article thumbnail

The Microfinance Contagion Scenario

Harvard Business Review

The average debt-to-equity ratio of the 10 largest MFIs in India is 7.06 , indicating an average 12% equity cushion. In other words, at current repayments rates, any MFI with more than 12% of its portfolio in AP is at risk of insolvency. Losses in AP will overwhelm many institutions' equity cushion. That could likely have consequences.

article thumbnail

How One Startup Developed a Sales Model That Works in Emerging Markets

Harvard Business Review

Customers show up regularly to take out loans, arrange payments, and track their finances. The thing is, for millions of people, this model doesn’t exist — and those people are my customers. I am the cofounder and CEO of BioLite.