Uploaded December 2015 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
70% of African households own cellphones but less than 35% have access to credit. Mining non-traditional forms of credit using available technologies, Eric Mibuari asks if this "mobile continent" can use cellphones to access what they need most - loans.
TED@IBM was a TED-curated event showcasing speakers from across the IBM community. Produced in partnership with IBM, the event brought to light the often-overlooked. Examining social structures and sustainable approaches, TED@IBM explored the necessity of invention to build a better world.
Visual Credits
4:36 Photo of man: adapted from Emmanuel R Lacoste / Shutterstock.com
Photo of woman: adapted from bikeriderlondon / Shutterstock.com
5:33 Photo: Poverty Weighed in a Can / IBM Research - Africa / Flickr
7:21 Photo: Poverty Weighed in a Can / IBM Research - Africa / Flickr
About the TED Institute: We know that innovative ideas and fresh approaches to challenging problems can be discovered inside visionary companies around the world. The TED Institute helps surface and share these insights. Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas.
Learn more at ted.com/ted-institute
Follow TED Institute on Twitter @TEDPartners
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/user/TEDInstitute
70% of African households own cellphones but less than 35% have access to credit. Mining non-traditional forms of credit using available technologies, Eric Mibuari asks if this "mobile continent" can use cellphones to access what they need most - loans.
TED@IBM was a TED-curated event showcasing speakers from across the IBM community. Produced in partnership with IBM, the event brought to light the often-overlooked. Examining social structures and sustainable approaches, TED@IBM explored the necessity of invention to build a better world.
Visual Credits
4:36 Photo of man: adapted from Emmanuel R Lacoste / Shutterstock.com
Photo of woman: adapted from bikeriderlondon / Shutterstock.com
5:33 Photo: Poverty Weighed in a Can / IBM Research - Africa / Flickr
7:21 Photo: Poverty Weighed in a Can / IBM Research - Africa / Flickr
About the TED Institute: We know that innovative ideas and fresh approaches to challenging problems can be discovered inside visionary companies around the world. The TED Institute helps surface and share these insights. Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas.
Learn more at ted.com/ted-institute
Follow TED Institute on Twitter @TEDPartners
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/user/TEDInstitute
