrowers
  • Policy alignment: We work closely with regulators and ecosystem players to validate models and establish robust safeguards for ethical and transparent data use.

Core systems and digital architecture

We help financial institutions and partners build secure, scalable, and user-friendly digital systems to drive financial inclusion for MSMEs, women, and informal enterprises.

  • Architecture design: We build modular, API-driven digital infrastructures with embedded AI or ML
  • Core system implementation: We help deploy and integrate LOS, LMS, and CBS solutions to digitize end-to-end customer journeys
  • Automation and access: We help automate KYC, payments, and collections and ensure platforms remain compliant, interoperable, and accessible to low-literacy, low-income, and remote users.

Digital transformation and capacity building

We help institutions navigate their digital transformation journey with a focus on strategy, people, and processes to ensure inclusive outcomes for MSMEs, women, and informal enterprises.

  • Assessment and road mapping: We conduct digital readiness assessments and ecosystem mapping to guide transformation.
  • Process and tech enablement: We support the adoption of digital tools, product digitization, and value chain integration through technical assistance.
  • Human capital development: We build institutional capacity through staff training, process redesign, and change management.

Embedded financial products

We design and scale financial products, such as credit, savings, and insurance that are embedded within the digital platforms used daily by MSMEs, gig workers, and informal sector users.

  • User-relevant design: We design embedded credit, savings, and insurance products tailored to platform users.
  • Platform partnerships: We collaborate with digital platforms to embed financial services into customer journeys through APIs, low-code integrations, and real-time decision engines.
  • Data-driven underwriting: We use alternative data for inclusive, low-friction credit decisions.

Inclusive digital finance solutions

We cocreate inclusive digital financial solutions beyond platform ecosystems, with participatory design, innovative delivery models, and iterative field tests to ensure long-term impact.

  • Product innovation: We design inclusive, need-based financial products tailored to the cash flows and operational realities of MSMEs and informal enterprises.
  • Channel enablement: We expand last-mile access through agent networks, mobile channels, and other inclusive digital interfaces.
  • Field prototyping: We lead field-based prototypes and iterative tests to ensure relevance, usability, and long-term impact.