Aiming to bridge the credit gap and improve financial inclusion in South Africa, Experian, in partnership with FinFind, has unveiled its AI-powered tool ExperiFin, a new two-sided marketplace connecting SMEs with funding opportunities.
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way that businesses innovate and conduct business. Many enterprises are finding themselves responding to this by finding ways to better serve their customers through the use of AI. The latest of these innovations is brought to the funding space in the form of ExperiFin.
ExperiFin is a comprehensive platform that streamlines the funding ecosystem through its Funder Portal.
The Brands Bringing ExperiFin to Life
Experian, a global data and technology company, is powering opportunities for people and businesses with its vast amounts of data and insight.
FinFind is one of South Africa’s leading online solutions for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) looking to access funding. It is an aggregator of available public and private sector SMME funding offerings in a single solution.
How ExperiFin Works
By combining the powers of Experian and FinFind, the tool streamlines the funding ecosystem through its Funder Portal (supply side), which empowers credit providers to assess demand and receive qualified leads matching their criteria, and its Application Portal (demand side), offering a reconfigured, streamlined process for applicants to quickly receive a funding probability measure using alternative data and automation.
“ExperiFin is a game-changer for financial inclusion, fundamentally reshaping how funding flows in South Africa. By partnering with Finfind, we’ve created a seamless, intelligent marketplace that truly powers opportunities – connecting applicants with the right funders faster, and empowering lenders to optimise their portfolios with unparalleled efficiency. It’s about turning complex financial needs into simple, accessible solutions,” says Jaco van Jaarsveldt, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Experian.
He explains that the new tool is a catalyst for growth and resilience for SMEs as South Africa’s economy adapts to rapid technological changes.
Why AI is Changing the Game
This partnership seems to be a logical solution based on recent research conducted by Forrester Consulting for Experian. The data company found that 74% of local respondents believe that organisations that adopt machine learning (ML) in credit underwriting can gain a significant long-term competitive advantage.
Furthermore, it has been shown that 93% of organisations surveyed in South Africa already using machine learning have seen an improvement in acceptance rates for credit cards since adoption, and 89% of South African organisations using machine learning have seen an improvement in credit card bad debt rates since implementation.
The report also indicates that ML is a driver of financial inclusion and sustainable growth. It is enabling South African organisations to expand access to financial services for underserved segments, particularly thin-file and underbanked consumers. By incorporating richer, alternative data sources, ML models allow for more accurate assessments of eligibility, helping providers make fairer, more inclusive decisions. In fact, 80% of local ML adopters agree that the technology enables them to widen access to financial services.
Mariana Pinheiro, CEO, Experian EMEA and APAC highlights the shift to inclusivity in finance thanks to artificial intelligence such as machine learning. “Machine Learning is unlocking access to financial services for millions who have historically been excluded from the financial system,” she explains. “By leveraging alternative data and more advanced risk models, ML enables lenders to make fairer, more accurate decisions, especially for consumers with limited financial histories. This technology is becoming central to building more inclusive and sustainable financial systems.”
Data Informs Innovation
When ExperiFin was announced at Experian’s Innovation Summit 2025, it was also noted that alternative data is powering MSME finance. The panel discussion highlighted that economic upliftment means creating future customers, pointing to the importance of funders understanding the pain points of small businesses.
Throughout the discussion, it was noted that data is the driver to help any service provider understand fundable businesses, as well as those that are not yet fundable. Based on data, service providers can understand how to support businesses that are on the journey of being fundable. This also means relooking at the processes of applying for funding to make it easier to understand and more streamlined. Customers need to find the process easy and not too complicated, because many often give up long before even having funding turned down.
