Spring 21 Capstone 640pm

Since the launch of the partnership in June 2020, WorldRemit customers in over 50 countries – including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe – have been able to send money to their loved ones in Zimbabwe who are in need of financial resources as the coronavirus pandemic draws out. Beneficiaries can collect their WorldRemit remittance at any of Mukuru’s 150+ orange booths and multiple branches located across Zimbabwe in both rural and peri-urban areas.The cash pick up service is operational six days a week and customers will not have to endure long queues. They can collect their cash quickly and safely.

We are starting with Egyptian equities, but we intend to quickly introduce alternative investment options to suit different risk/reward and involvement preferences

Thndr, an Egypt based startup, is now poised to formally launch operation after securing the first new brokerage license granted in the country in over a decade. The startup closed its pre-seed round last December, with investors including Y-Combinator, 4DX Ventures, Endure Capital, The Raba Partnership, and MSA Capital. The startup has just acquired the necessary licensing from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), making it the first company to acquire a brokerage license in Egypt since 2008.

The financial services industry today is characterized by change. Investor interest and capital is pouring into fintech companies – digital banks, insurtechs, wealthtechs, proptechs and every option in between are shifting how financial services are created, offered and evaluated. New changes, new challengesThis shift has spurred many traditional financial institutions to take action. Yet, changes aren’t always straightforward. Financial institutions know they need to embrace innovation, and they also have to find better ways to understand and respond to their customers.At the same time, the shift has put a spotlight on a new area of opportunity for big tech companies like Alibaba, Apple, Google, Tencent and others. These companies have incredible reach, deep roots into their customers’ lives, and robust customer data. Big techs are also constantly looking for ways to provide their customers with more value, to enhance customer loyalty by providing a more integrated ecosystem. Most already offer payments solutions, so extending their offerings to include financial products makes sense. However, there are no strong indicators that the big tech companies want to become banks. The regulatory burden is so far considered too high for their appetite1. Forging strategic alliancesBig tech and financial institutions are already investing in fintechs to help advance their strategic goals. For example, Tencent led a $35 million investment in open banking focused TrueLayer in the UK this year2.What they are realizing that partnerships don’t have to be limited to start-ups – working together with established institutions can create value. Over the past 6 months, there have been a number of strategic business relationships announced, such as Google’s partnership with Citibank and Stanford Federal Credit Union, to offer smart checking accounts3 and Apple’s announcement of a partnership with Goldman Sachs to offer the Apple Card credit card4. These will likely only be the beginning. 

Thndr has simplified the investment process to encourage more investment in stocks, bonds, and funds without hefty commissions or strings attched. Thndr has already opned free trading accounts where users can sign up using the app and get notified once approved.

New service allows WorldRemit customers in over 50 countries to send money directly from their phones to 1,800 cash pick-up locations nationwide

Thndr, an Egypt-based startup has announced that it has received the first new brokerage license in the country in over a decade. Thndr recently acquired the necessary licensing from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). 

Ahmad Hammouda, Co-Founder and CEO at Thndr said Egypt is expected to be the 7th largest economy by 2030 and has more than 100 million people, most of which are young and are looking for a convenient and digital way to invest their money. “That’s why we are excited to bring a new breed of young investors to the market” he added.

The discounts will be available on over 60 staple products (such as canned items, household cleaning products, maize meal, baby products, dairy products, etc.) and the discounts will be valid at any Shoprite and Checkers store in South Africa. Mukuru customers simply have to create and pay for their orders on the Mukuru platform to receive access to the discounts. Customers then access the codes on the Mukuru self-help platforms such as USSD and WhatsApp and present the codes at the Shoprite and Checkers stores to claim the discounts off the selected products. “We are always looking for ways to recognise and reward our loyal customers, and the Mukuru Shopping Discounts are a great way in which we can pass valuable savings on to our customers by funding the discounts ourselves,” said Andy Jury, CEO, Mukuru.

Most importantly, the Mukuru Shopping Discounts initiative will help customers and their families achieve savings at a time when many are still recovering from the economic fallout of South Africa’s lockdown. “As a company, we are with our customers side by side through both the good times and the difficult ones, and we are well-positioned to continue innovating and to provide important benefits to our loyal customers around the world.”

Having helped our customers send money home to their family and friends for over 14 years, we feel part of their daily lives and as a result, Mukuru is constantly engaging with customers and adding tangible value wherever and whenever we can. We are able to leverage both partnerships and technology to pass important benefits on to our customers and to reward them for their loyalty and engagement over so many years,” added Jury. “

the popular mobile money transfer program, came to be in Kenya. It’s narrated by Michael Joseph, the managing director of mobile money at Vodafone and the program’s founder.

The animation was produced as part of a series of online courses designed and delivered by the USAID Mobile Solutions Team, QED, and TechChange, a DC-based organization that specializes in online training for international development.

Loosely translated to ‘Pay with M-PESA’ (mobile money service). The service has two components, Paybill and Buy goods. Pay Bill is for remote payments and the customer does not have to be present whilst paying.  The customer has an official relationship with the organization to whom they are making payment and has an “account number” that helps identify the user. The customer inputs a business number (paybill number) for the entity they are paying. Buy goods and services is mostly for retail purchase of goods and services. Both parties immediately confirm these proximity payments via text message. No relationship between the buyer and the organization or account number is required.

Loosely translated to ‘Pay with M-PESA’ (mobile money service). The service has two components, Paybill and Buy goods.

Stock trading app Thndr has completed its registration with the EGX, the company announced on its website. The no-commission equities trading platform last month became Egypt’s first company to obtain a new brokerage license since 2008.

Congrats to the #FintechSouth #Innovation Challenge Finalists!Artis Technologies, EnrichHER, EthioPay, Finosec, Griffin, Immediate, InvestGuard, Lendsmart, Ryze and VIVA Finance will compete on 10/5 for chance to present on the conference’s main stage & win $25k AND a year of free ATDC membership ;)

Applications were submitted by companies across the region. The 10 finalists include: Artis Technologies, LLC – modern financing made simple through an embedded financial services platform for digital lending and real-time payments EnrichHER – offers funders the best selection of vetted investment opportunities in companies that have women in leadership roles, while cultivating a thriving ecosystem of New Majority businesses Ethiopay – safe and convenient way to pay loved ones’ bills from anywhere in the world Finosec – IT and cybersecurity management platform for the banking industry Griffin Technologies – customer intelligence platform that provides banks modern day context on new and existing customers Immediate – helps businesses recruit, engage, and retain employees by providing a financial wellness solution that delivers on-demand access to earned pay InvestGuard – technology-enabled exchange for independent PE sponsors Lendsmart AI – AI-enabled technology platform transforming the homebuying process Ryze – Bitcoin-first financial institution, starting with the most powerful way to save and accumulate Bitcoin VIVA Finance – improving employees’ financial well-being through an affordable lending program and financial education

At the conclusion of the program, the startups will present to a panel of investors during Fintech South’s Investor Preview event on Monday, Oct. 5. The top three companies will hit the virtual conference’s main stage for a chance to win $25,000.

Nigerian digital financial platform, Carbon (formerly Paylater) is taking big steps to introduce its revamped financial services into Ghana. The online lender is looking to hire a new country manager for Ghana and this suggests the company is looking to introduce its new services like PayVest into Ghana.

The company is keen to work with companies specialising in the financial technology (fintech) solutions field, to contribute to the development of the Egyptian capital market sector.The most prominent of these partnerships includes a contract with the Egyptian Company for Information Dissemination (EGID).

Startup and equities trading platform, Thndr Securities Brokerage, has obtained approval from Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to practice securities brokerage activities.Thndr is the first company in the Middle East to announce the provision of a zero commission on securities trading service.Its activities take place through an advanced electronic platform that enables dealers in the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) to view the latest developments and indicators at zero cost.

M-Shwari is a paperless banking service offered through M-PESA. It will: Enable you open and operate an M-Shwari bank account through your mobile phone, via M-PESA, without having to visit banks or fill out any forms. Provide you the ability to move money in and out of your M-Shwari savings account to your M-PESA account at no charge. Give you an opportunity to save as little as KSHs.1 and earn interest of up to 6.65% p.a on your saving balance. This cash is moved into the savings account via M-PESA. Enable you to access micro credit product (loan) of a minimum of KSHs.100 any time and receive your loan instantly on your M-PESA account charged at a facility fee of 7.5% Save for a fixed period of time (Lock Savings Account) and earn interest of up to 70% of the Central bank Rate. This is a product for everyone who feels that banking should be hassle-free. No forms to fill in, no branches to visit. Just one click on your phone and you have a savings account!

1. Millennials squared – a parable of a digital wallet and beer moneyEarlier this year Sam Crowder stood up at a televised baseball game, and held a sign asking his Mum to send him “beer money”. He included his Venmo account information. Thousands of people sent him money, as his sign went viral. Beyond sharing this story as advice in case you ́re ever thirsty and leave your wallet at home, what it reflects is how the use of new technologies may start with digital natives, but then rapidly spread to other generations. It reflects the inter-generational adoption of, and use of, FinTech technologies.So, when looking at the potential of new services, it is important not just to consider the young people who will adopt it. But what will happen when they introduce the technology to their friends and family. Millennials are the earthquake that shakes companies, and adopt new tech and services at lightning speed. The rest of us are the tsunami of adoption that follows and lead to exponential growth.

2. Facebook, Amazon, Google or Ant Financial will become the largest retail bank in the worldIt’s 2020 and to apply for a loan, instead of going to your local bank branch, you quickly ask Facebook for approval. This is far from fanciful thinking. Even as of today, PayPal is arguably one of the largest retail banks — it has more money in deposits than all but the largest 20 US banks, and offers services from payments, to loans and credit cards (albeit currently via partners). But we believe that one of the major tech companies, whether that is Facebook, Amazon, Google, or Ant Financial (the financial arm of Alibaba) will not only transform retail banking, but rapidly become the largest retail bank in the world.“Some bankers and analyststhink that Google, Facebook, Amazon or the like will not fully enter a highly regulated, low-margin business such as banking. I disagree. What is more, I think banks that are not prepared for such new competitors face certain death”Francisco González, CEO, BBVA

hese major tech companies have the platform and the scale to upend retail banking. They already have a digital wallet which underlies the services that enable users to buy and sell on their platforms, such as Google Wallet and Amazon Payments. Facebook Messenger Pay is already available in the US while it recently received an e-money license from the Central Bank of Ireland. This means European users will be able to store and transfer money, and make online purchases. The transition to becoming the largest retail bank in the world will be swift and brutal for traditional banks.

While CGAP could not confirm the profiles of borrowers in Ghana, experience in East Africa suggests that many are borrowing from formal lenders for the first time. JUMO, one of Ghana’s most successful digital lenders, also operates in Tanzania, where it found that 81 percent of its borrowers had never before borrowed from a formal financial institution. The ability to reach excluded customers and help them to build formal credit histories has always been touted as the promise of digital credit. And while more data are necessary before forming any conclusions about the potential impact of digital loans in West Africa, the results from Ghana are cause for optimism.

Mobile payments can also mean that staff spend less time processing payments, as SnapScan can be integrated with a variety of leading point-of-sale systems

Fido LoansFido money lending is our second money lending app here. Fido loans is a licensed institution, specialised in giving short term loans.Fido gives loans up to the sum of 200 cedis on first time applications.Based on how soon and how well someone pays for their loans, they can qualify for loans up to the sum of 600 cedis.You can download the Fido app from google play store and apply for your first ever Fido loan.Loans are usually paid into the mobile money accounts of applicants.Orbit Lending GhOrbit Lending is one of the fastest growing online loan companies in Ghana.