• Kenyan fintech entrepreneur Felix Sifuna co-founded PEMiG to expand access to financing for underserved entrepreneurs and individuals.
• PEMiG uses an alternative credit-scoring engine that analyzes financial behavior and social networks instead of relying solely on banking history.
• The company also converts business loans into digital investment assets to attract investors and support local economic activity.

Felix Sifuna serves as co-founder and chief executive officer of PEMiG, a digital financial services company that focuses on underserved borrowers.

Sifuna founded PEMiG in 2022 with Philip Amwata, Priya Maharaj and Lilian Kariba. The company aims to remove barriers to entrepreneurship by improving access to financing for small businesses and individuals who traditional banking systems often exclude.

To address the lack of formal banking histories among many borrowers, PEMiG developed an alternative evaluation system known as the Causal Credit Scoring Engine.

Instead of relying exclusively on conventional lending criteria, the platform analyzes users’ financial behavior and social networks to assess creditworthiness. The company said the model allows more entrepreneurs to access financing and contribute to Africa’s economic growth.

Beyond lending services, PEMiG also operates a strategic investment platform.

The company converts loans issued to businesses into digital assets that investors can purchase. This mechanism allows investors to diversify portfolios while directly financing local economic activities. Investors can also generate returns tied to loan repayments.

By democratizing access to investment opportunities, PEMiG aims to stimulate job creation and support regional economic development.

Alongside his role at PEMiG, Sifuna works as a senior venture scout at LvlUp Ventures, an international venture capital fund that supports early-stage startups.

He also serves as chief executive officer of FINECO, a consulting firm that advises companies on digital transformation strategies.

Sifuna graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine. He also earned a business administration certificate from Harvard Business School Online.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum