As incredible as it may seem in this hyper-connected, technologically advanced era, half the planet's population exist as "Financial nomads"-those who nourish and shelter themselves without using traditional banking services. While the wealthy live at the top of a metaphorical pyramid, taking financial security and banking services for granted, there are billions of people who struggle at the pyramid's base in an exhausting state of financial exclusion and insecurity.
Times are changing rapidly, but despite global uncertainty, technology has the capacity to reach and equip people in all walks of life. Advances in communications have reconfigured the ease with which we interact with our money-and these advances can provide innovative financial services to the unbanked and underserved around the world. Financial inclusion for all is indeed within our reach, and with this conviction, authors Karl Mehta and Carol Realini propose a vision for a better world and a blueprint to get there.
Mehta, Karl: - An expert in financial service innovation, Carol Realini is a serial entrepreneur and globally-recognized technology pioneer. Attending the World Economic Forum, she led global discussions on alternative banking. Recognized as a top woman in Silicon Valley, she sits on boards and advises financial services and mobile companies. Carol and Karl, considered thought leaders by their peers, both share a passion for financial services that empower people's life and work, and have thus collaborated to present Financial Inclusion at the Bottom of the Pyramid.
For more information, please visit www.carolrealini.com
Karl Mehta is a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. He is founder & CEO of PlaySpan (acquired by Visa), a global alternative payment network. Karl also served as the White House Presidential Innovation Fellow working on the Better Than Cash Initiative. He is an active investor in Edtech and Fintech and Founder / CEO of EdCast Inc. For more information, please visit openfininc.org, edcast.com/FinIncBOP and edcast.com/karlmehta.
Realini, Carol: - An expert in financial service innovation, Carol Realini is a serial entrepreneur and globally-recognized technology pioneer. Attending the World Economic Forum, she led global discussions on alternative banking. Recognized as a top woman in Silicon Valley, she sits on boards and advises financial services and mobile companies. Carol and Karl, considered thought leaders by their peers, both share a passion for financial services that empower people's life and work, and have thus collaborated to present Financial Inclusion at the Bottom of the Pyramid.
For more information, please visit www.carolrealini.com
Karl Mehta is a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. He is founder & CEO of PlaySpan (acquired by Visa), a global alternative payment network. Karl also served as the White House Presidential Innovation Fellow working on the "Better Than Cash Initiative." He is an active investor in Edtech and Fintech and Founder / CEO of EdCast Inc. For more information, please visit openfininc.org, edcast.com/FinIncBOP and edcast.com/karlmehta.
