• Lova Diakité founded Joonapay in 2023 to centralize financial management for SMEs and large corporations across the UEMOA region.
• The platform automates manual tasks by integrating invoicing, supplier payments, and real-time expense tracking into a single interface.
• Joonapay supports diverse payment methods including bank transfers, credit cards, and mobile money, with plans to launch physical and virtual corporate cards.

Malian tech entrepreneur Lova Diakité leads this shift from his base in Côte d’Ivoire. Diakité serves as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joonapay. This financial platform specifically serves the needs of businesses operating within Francophone West Africa.

Diakité established Joonapay in 2023 to simplify daily corporate operations. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools through a unified digital interface. The solution currently assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). Furthermore, large financial departments utilize the platform to manage complex regional requirements.

The software centralizes several essential financial services for its users. Clients create professional invoices and receive customer payments directly through the system. The platform also enables users to settle supplier invoices and track corporate cash flow. Additionally, Joonapay supports multiple payment channels including bank transfers, credit cards, and mobile money services.

Joonapay prioritizes the automation of repetitive financial duties. Many regional firms still perform these tasks manually, which increases the risk of error. The platform simplifies internal validation processes and provides real-time oversight of professional spending. Teams use the system to centralize receipts and manage expense justifications efficiently. Meanwhile, the company prepares the upcoming launch of both virtual and physical corporate cards for employee expenses.

Diakité brings significant international experience to the West African fintech sector. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in the United States. He launched his professional career in 2015 within the university’s IT support department.

His career progressed through several specialized technical roles in the American market. Diakité joined Edu-Tech Academic Solutions as a support engineer in 2018. He then managed systems and networks for The Baldwin School starting in 2020. US-based healthtech firm Hinge Health recruited him as an IT specialist in 2023. Finally, Diakité served as a systems engineer for Camunda, a German company specializing in business process automation, before focusing on his current venture.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Cheikh Gueye launched Nixacom in 2024 to finance consumer technology purchases through flexible credit.
• The platform uses artificial intelligence to assess creditworthiness and deliver near-instant financing decisions.
• The startup targets underserved consumers in emerging markets who lack upfront purchasing power.

Cheikh Gueye, co-founder and chief executive of Nixacom, launched the company in 2024 to specialize in financing technological equipment. He aims to expand access to credit and accelerate financial services in emerging markets.

Founded in 2024, Nixacom acts as an intermediary between financial institutions and end users. The platform allows customers to acquire devices such as mobile phones and computers without paying the full cost upfront.

The company structures its model around tailored financing solutions, often in partnership with financial institutions. The platform evaluates each customer’s financial situation before approving access to products.

To streamline the process, Nixacom has developed a digital platform powered by artificial intelligence. The system analyzes user data, verifies identities, and assesses repayment capacity.

As a result, the platform delivers near-immediate responses, reduces processing times, and improves the reliability of credit decisions while expanding access to financial services.

In addition to leading Nixacom, Cheikh Gueye serves as strategy director at RentX Rewards, which offers flexible rent payment solutions. He previously founded VoitGo in 2020, an online service that manages vehicle imports from the United States, including sourcing, shipping, and customs procedures.

Cheikh Gueye graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication in 2013. He began his professional career in 2020 at LabEight, a technology startup incubator. He later joined Robinhood in 2022, where he worked in compliance before launching his fintech ventures.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• South African entrepreneur Sibongile Maputla founded fintech platform Squirrel Away in 2025.
• The platform converts family gifts into savings earmarked for children’s future expenses such as education and housing.
• Squirrel Away targets financial inclusion by simplifying digital savings for families without advanced financial expertise.

South African technology entrepreneur Sibongile Maputla founded Squirrel Away in 2025 as a digital platform designed to reshape how families give gifts and build financial security for children.

The platform operates as a value-based gifting solution. Family members and relatives can direct each contribution toward a specific financial objective for a child. The platform aims to gradually build savings that children can later use for education, housing or early adulthood expenses.

Squirrel Away focuses on ease of use. The platform allows users to create an account, add a child or beneficiary and send or receive financial contributions as gifts.

The company designed the service for users without advanced financial skills. The platform also integrates savings into celebrations such as birthdays and family events.

At the same time, Squirrel Away promotes a broader educational and social objective. By transforming gift-giving into an investment activity, the platform encourages children and families to adopt savings habits at an early age and strengthen long-term financial preparedness.

Maputla also serves on the investment committee of the Altvest Credit Opportunities Fund.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics and economics from the University of Pretoria in 2001. She later obtained a master of business administration degree from Wits Business School in 2019.

Maputla started her professional career in 2000 at Standard Bank Group, where she worked as a foreign exchange trading trainee.

In 2002, she joined Coronation Fund Managers as an equity broker. She later served as chief operating officer at Benguela Global Fund Managers between 2016 and 2021.

Melchior Koba

• NowPay enables Egyptian employees to access earned wages on demand through employer partnerships.

• The platform also supports instant payment of essential bills and peer-to-peer transfers.

• The fintech model targets financial stress amid rising cost-of-living pressures.

Mostafa Ashour is an Egyptian computer engineer and entrepreneur. He co-founded NowPay and serves as its chief executive officer. The platform provides financial services to companies and their employees.

Founded in 2019, NowPay positions itself as a solution designed to improve employees’ financial well-being by reducing cash flow constraints during the month. The company aims to offer greater flexibility in accessing earned wages.

The model relies on partnerships with employers. Companies register on the platform, and their employees create accounts on the NowPay application. Employees can then request salary advances at any time. Employers reimburse the startup for advanced amounts, which the system deducts from salaries during the monthly payroll cycle.

In addition to early wage access, the platform enables users to pay a wide range of essential bills instantly. These include mobile phone, internet, electricity, landline, water, and other household services.

Moreover, the application allows users to transfer money to other users, including colleagues, through fully digital and secure transactions.

At the same time, Mostafa Ashour co-founded Tryvin and serves as its managing partner. The company specializes in software development. He also holds a position as a market lead at Microsoft.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Cairo University. He began his professional career in 2004 as a software engineer at The Steel Network, a U.S.-based construction company.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Electrum provides cloud-based payment software used by four major South African banks.
• The platform integrates multiple payment providers through a single interface with smart routing.
• Founder Dave Glass brings experience from Standard Bank, ACI Worldwide, and fintech firms.

Dave Glass co-founded Electrum in 2012 and currently serves as chairman of the board. The company develops cloud-based payment software that simplifies connectivity between payment services for banks and retailers.

Electrum enables institutions to integrate payment providers either directly or through aggregators using a single interface.

The platform incorporates advanced features, including intelligent routing, which selects providers based on availability and existing commercial agreements.

This architecture allows businesses to optimize transaction flows while improving efficiency and reliability in payment processing.

Electrum leverages a modern infrastructure tailored to the South African market. The platform enables companies to capture new opportunities in the payments sector by offering speed, flexibility, and solutions aligned with local use cases.

Four major South African banks currently use the platform, reflecting its growing adoption in the financial ecosystem.

Dave Glass graduated from the University of Cape Town with a bachelor’s degree in information systems in 2002. He later earned a master’s degree in management of information systems from Trinity College Dublin in 2008.

He began his career in 2003 at IQbusiness South Africa, where he worked as a consultant in management and digital transformation.

He joined Standard Bank in 2004 as a technologist, before moving in 2009 to Touch Networks as a fintech project manager.

He became head of professional services at S1 Corporation in 2010 and held the same position at ACI Worldwide in 2012, a global provider of payment systems.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Easy Bank positions itself as a digital intermediary to simplify access to credit and banking products

• The platform aggregates offers from partner banks and negotiates better financing terms for users

• Founder Mohamed Khelifi leverages banking experience to streamline customer financing journeys

Mohamed Khelifi operates as a Tunisian fintech entrepreneur focused on improving access to financial services. He co-founded and leads Easy Bank as chief executive officer.

Khelifi leverages digital tools to redesign the financing journey for individuals, which often remains constrained by complex administrative procedures.

Easy Bank, founded in 2023, positions itself as a banking and financial intermediation company rather than a traditional bank. The company aims to make banking services simpler, faster and more transparent for individuals.

The platform centralizes multiple services related to credit applications and banking guidance. It connects users with a network of partner banks, allowing each customer to access several financing offers without contacting institutions individually.

Moreover, Easy Bank negotiates more favorable financing conditions for its clients when possible, particularly in terms of costs.

At the same time, the platform directs users toward banks and products that match their profiles. It assesses factors such as loan type, repayment capacity and personal situation to optimize recommendations.

In addition, Easy Bank provides complementary services, including identity verification, profile analysis and simplified access to certain bancassurance products. The company delivers these services through agreements with partner banks and insurance firms.

Mohamed Khelifi also co-founded X-Mall, a virtual shopping center launched in 2023 for employees of large companies. The platform offers payment facilities of up to twelve months, with repayments directly deducted from salaries.

This initiative complements his broader strategy to expand access to financial solutions through digital ecosystems.

Mohamed Khelifi graduated from IHEC Sousse in 2006 with a degree in finance and actuarial science. He also earned a master’s degree in risk management and insurance from ESC Tunis in 2007.

He started his career in 2007 as an account manager at Société Générale Group. He then joined Tunis International Bank in 2008 in a similar role.

In 2010, he moved to Zitouna Bank, where he served as branch manager. From 2022 to 2023, he held the same position at Bank ABC Tunisia before launching his fintech ventures.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• PayBox Global provides payment and financial management tools for individuals and businesses across Africa.

• The platform offers mobile banking, invoicing, and payment solutions tailored to SMEs and freelancers.

• Founder Philip Boye-Doku aims to improve financial access and efficiency through integrated digital services.

Philip Boye-Doku is positioning technology to streamline payments and improve financial management across Africa. He co-founded and leads PayBox Global, a platform designed to serve both individuals and businesses.

The company launched in 2021 and offers a suite of tools that simplify daily financial operations. The platform adopts an intuitive approach and targets a broad user base, including consumers and professionals.

PayBox Global offers PayBox Buddy as one of its flagship products. The mobile application allows users to send and receive money while tracking their finances in real time.

The app provides a free bank account in Ghana. It also enables users to monitor spending, manage payments, and access real-time transaction insights.

The platform also targets freelancers, merchants, and small businesses with dedicated financial management tools. Users can create electronic invoices, generate payment links, and manage dedicated business accounts.

PayBox Global also provides mobile point-of-sale solutions for in-person transactions. These features aim to simplify cash flow management and accelerate payment collection.

Moreover, the platform enables the integration of financial services into third-party digital products. This capability facilitates cross-border payments and supports money transfers across multiple African markets.

Philip Boye-Doku graduated from Ashesi University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems in 2013. He joined First Capital Plus in the same year as an application developer.

He later served as Management Information Systems Manager at Ashesi University from 2015 to 2020. He then transitioned into entrepreneurship and co-founded PayBox Global.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Shema Steve develops a community-based fintech modelto expand access to savings and credit.

• His company Exuus offers the “Save” platform, targeting users excluded from traditional banking.

• The solution combines group savings, instant loans and alternative credit scoringto drive financial inclusion.

Shema Steve, a Rwandan technology entrepreneur, has positioned himself as a key player in digital financial services. He founded and leads Exuus, a company specializing in fintech solutions and software development. 

Founded in 2014, Exuus developed Save, a digital platform designed for underserved populations. The application allows users to save money, access credit and manage daily financial transactions within savings groups. The platform relies on trust-based networks, including families, neighbors and colleagues. This structure provides a more reliable alternative to informal financial practices.

The use of Save requires users to form savings groups. Members define shared financial goals, contribute regularly and support each other. Trained agents can assist these groups. Each user can join multiple groups simultaneously. The system aggregates all commitments to assess loan eligibility and build a credit profile.

The platform allows users to request loans directly through the application. The system provides near-instant approval and disbursement. Loans can originate from the group, personal networks or financial partners. User behavior, including savings discipline, repayment punctuality and penalty management, feeds into individual and group credit scores. This model creates an alternative to traditional credit assessment systems.

In addition to savings and credit, Save enables users to transfer money and pay bills. The platform supports payments for utilities and subscription services. It also allows users to create virtual cards for secure online purchases. The service remains accessible via a mobile application or through a USSD code (*777#). This feature ensures access for users without smartphones or internet connectivity.

Shema Stevegraduated from the National University of Rwandain 2014 with a degree in environmental management. He served on the advisory board of Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates between 2020 and 2022.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• South African entrepreneur Zale Hechterleads CliqTech, a firm that provides digital will and estate-planning solutionsfor banks and insurers.
• CliqTech integrates digital estate planning tools directly into financial systemsto help institutions protect client assets and expand services.
• The platform enables fully digital creation, management, and storage of wills, while providing analytics and performance monitoring tools.

South African entrepreneur Zale Hechter co-founded and leads CliqTech as chief executive officer.

CliqTech, founded in 2019, develops technology that integrates estate-planning services into financial systems. The company collaborates with banks, insurers, and financial service providers. These partnerships allow institutions to incorporate succession planning tools directly into their platforms.

The platform enables users to create, manage, and store wills entirely online. The system provides a streamlined and intuitive experience for both internal teams and end clients. In addition, the platform includes monitoring and support tools. Dashboards and calculators allow users to analyze and better understand their wealth and estate situations.

CliqTech integrates its technology into banking and insurance systems through a simplified process. The company enables rapid deployment and ensures compatibility with existing infrastructure. Once institutions implement the platform, teams can monitor performance in real time. This capability allows companies to adjust their commercial and operational strategies more efficiently.

CliqTech positions its products around three strategic objectives for financial institutions. First, the platform helps institutions increase sales by responding more precisely to client needs. Second, the platform improves internal operational efficiency. Third, the platform strengthens the long-term value generated by each customer relationship.

The company therefore transforms will and succession management into a measurable growth driver. At the same time, the system helps families protect assets and manage inheritance planning more effectively.

Zale Hechter graduated from the University of Port Elizabeth in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Hechter later obtained a master’s degree in biokinetics and sports medicine from Nelson Mandela University in 2003.

Hechter worked as a marketing manager at Varsity College between 2002 and 2005. Hechter later joined Bloomberg Medical Group as a consultant. He became commercial director of BMG Orthopaedic Solutions in 2015. The company distributes orthopedic products in South Africa.

Hechter later served as chief executive officer of MZC Holdings between 2018 and 2020. The company develops innovative solutions to address socio-economic challenges in South Africa.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• South African entrepreneur Thalia Pillayfounded Orca Fraud in 2024to help banks and fintech firms combat digital payment fraud in emerging markets.
• The platform integrates real-time fraud detection directly into payment flows, enabling institutions to block suspicious transactions before completion.
• Orca Fraud raised $2.35 million on March 8to expand real-time monitoring and anti-fraud intelligence across Africa and other emerging markets.

South African engineer and entrepreneur Thalia Pillay serves as chief executive officer of Orca Fraud. Pillay founded the company in 2024 with Carla Wilby to develop solutions that protect digital payment ecosystems in emerging markets.

Orca Fraud designs tools that help banks and fintech companies make payment operations safer and easier to manage. The company aims to reduce fraud-related losses while avoiding unnecessary disruptions for legitimate users. The approach seeks to strengthen trust in digital payment systems.

Orca Fraud integrates its technology directly into real-time payment flows. The platform supports several stages of the transaction process. The system analyzes user onboarding, transaction authorization, merchant monitoring, and fraud case management.

Instead of reviewing transactions after completion, the platform assists decision-making while money moves through the system. This capability allows financial institutions to block suspicious operations before they finalize transactions.

Orca Fraud built its technology around early anomaly detection. The platform identifies behavioral changes that may signal emerging fraud threats. The system monitors multiple types of fraud that affect digital payment ecosystems.

These threats include account takeover, investment scams, SIM-swap fraud, and money muling, a practice in which criminals use third-party accounts to transfer illicit funds.

Orca Fraud announced on Sunday, March 8 that the company raised $2.35 millionin funding. The company plans to use the capital to strengthen real-time transaction monitoring and expand anti-fraud intelligence capabilities across Africa and other emerging markets.

Thalia Pillay graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in mechatronic engineering, robotics, and automation. Pillay began her career in 2016 at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in the United States, where she served as treasurer.

Pillay joined financial services company Investec in London in 2019 as a software developer. Pillay later joined South African company Aerobotics in 2021 as a software engineer. Aerobotics helps fruit producers forecast yields through image analysis that measures fruit size, color, and quality.

Pillay joined fintech company Stitch in 2022 as a software engineer. Stitch promoted Pillay to engineering team lead in 2023. Pillay later co-founded Orca Fraud to focus on payment security technologies for emerging markets.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum