About Us
The Market
Providing access to financial services represents a formidable opportunity for both commercially-driven and socially-minded organizations. It is also one of the greatest challenges of our time with nearly 3 billion people currently underserved, mostly in emerging markets.
With a deployed base of 4 billion handsets and 90% of the world population covered, mobile technology is about to revolutionize the distribution of financial services to the unbanked. It allows a whole new range of profitable business models to emerge, innovative partnerships to take form, and relevant services to flourish.
Mobile operators, banks and microfinance institutions have identified the opportunity. Mobile money and m-banking experiments are under way in diverse geographies and various regulatory environments. New approaches are being defined with a search for scale, profitability and sustainability. Strategies vary according to brand power, time to market and market share. Each project is different and has its own set of challenges.
This is where Amarante Consulting comes in.
Amarante Consulting
Amarante Consulting is an independent advisory firm that was founded in 2008 by Aiaze Mitha, a recognized international expert in mobile financial services and former Director for M-Paisa.
Amarante Consulting assists mobile operators, banks, microfinance institutions, regulators, private investors, funding agencies and other organizations with their mobile financial services initiatives.
We assess opportunities, formulate strategies, shape regulatory approaches, develop business models, design partnerships, define value propositions and support the implementation of projects in different parts of the world. We also help our clients devise innovative approaches to differentiate themselves in their markets. Indeed, differentiation is crucial for late entrants in that space.
Where required, we can program manage an entire implementation. In addition, we provide expert training. Underpinning our work is the fundamental belief that building capacity and equipping our clients with appropriate knowledge and adequate tools is an integral part of our own success.
Last, we help social investors meet exciting projects in developing countries. Whether you are a local project seeking financing or a social investor looking for opportunities, we are able to connect you to the right partner.
Our team consists of international consultants with hands on experience in real life implementations. We don't develop blue sky strategies; our advice is first and foremost pragmatic: we have gone through the challenges of implementing mobile financial services in complex environments, in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This adds credibility to our work and gives practical insight to our recommendations.