Latest news with #JamesHume
Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Microsmart and Begini partner to boost microfinance access for Greek MSMEs
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Microsmart SA, Greece's first decentralized microfinance institution, has partnered with alternative data fintech Begini to unlock fast, fair, and accessible financing for micro and small businesses across the country. With MSMEs making up 99% of all Greek businesses, this partnership marks a significant step forward in closing the credit gap for underserved entrepreneurs. 'Microcredit is a modern development tool. Our work with Begini helps remove long-standing barriers to finance by combining speed with fair risk assessment,' said Neoklis Stamkos, CEO of Microsmart SA. Share Backed by national regulators, Microsmart sought innovative tools to extend credit responsibly to Greece's smallest businesses, often excluded by traditional banks due to a lack of formal credit history. To meet this challenge, Microsmart integrated Begini's psychometric credit assessment into its digital lending flow. The solution, which generates predictive first-party credit data without requiring financial or personal records, was deployed in just two working days. In the six months following implementation, Microsmart reported a 90% increase in monthly lending volumes and a <95% completion rate for applicants—a strong signal of both appetite and accessibility. 'Microcredit is a modern development tool. Our work with Begini helps remove long-standing barriers to finance by combining speed with fair risk assessment,' said Neoklis Stamkos, CEO of Microsmart SA. 'We are proud to help entrepreneurs across Greece turn their ambitions into action, without the friction of traditional banking.' 'Microsmart's leadership in microfinance made them the ideal partner for our alternative credit technology,' said James Hume, CEO of Begini. 'Together, we're proving that simple, behavioural insights can drive financial inclusion at scale, safely, affordably, and in days, not months.' As Greece continues to rebuild and grow its small business sector, Microsmart and Begini are demonstrating that digital-first, human-centred credit solutions can have a meaningful impact on real-world outcomes for underserved communities. About Begini Begini provides scientifically-validated, privacy-consented behavioural analytics to help financial institutions assess credit risk, detect fraud, and segment customers.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Munster v Ulster: Richie Murphy says Ulster cannot panic in 'must-win situation' against Munster in Thomond Park
Ulster have lost three consecutive games in all competitions having come out on the wrong side of results against Bordeaux-Begles, Leinster and the Sharks. The latter was the second time this season the side have lost despite leading 19-0 at half-time after squandering a similar advantage against Cardiff in October, while they been beaten nine times in 16 league outings. "We know where we are, the league position doesn't lie," Murphy added. "Over the course of the season, we haven't won as many games as we would have liked. "When we look back and see the games that we could have won or should have won, or a bonus point here or there that we should have picked up, that frustrates us. "Over the course of 16 games, that's where we sit. We've two more games to try and make the top eight." Ulster could be boosted by the returns to fitness of five players with Iain Henderson, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Eric O'Sullivan and Sean Reffell all back in training. After injury-hit campaigns for many of his frontline players, Murphy feels his squad is "in a really good place" coming towards the end of the season. Should the play-off race not go their way, the former Ireland Under-20s coach still believes his overhaul of the panel is heading in the right direction. "We don't want to not be in the top eight but if we're not, it's not the case that the place is going to shut down and move on," he added. "We've a lot of very talented young players, we've had a really tough run of games this year, and a really tough injury profile. "If we have to park this and move on, I can guarantee we will build and be better for next year."
Business Wire
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Begini and Bank of Punjab Join Forces on SME Credit Access Initiative in Pakistan
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Begini, a global provider of behavioural and data analytics for financial decisioning, has launched a strategic partnership with the Bank of Punjab (BOP), one of the largest commercial banks in Pakistan, to support the launch of the CM Punjab Asaan Karobar Card initiative – the country's largest SME credit card lending program. The solution went live in under two weeks and has already processed over 1 million assessments in just eight weeks, a signal of both product-market fit and operational scalability. Designed to expand access to credit in one of the world's most underserved markets, the program is powered by an end-to-end digital lending platform, offering a seamless, scalable solution for financially empowering small and micro enterprises across Punjab. Pakistan's 5.2 million SMEs generate 40% of GDP and employ more than 80% of the non-agricultural workforce, yet the vast majority lack access to formal finance. The partnership addresses this long-standing challenge using Begini's first-party, opt-in behavioural insights and psychometric scoring, enabling lenders to confidently assess businesses with little or no traditional financial history. The solution went live in under two weeks and has already processed over 1 million assessments in just eight weeks, a signal of both product-market fit and operational scalability. 'This partnership validates Begini's ability to drive financial inclusion at scale, with speed and precision,' said James Hume, CEO of Begini. 'Our behavioural data solutions unlock risk insights where conventional data falls short.' 'In light of Government of the Punjab's topmost priority in generating economic activity through encouraging small-scale businesses, this is a game changer program by BOP under the strengthened focus of the State Bank of Pakistan on expanding SME financing,' said Nofel Daud, Chief Digital Officer at BOP. 'The use of Begini's online behavioural assessment tool adds real value—allowing seamless, low-documentation evaluations that make the program both scalable and accessible for underserved small businesses.' A Scalable Model for Emerging Markets With operations in 16 countries and solutions available in over 10 languages, Begini's platform is designed to thrive in low-data, high-potential environments. The company's SaaS model, combined with fast deployment, ensures rapid adoption and ROI for financial institutions targeting the underserved. This partnership demonstrates Begini's capacity to unlock new lending segments, creating value for banks, governments, and millions of excluded entrepreneurs. About Begini Begini provides scientifically-validated, privacy-consented behavioural analytics to help financial institutions assess credit risk, detect fraud, and segment customers.
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Leinster possibly the strongest team in the world'
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy predicts that his side are in for a tough game ahead of their visit to to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship on league leaders welcome Ulster to the Aviva Stadium off the back of two impressive Investec Champions Cup wins against Harlequins and Glasgow did not concede a point in those two games and have only lost one game in the league this season."At this moment in time, Leinster look like the strongest team in Europe, possibly the strongest team in the world," he told BBC Sport NI."Their depth is unbelievable and they're playing with a massive confidence, so it is a very difficult task, but the boys are confident and they're looking forward to challenging themselves against the best team in the league." Murphy taking inspiration from McIlroy Murphy stayed up late on Sunday night with his son, Ulster out-half Jack, to watch Rory McIlroy complete a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in dramatic said that McIlroy, a regular visitor to Ulster home games in previous seasons, was "more than welcome" anytime at the Kingspan Stadium with the green jacket and the trophy."His mental resilience has been incredible," he said."Something we talk about a lot is the difference between mental toughness and mental resilience, we have been quite resilient this year, but we'd like to be a bit tougher."Maybe Saturday will give us an opportunity where we start quick and throw the first punch." Ulster 'moving in the right direction' Murphy will be without James Hume for the Leinster game, but can welcome back Werner Kok, Cormac Izuchukwu and Jude Postlethwaite from believes Saturday will be an important game for the latter duo as they try to stake a claim to be included in this summer's Ireland do so, they will have to be part of an Ulster side that will record a rare win at the Aviva Stadium, a venue they have struggled at in recent years."Those two boys [Izuchukwu and Postlethwaite] have a point to prove, losing James Hume isn't ideal but a like for like replacement with Jude coming back in," Murphy added."Our results in the Aviva over the last while haven't been good, we have only won once in nine games. "That is something we can think about in the back of our minds, it is a huge day for our boys who want to challenge and try get into the Ireland squad in the summer."The 50-year-old believes that Ulster are "moving in the right direction" after a three-match winning run in March moved them up to the play-off positions in sixth spot in the is the position they currently occupy, but it remains a congested table with 13th-placed Connacht only four points behind Ulster and Murphy knows they must pick up as many points as they can in their last four games to secure a play-off spot."Every point is important now, we have four games left and if we win three of those four, we definitely qualify if we win two, we could qualify so you want to get that done as soon as you can."
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hume ruled out of Ulster's Leinster contest
Centre James Hume will miss Ulster's United Rugby Championship contest against leaders Leinster in Dublin on Saturday (19:35 BST) because of a back injury. Hume sustained the injury in the Investec Champions Cup last-16 defeat by Bordeaux nine days joins Iain Henderson (hamstring), Jake Flannery (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Rob Baloucoune (hamstring), Ben Carson (neck), Ben Moxham (knee), Eric O'Sullivan (knee) and Sean Reffell (calf) on Ulster's injury the plus side for Richie Murray's squad, Cormac Izuchukwu (ankle), Werner Kok (hamstring) and Jude Postlethwaite have all recovered from recent injuries and will be available for the Aviva Stadium game.A three-match winning run in March moved Ulster up to the play-off positions in sixth spot as they defeated Scarlets, Dragons and Stormers, with the latter 38-34 win coming after the Irish province trailed 17-0 early it remains a congested table with 13th-placed Connacht only four points behind Ulster.
