Financing FinancingSMEs in emerging economies often have limited access to finance and investment capital (e.g., seed capital, start-up funds). As a result, less attention is paid to these SMEs that offer tremendous growth potential, but are perceived as higher risk investments. Early stage enterprises and other informal businesses also cite lack of access to finance as a key challenge; investors cite a lack of investment-ready enterprises. This “pioneer gap” prevents promising SMEs / start-ups from receiving the needed investment in emerging economies. A vast section of start-ups and SMEs in Africa operate under informal sector with little access to credit from banks and other financial institutions. These start-ups and SMEs depend on borrowings from the informal sector that are both expensive and scarce. Catering to the financing requirements of these start-ups and SMEs generally results in cost inefficiencies to conventional financial institutions, bringing to light the need for an alternative financing. Increasing SME financing and streamlining the credit market will help these SMEs to expand, grow, increase profitability and employment capacity, and will also ensure the birth of many new SMEs which have not been set into operation as a result of the lack of sufficient startup capitals. ASEN would assess the most promising innovations and provide support to scale their impact. Besides providing financial support, ASEN would ensure businesses across Africa get the right investment and support schemes to succeed whiles Impact Investors find opportunities to identify right investment.