Micro lender Light Microfinance Monday said it has secured $10 million (Rs 72.86 crore) in series-A funding from European impact investors Incofin (Belgian), Nordic Microfinance Initiative (Norwegian), and Triple Jump B V (Dutch).

The three funds follow an investment strategy aimed at creating social or environmental impacts in addition to financial gains, a release said.

Light Microfinance's Chief Executive Officer Rakesh Kumar said the investment will boost the lender's expansion plans in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

“We are also investing in multiple technology interventions like an AI-driven analytics platform and mobile applications to enhance sourcing, credit underwriting, and collection capabilities through individualised mobile training modules and performance trackers,” he said.

In 2020-21, the Ahmedabad-based MFI reported a portfolio growth of 30 per cent to Rs 623 crore.

Its Chief Financial Officer Aviral Saini said the investment will strengthen the lender's balance sheet and will enable further expansion of the loan book to over Rs 1,000 crore.

The lender started its operations in 2009 and was catering to 2.17 lakh borrowers by March 2021, the release said.