Latest news with #Agboola
Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
See the 3 African unicorns that made TIME's 100 Most Influential Companies, list
Three African tech powerhouses, Nigeria's Moniepoint and Flutterwave, and South Africa's digital bank Tyme, have been chosen for TIME magazine's 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Companies, a watershed moment for the continent's rapidly expanding fintech industry. Nigeria's Moniepoint and Flutterwave, alongside South Africa's Tyme, appeared in TIME magazine's 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Companies. Moniepoint was recognized for aiding Nigeria's informal businesses in accessing formal economic tools, enhancing financial inclusion. Flutterwave's innovations facilitate cross-border digital payments and expand economic connectivity effectively in Africa. TIME's prestigious annual list, now in its fifth year, recognizes 100 firms across the world that are making outstanding contributions to their sectors. Moniepoint Inc Nigeria's Moniepoint Inc. was listed in the Leaders category with Hyundai, GoFundMe, and LinkedIn. With 90% of Nigeria's 40 million small and medium-sized firms still functioning in the informal sector, Moniepoint has played an important role in assisting these businesses to shift to legal structures. The company provides comprehensive banking solutions that enable informal enterprises to transition away from cash transactions, obtain loans, and grow sustainably. 'For us, 'financial inclusion' isn't just a buzzword, it's the difference between survival and growth,' says CEO and cofounder Tosin Eniolorunda Moniepoint secured its reputation as one of Africa's most valuable fintechs in October 2024, receiving $110 million in equity funding and driving it into unicorn territory. Flutterwave Flutterwave, another Nigerian financial success story, was recognized in the Titans category with global behemoths like Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI. The company has transformed digital payments in Africa, providing vital infrastructure for businesses to send and receive money easily across borders. In 2024, the Nigerian firm, currently valued at $3 billion, extended its money transfer services to all U.S. states except Texas through its Send App, which, according to the business, completes almost all (98%) transactions in three minutes. Digital payment solutions for businesses in Saudi Arabia and Turkey were also introduced by Flutterwave. 'I wish it was boring, we're here for the long game,' Agboola, the company's CEO, stated. Tyme Tyme, a company that operates in South Africa, joined the Pioneers category among innovators such as SpaceX and Equinor. Tyme became one of Africa's newest unicorns in December 2024, when it raised $250 million in a Series D fundraising round. Meeting underbanked people where they are has been the driving force behind Tyme Group's unique multi-country development trajectory. The Singapore-based digital bank now serves around 17.5 million retail customers in South Africa and the Philippines.
Business Insider
10 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
See the 3 African unicorns that made TIME's 100 Most Influential Comapnies, list
Three African tech powerhouses, Nigeria's Moniepoint and Flutterwave, and South Africa's digital bank Tyme, have been chosen for TIME magazine's 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Companies, a watershed moment for the continent's rapidly expanding fintech industry. Nigeria's Moniepoint and Flutterwave, alongside South Africa's Tyme, appeared in TIME magazine's 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Companies. Moniepoint was recognized for aiding Nigeria's informal businesses in accessing formal economic tools, enhancing financial inclusion. Flutterwave's innovations facilitate cross-border digital payments and expand economic connectivity effectively in Africa. TIME's prestigious annual list, now in its fifth year, recognizes 100 firms across the world that are making outstanding contributions to their sectors. Moniepoint Inc Nigeria's Moniepoint Inc. was listed in the Leaders category with Hyundai, GoFundMe, and LinkedIn. With 90% of Nigeria's 40 million small and medium-sized firms still functioning in the informal sector, Moniepoint has played an important role in assisting these businesses to shift to legal structures. The company provides comprehensive banking solutions that enable informal enterprises to transition away from cash transactions, obtain loans, and grow sustainably. 'For us, 'financial inclusion' isn't just a buzzword, it's the difference between survival and growth,' says CEO and cofounder Tosin Eniolorunda Moniepoint secured its reputation as one of Africa's most valuable fintechs in October 2024, receiving $110 million in equity funding and driving it into unicorn territory. Flutterwave Flutterwave, another Nigerian financial success story, was recognized in the Titans category with global behemoths like Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI. The company has transformed digital payments in Africa, providing vital infrastructure for businesses to send and receive money easily across borders. In 2024, the Nigerian firm, currently valued at $3 billion, extended its money transfer services to all U.S. states except Texas through its Send App, which, according to the business, completes almost all (98%) transactions in three minutes. Digital payment solutions for businesses in Saudi Arabia and Turkey were also introduced by Flutterwave. 'I wish it was boring, we're here for the long game,' Agboola, the company's CEO, stated. Tyme Tyme, a company that operates in South Africa, joined the Pioneers category among innovators such as SpaceX and Equinor. Tyme became one of Africa's newest unicorns in December 2024, when it raised $250 million in a Series D fundraising round. Meeting underbanked people where they are has been the driving force behind Tyme Group's unique multi-country development trajectory. The Singapore-based digital bank now serves around 17.5 million retail customers in South Africa and the Philippines. 'You can walk into a grocery store in South Africa and open a bank account with us in under three minutes,' says Chief Growth Officer Rachel Freeman.
Time Magazine
a day ago
- Business
- Time Magazine
TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025: Flutterwave
The reach of Africa's most valuable fintech goes well beyond the continent. In 2024 the nine-year-old Nigeria-based startup, now valued at $3 billion, expanded its money transfer services across every U.S. state except Texas via its Send App, which the company says completes nearly all (98%) transactions within five minutes. Flutterwave also launched digital payment tools for enterprises in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. But at its core, Flutterwave is still committed to enabling African commerce. A fragmented regulatory environment and tough macroeconomic conditions, among other factors, make operating in Africa significantly more challenging than in the West, says CEO Olugbenga 'GB' Agboola: 'I wish it was boring.' Still, the company has steadily expanded across Africa in recent years, now operating in nearly three dozen countries; it processed over $31 billion in transactions in 2024. Despite a spate of toxic workplace allegations in 2022, which Agboola denies but which led to new executive leadership, the company has continued to attract fresh investment and secure vital commercial partnerships. The current goal: profitability by the end of 2025. 'We're here for the long game,' Agboola says. Disclosure: Investors in Flutterwave include Salesforce, where TIME co-chair and owner Marc Benioff is CEO.
CBC
14-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Agboola tapped to take second crack at winning St. Boniface-St. Vital back for Conservatives
The federal Conservative Party has nominated a candidate for the Winnipeg riding of St. Boniface-St. Vital. Shola Agboola will try to win back a riding the Conservatives last held from 2008-15, when Shelly Glover served as MP. The Conservative Party website was updated this week to list Agboola as a candidate. Agboola has spent 17 years working with provincial corrections, according to his LinkedIn account. In a Facebook post, Agboola said he won a contested nomination on Wednesday, defeating fellow St. Boniface-St. Vital electoral district association board member Nicholas Tenszen. Agboola finished second to Liberal Dan Vandal in St. Boniface-St. Vital in the 2021 federal election, attracting 28 per cent of the vote. Vandal is not running for re-election. The Liberals have nominated Ginette Lavack, the former director of the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre and Festival du Voyageur. The New Democratic Party candidate is Thomas Linner, who served as a spokesperson for the Manitoba Health Coalition during the COVID-19 pandemic. A general election must be held in Canada this year and may take place as soon as this spring. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was sworn in Friday, is expected to call an election within days or weeks.
CBC
10-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'It's really a great city': Yellowknife lauded during 3rd annual welcoming event for newcomers
Like many others, Akinlolu Agboola moved to Yellowknife for work. "It's been fantastic. It's a little bit smaller than what I'm used to but it's okay," said Agboola, who is originally from Nigeria and who moved to Yellowknife from Calgary about a year ago. "I like the small-town feel. It's great. It's like everybody's your friend and family." Agboola attended the Fédération Franco-Ténoise's third annual Welcoming Day for Newcomers at the Legislative Assembly on Saturday. Everyone who attended the bilingual event got a welcome certificate and a goodie bag complete with a map of Yellowknife, a toque, a neck warmer, and some information from the Yellowknife visitors centre. There were also several speeches. Events continued later at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, where service providers who help newcomers had information booths set up, and guides were ready to give tours of the museum. Nominee program expected to re-open Steve St. Pierre, the director of labour development and standards at the N.W.T. government, delivered a speech in which he said the N.W.T. government was expecting to re-open the territory's nominee program within the month. The nominee program helps skilled immigrants move to the N.W.T. to work for local employers and gives them a path to become permanent residents. Its re-opening was put on pause in January after the federal government said it would reduce the number of spots for the N.W.T. by half – from 300 down to 150. Mwangala Wamuwi, who is from Namibia and who came to Canada for work more than two years ago, was glad to hear the territory was working to re-open the program. He'd been hoping to use the program to get permanent residency. "You just hope for the best," he said. Wamuwi has lived in Ottawa, Montreal, and the small town of Kindersley, Sask. He came to Yellowknife two months ago after hearing good things about it from people he knew. "It's really a great city," he said. "People are friendly, even though the weather is a little bit, you know, it's very very cold here." The cold was a common theme for some. Agboola also said it's very cold in Yellowknife, but that he likes his new home – despite the brutal winters. Go to free events, recommends one attendee Not everyone who attended the event was new to Yellowknife. Katy Ng has lived in the city for over five years, but decided to come to the event anyways. "I thought, why not," she said. Ng grew up in Hong Kong, and was originally only planning to stay in Yellowknife for a few months as part of a working holiday in Canada. But after meeting her partner here and falling in love with the nature, she decided to stay for good. She said that when she first moved to Yellowknife, she attended English classes at Collège Nordique, and it helped her meet people and find events happening around the city. She and her co-workers would also check Coffee Break News every week to find free events. She recommends other newcomers go to as many free events as possible. "They always have some free event in Yellowknife happening. Just go," she said. "Don't be afraid … people here are just so friendly," Ng, too, acknowledged the cold. But now, she said, winter is one of her favourite parts of the year.
