Driven by the vision of a prosperous digital future for African businesses, he develops customized technological tools that cater to the specific needs of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Tanzanian native John Haule is the founder and CEO of Swahiliesm a startup that develops digital payment solutions for businesses across Africa. Established in 2020, Swahilies provides digital tools designed to empower African businesses by offering sophisticated financial and operational resources. Its mission is to streamline accounting processes, facilitate digital payments, and provide access to banking solutions. The company offers a suite of solutions aimed at helping businesses maintain organization and operate efficiently.

Swahilies has developed a platform that enables businesses to track sales and expenses in real-time, providing them with an accurate understanding of their performance at any given moment. It offers a real-time inventory management system and has created tools to assist businesses in recovering unpaid debts from their customers. Swahilies’ solutions are currently used by over 10,000 businesses in Tanzania.

In addition to his role at Swahilies, Haule is a founding member of the Tanzania Fintech Association (TAFINA), a platform dedicated to bolstering the fintech ecosystem to advance financial and economic inclusion in Tanzania. As the editor-in-chief of the media outlet This Week in Fintech in Africa, he also contributes to the reporting on sector developments.

Prior to Swahilies, Haule founded several other companies. In 2015, he established Positivity Clothing Brand, a clothing brand aimed at inspiring the new generation. The company offered a range of products, including customized t-shirts and caps. In 2016, he co-founded Swahili Inspiration, a digital media platform that uses the Swahili language to inform Tanzanians about global opportunities.

Haule earned a bachelor’s degree in social protection in 2020 from the Institute of Finance Management. From 2021 to 2022, he served as a VC scout, seeking investment opportunities in startups for the investment firm shl.vc.

Melchior Koba