KARACHI, PAKISTAN [5th November 2024] — Neem, a leading embedded finance platform in Pakistan, has secured an additional $4 million credit facility from DNI group, a global investment firm operating in 32 countries and an existing partner/investor in Neem, to expand Neem Paymenow, its earned wage access solution, across Pakistan. This partnership marks a pivotal step in advancing financial wellness for Pakistan’s salaried workforce.
With over 60 million employed workforce in Pakistan, many working in essential sectors like retail, healthcare, security, manufacturing, and logistics face substantial financial pressure between paydays with limited financial tools available to assist. Rising living costs and unexpected expenses often drive employees toward high-interest lending options, leading to debt cycles that cause financial stress and impact their families and overall well-being.
Neem Paymenow steps in to offer a responsible, Shariah-compliant alternative. By enabling employees to access up to 50% of their salary when they need it most, Neem Paymenow provides a debt-free service to bridge financial gaps before payday. With a focus on empowering Pakistan’s frontline workforce, the platform is available in both Roman Urdu and English, ensuring wide accessibility. Neem Paymenow also includes gamified financial education modules covering essential topics like saving, budgeting, and fraud prevention, helping employees build stronger financial habits for long-term stability.
“Our investment in Neem Paymenow aligns with our core principles of financial inclusion and impactful support to drive meaningful change,” said Ziyaad Manie, Chief Strategy Officer of DNI Group. “We’re thrilled to back Neem in scaling this unique solution that directly benefits people.”
While Pakistan has seen a slowdown in investment flows over the past year, this funding signals renewed confidence of foreign investors in Pakistan’s market and their commitment to financial wellness. The funding will accelerate Neem’s ability to bring Neem Paymenow to more businesses and employees, promoting a sustainable solution to the country’s financial challenges. This innovative solution is designed to meet the immediate needs of the salaried workforce while aligning with their values—giving them timely, responsible access to their earned wages while paving the way for a more equitable financial landscape in Pakistan.
The partnership and investment from the DNI Group, a team of seasoned operators with global expertise, serve as a powerful testament to our market potential. It showcases their confidence in the Neem Paymenow team’s strong execution capabilities, and, above all, our shared vision of empowering financial wellness for businesses and people in Pakistan. – Naeem Zamindar co-founder of Neem.
Neem has built this solution in partnership with Paymenow, a leading earned-wage access provider from South Africa. This collaboration combines global expertise with local insights, credibility, and operational and regulatory support, making Neem Paymenow not just a product but a transformative movement toward financial empowerment in Pakistan.
Despite the global macro-climate, Pakistan’s digital ecosystem keeps growing, and Neem is committed to building financial resilience and economic prosperity for people within Pakistan. This strategic investment not only supports Neem’s mission of financial wellness for all but also signals to the market the growing importance of ethical and inclusive financial solutions for underserved segments.
Learn more about the solution at www.neem.io/neempaymenow
For media inquiries, please contact marketing@neem.io
About Neem: Neem is a leading embedded finance platform that helps digital businesses seamlessly embed financial services—from payments and earned-wage access to lending products—into their platform. Founded by serial entrepreneurs and backed by global and local investors, Neem is driving a strong impact and shaping the next generation of the financial landscape in Pakistan
About DNI Group: DNI Group is a market-leading investment company which facilitates affordable connectivity and financial inclusion for consumers. The DNI Group focuses on assets which can leverage technology to distribute products and services to the telecommunications, banking, and retail sectors.
About Paymenow: Paymenow is inspired by people, and powered by technology. Paymenow is a responsible earned wage access (EWA) fintech that empowers staff by giving them a non-credit alternative to expensive payday loans, while also looking after their financial wellbeing.