When Hope Mumararungu needed extra capital to grow her clothing business, time was critical. Like many small business owners, she had opportunities to expand but lacked quick access to working capital. She worried that the traditional process of securing a bank loan could take longer than she could afford. That changed in May 2026 when the 38-year-old mother of one discovered digital lender Numida Technologies. I got to know Numida in May 2026 and applied for a loan. Its staff assisted me through the application process, she recalled. ALSO READ: Numida enters Rwanda with fast, collateral-free loans to unlock SME growth Unlike conventional lending, where approvals can take days or even weeks, Numida processed her application in minutes. Sometimes banks take a long process to offer loans, but this is money that comes through your phone. In less than five minutes, you get your loan, said Mumararungu, who runs her business in Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District. For Mumararungu, faster access to capital enabled her to expand her business. She started with a Rwf1.5 million loan, repayable within one month, which she used to purchase additional clothing stock. Mumararungu said Numida's faster loan process and flexible repayment arrangements had made it easier to invest in her business and manage repayments based on her financial capacity. At first I was scared, but Numida helped me understand that the loan was not risky. I bought more clothes, continued doing business and within one month I had already cleared the loan, she said. The lender rewards consistent repayment by gradually increasing customers' borrowing limits, something Mumararungu says has supported her business growth. If I repay the loan, they increase my loan limit, she said. So far, I qualify for a loan of Rwf2 million, which I took again to boost my business. I am still repaying it, and I have only a small amount left to pay. Within just three months, she said, her investment had grown from Rwf10 million to Rwf15 million, an increase she attributes to easier access to working capital. In less than five months, I can already see the changes in my business. Banks could not offer loans easily, but with Numida, I have been able to increase my investment. She added that Numida's flexible repayment options, which allow borrowers to repay daily, weekly or monthly depending on their financial capacity, have made it easier to manage cash flow. Beyond financing, Mumararungu credits the company with helping her develop stronger financial discipline. They follow up with us and advise us. One of the things I have learnt is the importance of saving. You save, your investment increases and your business grows. She believes the partnership will continue opening new opportunities. My business will flourish as I continue working with Numida. They have an easy system, they provide advisory services and they genuinely support us. I hope to continue growing my business and eventually diversify. From rented workspace to growing enterprise For Cartas Dufatanye, 43, owner of Izuba Craft House in Kacyiru Sector, Gasabo District, digital credit has transformed what began as a modest handicraft venture into a growing enterprise. Now employing three permanent staff and around 30 casual workers, Dufatanye started her business by making woven face masks before expanding into handicrafts. She says each successfully repaid loan opened the door to a larger one. I first received Rwf170,000 and repaid it. Then I received more than Rwf200,000, followed by Rwf300,000, and now I qualify for Rwf1 million, she said. The financing enabled her to invest in equipment and move from rented premises into her own workspace. I used the money to buy weaving machines, and before that I was renting space from another handicraft business. Now, I have my own business and it has expanded significantly. Dufatanye hopes to increase employment from the current workforce to 300 women within the next five years, saying access to finance is key to achieving that goal. I would encourage especially women who have not yet started working with Numida to give it a try, she said. I am grateful to Numida for the loans that not everyone would have offered me. They are good partners. My only request is that they continue increasing the loan ceiling as businesses grow. Filling a financing gap Across Rwanda, access to timely financing remains one of the biggest challenges facing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly women-led businesses that often struggle to meet traditional collateral requirements. To help bridge that gap, Numida uses a simple, technology-driven lending model that enables first-time customers to be approved within 24 hours, while repeat borrowers often receive funding almost instantly. The company charges a flat lending fee of 10 per cent. For entrepreneurs like Mumararungu and Dufatanye, the greatest value lies not only in the financing itself, but in receiving it when business opportunities arise. Whether it is buying stock, purchasing equipment or expanding operations, quick access to working capital is helping more entrepreneurs grow their businesses, create jobs and build greater financial resilience. According to Cyprien Hakizimana, Team Leader at Numida Rwanda, the digital lender is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses access working capital quickly without the traditional barriers associated with bank financing. We support business owners to acquire loans without collateral and in a much faster way, Hakizimana said. Our focus is on registered small and medium-sized enterprises, providing financing that enables them to replenish stock, meet customer demand and sustain business growth. He said Numida's SME lending product offers financing of up to Rwf12 million, with repayment periods of one to two months. Borrowers taking larger loans can negotiate longer repayment periods depending on their circumstances. Hakizimana added that entrepreneurs apply through a mobile application without visiting physical offices. The loans carry a flat 10 per cent lending fee and require no collateral, processing charges or service fees. To ensure clients receive timely support, he said, Numida has deployed dedicated field teams to assist entrepreneurs throughout the loan application and repayment process. According to Hakizimana, Numida has so far disbursed loans to more than 1,000 beneficiaries in Rwanda, including a significant number of women-owned small and medium-sized businesses, helping expand access to working capital for entrepreneurs traditionally underserved by conventional lending.
