A SP E N CA P IT A L SO LU TIO N S M A Y 22, 2 0 2 1

2 4 5 PA RK A V EN U E | 3 9 TH FLO O R | N EW Y O RK | N Y 1 0 1 6 7

Book | Keeper
BRIDGING $ 8 + T R I L L I O N F INANCING GAP FOR
SMA LL BUSINE S S E S
The Problem
We Solve
MSME ACC E SS TO FINANCE
According to the World Bank Group, 65
million micro, small and medium
enterprises (“MSMEs”) create 90% of t h e
new jobs in the developing countries but
face a staggering financing gap of $8.1
trillion, which greatly hinders growth,
profitability, job creation, and poverty
alleviation. Women-owned MSMEs
account for an outsized share of this
financing gap.
E-commerce and mobile financial services
are helping MSMEs rapidly scale
their businesses at a reduced cost.
And digital lending is making slow progress
in reaching underserved communities and
microentrepreneurs.
However, these digital financial services
alone are not expected to make a
significant dent on the $8.1 trillion MSME
financing gap because they do not address
the fundamental impediment to MSME
lending - their inability to provide lenders
with sufficient, reliable and timely financial
statements and operational data. This
exaggerates MSME credit risk, increases
risk aversion of lenders, a n d reduces
the supply of affordable MSME loans.
A SPEN CA PITA L SO LU TIO N S LLC | 2 4 5 PA RK A V EN U E | 3 9 TH FLO O R | N EW Y O RK | N Y 1 0 1 6 7
The Solution
We Created
BOOK | K E E P E R (BETA 1.0)
Our multicurrency mobile financial
capacity building app, Book|Keeper,
solves the biggest impediment to finance -
the lack of data to assess MSME credit risk
- by enabling MSME users to enter, store
and derive insights from their
transactional data by responding to
intuitive and gamified questions.
The app converts transactional data into
bookkeeping entries (debits and credits),
[financial statements] and [business
analytics] (to be implemented), thus
improving MSME financial reporting,
access to loans, business performance,
and job creation.
The app does not require MSMEs to learn
accounting or bookkeeping. It is easy-to-
use, affordable, and secure. The app was
designed with significant input from
MSMEs and lenders during our founder’s
decade-long experience with IFC, a
member of the World Bank Group, USAID
projects, and advocacy groups for women
entrepreneurs.
 Tangible Impacts

Input
MSME users enter simple operational and financial data on each business
transaction with, for example, customers, suppliers, employees, etc. by
answering simple and intuitive questions displayed in a gamified and fun manner.
Users can also upload documents supporting each transaction, such as receipts,
invoices, and pictures.

Output
The app immediately displays the bookkeeping entries - debits and credits -
associated with each transaction entered by the MSME users based on double-
entry accounting principles. Users can search, filter, and select transactions and
export the bookkeeping entries, [financial statements], and [business analytics] to
(a) lenders in csv or PDF files with and (b) gain actionable business insights, which the
MSMEs can use to improve profitability, growth, and job creation.

Outcome
Widespread adoption of this financial literacy app by t h e MSMEs, t h r o u g h
increased awareness campaigns and training arranged by advocacy organizations,
academic institutions, NGOs and financial institutions will h e l p bridge the $8.1
trillion financing gap by d r a s t i c a l l y i m p r o v i n g t h e a s s e s s m e n t
o f MSME credit risk. This will scale the supply of affordable loans to MSMEs,
especially women owned MSMEs, helping them grow profitably and create jobs.

A SPEN CA PITA L SO LU TIO N S LLC | 2 4 5 PA RK A V EN U E | 3 9 TH FLO O R | N EW Y O RK | N Y 1 0 1 6 7

Awareness & Training
We partner with local, regional, and international advocacy organizations,
academic institutions, NGOs and financial institutions to help MSMEs build their
financial literacy and capacity through awareness campaigns and cost-effective
training sessions.

Our training is usually offered online via zoom: 9 0 m i n u t e s for MSMEs to

learn the basics of entering, searching, filtering, selecting, and exporting data;
another 90 minutes to learn intermediate topics; and final 90 minutes to learn
advanced topics. We monitor our trainees progress real-time and intervene when
needed. We offer free training of trainers (ToT) in partnership with advocacy
organizations, academic institutions, NGOs, and financial institutions.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

Our MEL services are supported by real-time and verifiable data captured by our
digital platform and reported on an anonymized basis.

Cost
We have waived the app’s subscription fee for 6-months, to be followed by a low
monthly subscription fee.

Help Desk
We partner with advocacy organizations, academic institutions, NGOs, and
financial institutions to set up help desks as needed.

You Can Help

Please contact us here to arrange a 90-minute online or offline training session for up
to 30 MSMEs in your constituency.

A SPEN CA PITA L SO LU TIO N S LLC | 2 4 5 PA RK A V EN U E | 3 9 TH FLO O R | N EW Y O RK | N Y 1 0 1 6 7