We provide affordable
financing for African students
in global universities

We estimate that African students in global universities face a $25b/year financing gap

Scholarships and household incomes are insufficient

Government and philanthropy cannot meet demand at scale

Private loans are inaccessible without credit history, collateral or co-signers, due to risk concerns

We are changing that...

What We do

8B is the first fintech company using innovative guarantees and income-share agreements to facilitate affordable financing to African students in leading global universities. We match students with flexible, right-sized, finncing, while using data science to build the credit infrastructure for Africa's future super prime borrowers.

To help students to succeed, we provide an ecosystem of support:

Students access free curated, relevant information & resources to help them succeed, while univerties receive & applicants

Students are linked to a mentoring network of peers & industry luminaries, while univerties diversify sources of career advice & support to students

Watch how we're changing how African students access global education

Why Choose Us?

Exclusivity

we focus exclusively on the African continent, because they have to overcome impossible challenges to excel

No Co-signers Required

You do not require co-signer or FICO score to apply for financing, because we base our financing on your future potential

Flexibility

We offer a choice between an affordable loan and an Income Share Agreement, you choose what works best for you

Mentorship

We provide mentorship and leadership development, providing global career and networking opportunities to help you achieve professional success

Value Added Services

You get access to additional FREE services, including 8B-curated resources on applying to universities, testing, funding and financial literacy, as well as stories about current and former African global students

Discover the Difference

8B Financing

What You Get

We use an innovative guarantee mechanism to facilitate the access of African students to affordable financing, both directly from investors and through and third-party lenders.

Details of the loans are worked out on a case by case basis and depend on factors such as the university and program of study.

As a guideline, 8B offers the following:

Affordable loans

Loan amount of up to $50,000

An affordable interest rate, enabled by the guanrantee

6 months grace period

10 year repayment period

How it works

1. Sign-Up Online

Create an account and tell us abou yourself. No co-signer or FICO score required (A FICO score is a three-digit number based on the information in your credit reports. It helps lenders determine how likely you are to repay a loan.)

2. Pre-approval

The 8B team considers factors such as subject of study, university from which you have an offer, past scholarship records, and the amount of financing needed before informing you about the conditional terms of your financing.

Apply for Loan

Review Income Share Agreement and loan offers, and select the option that best suits your needs. If you decide to proceed, we assign you an 8B associate to help you with additional documentation. Completed applications are signed online

Funds Disbursement

Once your financing application is fully approved, the funds are transferred directly to the university and you go to class!

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Testimonials

My top 3 tips for young, ambitious Africans: Take the initiative: don’t wait to hear about career opportunities. Be assertive: don’t be afraid to apply when other students might be competing for the same job or internship. Be open to all opportunities: you never know where it will lead.

Dancan Onyango Kenya Master of Business Administration Babson College

Today, accessing world-class education depends on the twin lottery of parental wealth and scholarships. Building an inclusive 21st century requires us to take income inequality seriously, use philanthropy to leverage investment capital, and exponentially unlock financing and human potential at a global scale. 8B is the revolution we need.

Oyama Mabandla, 8B Advisor, Former Chairman, Vodacom Group (South Africa)

The most surprising thing when I was seeking funding was the limited options for international students. Most graduate schools do not offer financial aid. 8B funding was able to support part my tuition, and I am very grateful for that.

Nifasha Rusibamayila Tanzania School of Public Health, Epidemiology & Biostatistics Concentration Boston University, 8B Scholar

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