To scale financial inclusion in Africa, FINCA, the inclusive finance firm, has partnered with Thought Machine, the banking tech firm.
Together, the two firms have launched ‘361 by FINCA’, an operating platform to scale financial inclusion. Though it will start of in Africa, the organisations have aspirations of expanding the service. Powered by Thought Machine’s Vault Core, 361 by FINCA provides firms with configurability and efficiency they wouldn’t be able to obtain otherwise in an emerging market.
To date, financial services providers (FSPs) have struggled to support the financial wellbeing of low-income customers, largely due to rigid, poorly tailored products and cumbersome loan assessment and enrollment processes. With Vault Core’s real-time architecture and API-first design, FINCA will be able to deliver flexible, integrated financial products tailored to help low-income customers invest in opportunities, build financial resilience, and access streamlined, automated loan assessments and renewals.
The technology will also allow FINCA to rapidly scale across African markets and integrate with customer service channels and interaction points.
“We’re building a new fintech platform that is fast, flexible, and deeply connected to people’s lives,” said Herman Spruit, CEO, 361 by FINCA. “With 361, powered by Thought Machine’s technology, we can create innovative, personalised financial products that grow with people’s lives—whether saving for school, starting a business, or supporting their families.”
Paul Taylor, CEO and founder, Thought Machine, comments: “This partnership reflects a deep commitment to using cloud-native technology to build world-class financial products that drive economic growth. Supported by modern core technology, banks are empowered to create a future where financial services are accessible to individuals everywhere. We look forward to working with FINCA to build the future of financial services across the continent.”
Behind the partnership
Thought Machine’s modern technology and innovative approach position it to be the ideal partner for the platform — Vault Core is completely free from legacy code and designed for efficiency and scale. The 361 by FINCA platform will seamlessly integrate into and enrich the functional capabilities of the existing business software stack.
With Vault Core, FINCA gains the flexibility to launch innovative products tailored to the diverse needs of its customers, including smallholder farmers, families on the margins, and microentrepreneurs. Its real-time data capabilities and modular design mean faster rollouts, greater personalisation, and a more agile response to evolving market needs.
The platform’s build will be led by Ikigai Digital, a certified Thought Machine delivery partner known for its deep technical expertise and successful track record implementing Vault Core. Ikigai Digital’s team of subject-matter experts has hands-on experience in platform operations, migration, and integration architecture, ensuring high-quality, end-to-end implementation.
Andy Farmer, CEO, Ikigai, comments: “Ikigai has formed a strategic partnership with FINCA to build and run a Microfinance Platform. Together, we are building a new business underpinned with cutting-edge technology that will provide huge flexibility for customers, driven by the shared mission to expand financial access in underserved markets and enhance the lives of millions of people.”
The 361 by FINCA operating platform will also offer white-labelling capabilities, allowing other organisations to leverage Vault Core’s engine to deliver customised financial services to their customers. This approach breaks down traditional barriers to access, enabling a broader ecosystem of providers to accelerate financial inclusion across the continent.
