Ayannah

Ayannah is a technology company focused on delivering digital financial services to the unbanked and emerging middle class, with a primary concentration on the Filipino market. The company was founded in 2010 by Mikko Perez, who currently serves as the Chairman and CEO. Perez's background in private equity and investment banking, including his time as an investment manager at an affiliate of Soros Fund Management and as a vice president at Next Century Partners, provided him with a deep understanding of financial markets and the impetus to address the financial inclusion gap he observed in the Philippines. This experience shaped Ayannah's mission to build the necessary infrastructure for delivering financial services to underserved populations.

The company operates a B2B model, providing a suite of services through a network of transaction agents, including pawnshops, convenience stores, and other small retail businesses. This strategy allows Ayannah to reach a broad customer base without building a physical branch network. Ayannah's core product, Sendah, enables these agents to offer digital services such as domestic and international remittances, mobile top-ups, and bill payments to their walk-in customers. More recently, the company has expanded its offerings to include data-driven credit scoring and lead generation for financial service providers. By analyzing the vast amount of transactional data flowing through its network, Ayannah develops credit profiles for individuals who lack traditional banking histories, thereby facilitating their access to loans and other financial products. This positions Ayannah as a key enabler for banks and other financial institutions looking to penetrate the unbanked market segment.

The business generates revenue by taking a percentage of the fees from each transaction processed through its network. The company's growth has been supported by several funding rounds, including a Series A investment from the fintech venture capital firm, Wavemaker Partners. A significant milestone was the acquisition of the Indian company, G-Cash, which expanded Ayannah's technological capabilities and market presence. Keywords: fintech, financial inclusion, digital payments, remittance services, credit scoring, emerging markets, agent banking, B2B financial services, Philippines, unbanked