The Smart Axiata Digital Innovation Fund (SADIF) yesterday announced its latest investments, Banhji, a financial platform for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and DRVR, a fleet analytics software provider for logistics and passenger vehicles.

Commenting on the two investments, Bora Kem, partner of Mekong Strategic Partners, the investment firm managing SADIF, said, “Our investments in Banhji and DRVR highlighted the importance of technology in enabling data-informed smart decisions.

The Banhji platform aims to bridge the financing gap experienced by MSMEs in Cambodia by enhancing the reliability of their financial reports. The award-winning fintech startup provides a financial platform and applications that are fully connected with payment and financing ecosystems. Banhji empowers MSMEs to make smart business decisions and gives them innovative access to financial services and working capital financing.

As of December 2020, Banhji had recorded more than 4,000 MSME users on its platform and established strategic partnerships with various local financial institutions and payment providers, including facilitating some of the first unsecured loans using data on it.

Chief Executive Offier Thomas Hundt of Smart Axiata said: “MSMEs are one of the strongest drivers for Cambodia’s economy and employment rate, but they are faced with inefficiency in managing their finances. Banhji has developed a local solution to serve Cambodian MSMEs to develop a proper financial report, thereby enhancing their financing opportunity. We are happy to contribute to MSMEs’ development through our SADIF investment in Banhji.”

Smart’s investment in DRVR connects them with an internet of things (IoT)/real analytics solution provider already active in reducing customers’ fleet management costs and preventing casualties on the road in five countries, including Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Incorporated in Australia, DRVR has thousands of corporate-owned vehicles using their software plus a client list that includes National Car Rental, Tokio Marine and NinjaVan. DRVR’s immediate pipeline represents more than 40,000 serviceable vehicles.

DRVR’s software solution connects vehicles to the internet using smart IoT sensors and driver applications for fleet data. Their back-end engine then processes the data and turns it into actionable knowledge.

Executive Chairman of Forte Insurance, the limited partner of SADIF Charles Cheo  added: “Data analytics is a critical element for data-driven products and an efficient insurance claims process. By digitally transforming the way we operate, we empower our customers through technology and allow for data-informed agility.”

• Tags: MSMEs, SADIF, Smart