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The microfinance sector is at a turning point: the experimental and start-up phase has come to an end. External support is increasingly focused on a handful of sector leaders and start-ups emerging out of specialized funds, to the detriment of the majority of MFIs--the “intermediate” commercial institutions that have not yet reached maturity. Microfinance has become an attractive investment, but the line-up of potential financiers (donors, commercial banks, private investors) should not mask the magnitude of needs still unmet. The gap between supply and demand remains huge; entire market segments have yet to be served, and the most mature MFIs alone will not suffice. Moreover, the increasing commercialization of microfinance poses the risk of mission drift. The current challenge to increasing outreach lies in strengthening intermediate institutions and greater recognition of ethical considerations.