Hi Fintech friends 👋,
Here are the highlights of what happened in African Fintech this week;
One of the world’s biggest payment companies entered Africa with a $100 million commitment.
Mastercard invested in an African digital identity verification provider.
A 16-year-old Nigerian fintech expanded into the U.S. market with digital banking for Africa’s diaspora.
The co-founder of one of Africa’s biggest VCs departed after 14 years of investing in fintechs like FairMoney, HoneyCoin, and Pula.
Kenya’s BNPL startup targeted $340 million in revenue.
Join an online community of TWIF Premium members and enjoy exclusive fintech conversations, private events, roundtable discussions, networking, job matching, and premium industry insight - all in one place.
💸Fundraise and Exits
South African startup Contactableraised $13.5 Million to scale its identity verification, fraud reduction and compliance platform.
💰 Venture Funds
PayPal committed $100 Million to MENA and Africa via Paypal Ventures.
🚀 Partnerships & Product Launches
Pesalink and Nairobi-based fintech TendePayteamed up to make bulk and single payments faster.
Penne pivoted from lending to build the rails for lending in Nigeria.
Nigerian fintech Pagaexpanded into the US market with digital banking for Africa’s diaspora.
Pesapal partneredwith Pezesha to launch a credit facility for Ugandan Merchants.
👔 Leadership Lineup
Ido Sum departedTLcom Capital after 14 years of investing in Fintechs like Fairmoney, HoneyCoin and Pula.
📰 News of the Week
Mastercard invested in African Fintech Smile ID.
African digital identity verification provider Smile ID secured a minority investment from Mastercard while also expanding its strategic partnership with the global payments giant to scale its anti-fraud technology across the continent.
👀 Eye Openers
From Africa to the World;
📑 Read of the week
Inside the failed courtship between Kenya BNLP startup Lipa Later and Nigeria’s Klump. (Techcabal)
📖 Other News, Reads, and Media
Kenya’s Watutargeted $340 million revenue in 2025.
The Bank of Ghanarolled out licensing rules for digital lenders.
🪙 Stablecoin Watch
News;
Insights & Resources;
Just Like M-pesa, Stablecoins' Real Value Isn't Speed or Cost—It's Open Access. (By Cofounders Notebook)
🎥 VIDEO INTERVIEWS/DISCUSSIONS
Interview with Iyin Aboyeji who co-founded two Unicorns, on the Cheat Code to Finding World-Class CoFounders.
🦉 Tweet of the Week
Worthwhile stablecoin FX mind maze to go through by @EtherfuseDave.
1. Sending value (payments) ≠ exchanging value (FX)
2. Institutional FX exchanges are few in number
3. Service fees must be higher than the risk-free interest rate (e.g. bringing non-USD currencies onchain must… https://t.co/uXzRqW1FOp— Stephen Deng (@mrstephendeng) September 23, 2025
Made in Tanzania 🇹🇿 with 💚
