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Aequalend launches innovative financial services platform designed to bridge the financial inclusivity gap for underserved communities

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3 years ago

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Black, Latino communities and Gen Z more likely to be underserved by the mainstream U.S. financial system.

HOUSTON, Sept. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Aequalend, a new minority-owned financial technology company seeking to revolutionize the financial services industry by addressing financial exclusion in the U.S., announced its official launch today. The company aims to empower underserved groups, including unbanked and underbanked minority communities, through robust community engagement, financial literacy education, and innovative, personalized and affordable financial solutions that challenge the status quo of traditional financial institutions.

 

“We believe financial inclusion is not a privilege but a fundamental right. And we know access to financial literacy is critical to economic mobility for the underserved. We want to dismantle barriers to resources that can transform lives.” – Aequalend CEO & Co-Founder, Marc Hernandez

The term “unbanked” refers to households that lack checking or savings accounts at traditional banking institutions, while “underbanked” households may have a bank account but still resort to nonbank financial products and services, such as check cashing services or payday lenders. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s 2021 National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households, an estimated 4.5% of U.S. households (representing 5.9 million households) were unbanked and 14.1% of households (18.7 million households) were underbanked. Black and Latino communities were more than twice as likely to be in these categories – a challenge that perpetuates systemic inequalities, stifles economic progress and deprives a significant segment of the population of the resources necessary to build a secure and prosperous future and, ultimately, generational wealth.

“We believe financial inclusion is not a privilege but a fundamental right. And we know access to financial literacy is critical to economic mobility for the underserved. We want to dismantle barriers to resources that can transform lives,” said Aequalend CEO and Co-Founder Marc Hernandez. “By leveraging cutting-edge technology, embracing diversity, facilitating knowledge and maintaining an unwavering commitment to our mission, Aequalend is poised to redefine financial inclusion in the United States.”

The TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index, an annual study that assesses financial literacy among U.S. adults, reports significantly lower financial literacy rates among Hispanic and Black Americans, who correctly answered 6% and 7% of P-Fin Index questions, respectively. White and Asian Americans correctly answered 24% and 23% of the questions, respectively. Additionally, financial literacy rates are declining with each generation, which only compounds the financial challenges Gen Z faces.

“As minorities ourselves, we’ve witnessed the struggles that result from the inclusion gap firsthand – both amongst our families and our customers,” said Aequalend President and Co-Founder Sandra Estrella. “Not only is there a lack of affordable, accessible and culturally competent financial products to meet these consumers’ needs, they’re already behind from birth and very rarely catch up because they lack financial literacy. And a lack of financial literacy in the U.S. isn’t unique to minorities; it’s a major issue that’s also currently impacting Gen Z across all races and ethnicities. We want to make a difference.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

Tailored financial solutions: Recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all, Aequalend offers residential mortgages, personal loans and credit cards, small business loans, financial education and personalized financial management tools designed to meet the unique needs and challenges of underserved communities.Financial literacy: Aequalend believes in empowering its customers. Beyond just providing financial services, the company prioritizes financial literacy ensuring its customers understand how to use its products and possess the knowledge to make sound financial decisions, thereby fostering financial independence.Culturally competent services: Aequalend is committed to understanding and respecting the diverse cultural nuances of its customers, making it truly relatable.Tech-driven accessibility: Using innovative technology, like artificial intelligence and blockchain, to democratize access to wealth creation, Aequalend delivers a seamless, secure and transparent user experience that promotes trust and long-term relationships with its customers.

The nation is witnessing the intersection of finance and technology, as well as a surge in minority entrepreneurs, families and individuals looking to shape their financial destinies. These factors are transforming the way people manage their money, access credit, invest and make payments – democratizing access to previously exclusive financial services. With a focus on financial inclusion, innovation and community empowerment, as well as a commitment to transparency, Aequalend is well-positioned to make a lasting difference in the lives of the individuals and communities it supports.

Hernandez and Estrella have a combined 40 years of financial services experience with a focus on helping minorities purchase homes. Aequalend’s team brings vast experience in finance, technology and community development, as well as a profound grasp of compliance requirements, to the table. The company currently serves residents in Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Florida and Washington, D.C., and plans to expand its operations across the U.S. in the coming months.

As it grows its national presence, Aequalend is also looking to grow its team with associates who share its vision for a more equitable financial future in the U.S. and an undivided approach to finance.

About Aequalend

Aequalend (pronounced eh-KWUH-lend) is a minority-owned fintech company seeking to revolutionize the financial services industry by addressing financial exclusion in the U.S. With a focus on innovative technology, affordable financial solutions and financial literacy education, the company’s mission is to help close the financial wealth gap and build generational wealth within underserved populations across America. Aequalend is headquartered in Houston. To learn more, visit www.aequalend.com

Media Contact

Jasmine Hernandez, Aequalend, 1 7735172105, marketing@aequalend.com, www.aequalend.com

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Crab2B Makes AsiaWorld-Expo Debut, Connecting Hong Kong’s Mobile Wholesalers with Global Buyers

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October 18, 2026

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HONG KONG, Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Crab2B, a pioneering B2B trading platform dedicated to mobile devices and digital products, will make its debut at the HKICEC Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion during the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows, opening at AsiaWorld-Expo on October 18, 2026.

Hong Kong has long been a major hub for electronics wholesale trade, but buyers still often rely on fragmented channels to identify suppliers. Crab2B was created to bridge this gap, bringing Hong Kong-based mobile and digital product wholesalers together on one dedicated B2B platform. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Crab2B combines the manufacturing strength of mainland China and the Greater Bay Area’s extensive supply chain capabilities with Hong Kong’s established global trading network. Together, these strengths enable Crab2B to simplify cross-border sourcing, connect buyers directly with suppliers and make international trade more accessible and efficient.

For its first appearance at a major industry trade show, Crab2B is bringing together more than 200 merchants already registered on the platform, marking a significant milestone in its development. The Crab2B booth is expected to attract electronics traders from Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Visitors will be able to discover the app’s capabilities through live demonstrations, register on the platform and connect directly with participating merchants to explore business opportunities.

A buyer who experienced the Crab2B app shared: “With Crab2B, we no longer have to search far and wide for reliable suppliers. The platform brings Hong Kong’s mobile phone wholesalers together in one place, giving us greater visibility into available products and sourcing opportunities. Whether I’m at my desk or on the move, I can find products and connect with suppliers whenever I need to. For businesses like ours that source across borders, that kind of access makes a real difference. It saves time, reduces transaction costs and helps us do business more efficiently.”

Crab2B CEO Luo Yaohong said, “We want to be pioneers in cross-border B2B trading for digital products, creating new opportunities for Hong Kong’s wholesale industry. As Hong Kong places greater emphasis on developing digital trade, we’re addressing a longstanding gap in the market with a dedicated digital platform that connects Hong Kong’s electronics suppliers directly with buyers around the world. Our ambition is to make cross-border trading easier, faster and more accessible, while helping Hong Kong businesses reach new markets.”

The platform’s trade show debut is also attracting attention from international merchants, with exhibitors expressing interest in joining Crab2B to expand their reach into overseas markets. Meanwhile, merchants already registered on the platform are looking forward to the launch of its planned online marketplace, which will create further opportunities for sustained collaboration and business growth.

Building on this debut, Crab2B will remain firmly rooted in Hong Kong while expanding its connections with businesses around the world. The company will continue to enhance its platform with smarter sourcing tools, more comprehensive trading capabilities and an increasingly connected network of suppliers and buyers. By making it easier to discover products, establish business relationships and conduct cross-border transactions, Crab2B aims to open new opportunities for merchants of all sizes and help shape the next chapter of Hong Kong’s digital trade industry.

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SOURCE Crab2B

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Canton Fair Buyers Alliance Launched as the 140th Edition Opens

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7 hours ago

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October 18, 2026

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GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 15, the Canton Fair Buyers Alliance was officially launched at the Canton Fair Complex, marking a significant milestone as the fair celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding.

More than 140 overseas buyers attended the launch ceremony, highlighting the fair’s enduring role as a bridge connecting global commerce with China’s export sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Luís Vilariça, CEO of Joinco, Import & Export, Ltd., discussed his company’s long-standing relationship with the Canton Fair. Drawing on years of participation, he reflected on the growth opportunities created through cooperation with Chinese suppliers and highlighted the fair’s role in supporting international business development and global trade exchanges.

The ceremony also featured a joint declaration by alliance members. Representatives from five member companies read the statement in their respective native languages, underscoring the international character of the new organization. Additional members sent video congratulatory messages, joining the celebration and witnessing the official launch of the alliance.

The Canton Fair Buyers Alliance represents one of the fair’s key service innovations. Designed primarily for Fortune Global 500 companies, buyers from the world’s top 250 retailers and leading sourcing enterprises across a diverse range of markets, the alliance aims to offer members a platform for information sharing and resource coordination. The first cohort of alliance members includes 58 companies from 32 countries and regions across 5 continents. Through the alliance, members will gain access to a range of priority benefits spanning four major areas: services, events, resources and information.

 For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:

https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

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SOURCE Canton Fair

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Bioethanol from human hair – Indian start-up’s solution to rising prices of grains and sugar

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8 hours ago

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October 18, 2026

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GUJARAT, India, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In what could be called the beginning of the 5G (fifth-generation) of bioethanol or non-cellulosic bioethanol or non-sugar-based biofuels, an Indian start-up, Techofest Global, based out of Gujarat, has developed its own, indigenous, and patented technology for the production of bioethanol from waste human hair. Such processes would significantly reduce the employment of sugars, grains, and agricultural residues, which form the classical first- and second-generation bioethanol feedstocks. As a result, the rising fuel-vs.-food/fodder debate is anticipated to reduce, and instead, ethanol produced from municipal/industrial waste, after trials, can supplement the current supply being used as blends with presently retailed fossil fuels (E20, E27, etc.). 

As stated by Dr. Ravi, the founder-CEO of Techofest Global, the strategic priority and the USP of the start-up is industrial symbiosis, which, typically, involves an ecosystem of up-cycling/valorising the effluents of an industry, thereby creating a value-chain for residues often lacking an end-of-life. With more than three decades of experience in designing customized nuclear fusion reactors for international programmes, such as ITER, JET/UKAEA and SST-1, Dr. Ravi, a seasoned mechanical engineer, spearheads the start-up’s patented technologies’ scale-up and commercialization.

Two biochemical engineers, Dr. Navnit – the former CTO, and Dr. Kabilan – the former CEO of Biomakerz, Chennai, are the brains behind the current technology/process portfolio of the joint-venture between Techofest Global and Biomakerz. They have been working on biorefineries’ process intensification for more than a decade. “Having foreseen the fuel-vs-fodder/food competition as early as the year 2015, we began developing techno-economically feasible and viable in-vitro metabolically-engineered bioprocesses for scaling-up ethanol production from municipal waste streams between 2019–2021”, says Navnit. After developing operational technologies for international biofuel organizations, serving process engineer roles with certain biorefineries-related OMC R&D’s of India, Dr. Navnit, presently works for a premier academic institution.

An on-going fermentation trial at the Techofest Global-Biomakerz JV’s R&D facility

Techofest Global has developed and tested, in its R&D JV’s pilot-facility of ~100-L, 3 innovative and cost-effective technologies, such as 5G ethanol production using human hair, used cooking oil (UCO), and enriched bio-methane production from disposed sanitary napkins.

“With massive CapEx and OpEx, 2G ethanol technology is facing a major commercialization bottleneck, owing to competition with food/livestock fodder, requirement of a cost-intensive pre-treatment procedure, and the requirement of cellulolytic cocktails, which have a poor recycle efficiency. The proprietary 5G SAFE process developed for the start-up circumvents the mentioned constraints, and instead, utilizes a single-stage saccharification followed by fermentation, and records over 85–90% biocatalyst recovery. Likewise, the proprietary SIM process for bio-methane production, exclusively developed for the start-up, is 2x faster with improved intermittent feeding cycles and continuous gas harvest”, says Navnit.

“With on-going pre-commercialization trials, the proprietary ethanol and bio-methane processes of ours are soon being commercialized”, says Ms. Bhumika, the co-founder and the corporate advisor of the start-up. Furthermore, Mr. Ronak pilots the organization’s global market entry and commercialization frontier.

Techofest Global’s veteran Principal Technology Advisors include: Dr VS Tripathi, former Joint Director, DRDE Gwalior, Dr B S Munjal, former Director, Structures and Thermal group, SAC/ISRO, Academician and Advisor CIKS-Dharohar, GTU, and Dr AV Santhanababu, former Scientist at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. With on-going R&D activities, Dr. Munjal says, “the start-up is striving to provide a unique solution along the lines of the Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat Vision 2047”.

Media Contact: www.techofestglobal.com; e-mail: info@techofestglobal.com; contact person: The PR team of Techofest Global.

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