Latest news with #ChipperCash
Business Mayor
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Africa's billion-dollar opportunity (Tech Startups)
When we talk about the 'next frontier' in tech, the conversation is often global, but increasingly, it should be African. A quiet revolution is underway across the continent, driven not by legacy corporations but by bold, resilient startups solving real-world problems. In these bustling tech hubs from Lagos to Nairobi, Africa's billion-dollar opportunity is no longer a distant dream; it is becoming a vibrant reality. Walk through Yaba in Lagos, Nigeria's own 'Silicon Lagoon', and you can feel the pulse of innovation. Startups here are not simply replicating Silicon Valley models; they are reimagining them for African realities. Fintech companies like Flutterwave and Chipper Cash are leapfrogging traditional banking systems, while health tech startups such as 54gene are bringing genomic research closer to African needs. Agriculture, education, logistics, energy… there's hardly a sector untouched by the ingenuity of Africa's entrepreneurs. Africa's startups are born out of necessity. In places where infrastructure gaps persist, entrepreneurs are creating solutions that are mobile-first, cost-effective, and community-driven. It's the classic 'frontier market' mindset: limited resources catalyse limitless creativity. This resilience is now paying off, attracting global venture capital at unprecedented rates. In 2021 alone, African startups raised over $5 billion! A record! And still just scratching the surface of potential. More than investment figures, it's the quality and vision of these startups that inspire optimism. They are building businesses that not only make profit but also solve pressing societal challenges. From access to clean energy to democratised education, Africa's entrepreneurs are proving that profitability and purpose can, and must, coexist. Read More South West tech companies to watch in 2023 - Business Live One of Africa's greatest assets is its youthful, dynamic population. By 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African. This demographic dividend (if harnessed through education, mentorship, and investment) could fuel a golden era of innovation. Already, we see incredible talents emerging, from coders graduating from Andela to tech founders backed by Y Combinator. However, talent alone isn't enough. To unlock the full billion-dollar opportunity, we must ensure access to tools, networks, and markets. Building stronger startup ecosystems, complete with incubators, accelerators, venture funds, and regulatory support, is critical. Governments, private sector leaders, and global partners must work together to create an environment where startups can not just survive but thrive. Of course, challenges remain. Infrastructure deficits, policy uncertainty, access to capital outside major hubs, and limited international visibility still hinder many startups. But therein lies the opportunity: for those willing to invest time, capital, and expertise, Africa offers not just returns but the chance to help build a more inclusive global economy. We need more 'bridge builders'! Individuals and institutions that connect African startups to global capital, talent, and markets. It is time to move from extractive investment models to collaborative partnerships that prioritise long-term, sustainable growth. The future of African tech startups hinges on a few key pillars: • Local investment: More African-led venture capital and angel networks investing in homegrown solutions. • Digital infrastructure: Reliable internet, payment systems, and cloud services accessible even in rural areas. • Policy support: Governments creating startup-friendly policies that encourage innovation and reduce bureaucratic red tape. Read More Circit changes paper trail to digital breadcrumbs - Business Plus • Global collaboration: Diaspora networks, multinational companies, and foreign investors playing enabling roles, not extractive ones. Africa's billion-dollar startup opportunity isn't just Africa's to seize; it's the world's opportunity to engage with. The next Flutterwave, the next Paystack, the next global unicorn could be brewing right now in a co-working space in Nairobi or Kampala or Accra. It's time to listen, to learn, to invest, and to build. Because when Africa wins, the world wins.
Zawya
27-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ripple and Chipper Cash join forces to unlock faster and more cost-effective crypto-enabled payments across Africa
San Francisco/Lagos – Ripple, the leading provider of digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions, and payments provider Chipper Cash have today announced a new partnership to support cross-border payments into Africa using Ripple Payments, which leverages digital assets for faster, cheaper, more efficient cross-border payments. By leveraging Ripple's crypto-enabled payments solution Chipper Cash, which has five million customers in nine countries across Africa, will enable consumers to receive funds from around the world 24/7/365 - reducing the time and friction to make moving value into Africa dramatically more efficient. 'Our partnership with Chipper Cash marks a key milestone in the expansion of Ripple's business in Africa. Consumers and businesses across the continent are increasingly recognizing the potential of blockchain technology, and we are excited to bring our crypto-enabled payments solution to our partners in the region,' said Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, at Ripple. 'By integrating our technology into Chipper Cash's platform, we're enabling faster, more affordable cross-border payments while driving economic growth and innovation across the markets they serve. With over a decade of experience in tokenizing real-world assets, Ripple's journey began by bringing fiat currencies on-chain to simplify international money transfers. As the global cross-border payments market grows, more institutions like Chipper Cash are tapping into the transformative power of blockchain technology to drive efficiency and innovation." "Crypto-enabled payments have the potential to enable greater financial inclusion, accelerate access to global markets, and empower businesses and individuals across Africa,' said Ham Serunjogi, Co-Founder & CEO at Chipper Cash. 'Through integrating with Ripple's global payments network, we are excited to be able to harness the transformative potential of blockchain technology to enable consumers to receive payments faster and at lower cost.' Ripple's partnership with Chipper Cash expands its payments footprint in Africa which started with Onafriq in 2023. Ripple's simple, secure, compliant digital asset infrastructure means it is well positioned to provide the core services that financial institutions need to tokenize, store, exchange and move digital assets. Ripple Payments has near-global coverage with 90+ payout markets representing more than 90% coverage of the daily FX markets, processing more than $70 billion in volume. Ripple has over a decade of experience in the digital asset space and holds 60+ regulatory licenses and registrations in various jurisdictions. About Ripple Ripple is the leading provider of digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions—delivering simple, compliant, reliable software that unlocks efficiencies, reduces friction, and enhances innovation in global finance. Ripple's solutions leverage the XRP Ledger and its native digital asset, XRP, which was purpose-built to enable fast, low-cost, highly scalable transactions across developer and financial use cases. With a proven track record working with regulators and policymakers around the world, Ripple's payments, custody and stablecoin solutions are pioneering the digital asset economy—building credibility and trust in enterprise blockchain. Together with customers, partners and the developer community, we are transforming the way the world tokenizes, stores, exchanges, and moves value. About Chipper Cash Chipper Cash is a financial technology company serving more than five million customers across the African continent. In 2018, Chipper Cash revolutionized moving money in Africa by providing a frictionless way to send and receive money cross-border. Since then, Chipper has increased its product suite by offering personal investments and digital business transactions and expanded its reach into the US. Led by co-founders Ham Serunjogi and Maijid Moujaled, Chipper Cash is focused on its mission to provide the most trusted and accessible financial services for people living in Africa and beyond.
