Building a Fintech for Africa’s Street Vendors, Informal Traders and Low Income Workers with Kosta Scholiadis

Episode 199 with Kosta Scholiadis, Founder and CEO of Street Wallet, a South African fintech company empowering informal traders and street vendors to access the digital economy.Kosta brings a wealth of entrepreneurial insight and purpose driven innovation to this conversation about financial inclusion and the digital transformation of Africa’s informal economy. Founded in Cape Town, Street Wallet emerged from the recognition that South Africa’s one million street vendors have been largely excluded from the rapidly expanding cashless ecosystem.Kosta shares how Street Wallet’s simple yet powerful technology allows vendors to accept digital payments without needing a bank account or smartphone. He explains how the company’s interoperable platform, QR based payment system, and strategic partnerships with leading NGOs are improving financial access, increasing incomes, and building economic resilience among underserved communities.Fresh from securing R6.2 million in funding and acquiring Digitip, a platform that enables informal workers to receive digital tips, Kosta discusses how these developments are accelerating Street Wallet’s mission to create an inclusive and accessible digital economy.What We Discuss With KostaKosta’s journey to founding Street Wallet and the inspiration behind creating a fintech platform for South Africa’s one million informal traders.How Street Wallet’s low tech, high trust digital payment system is helping unbanked street vendors join the digital economy.The impact of Street Wallet’s R6.2 million funding round, the acquisition of Digitip.How partnerships with NGOs, retailers, and service providers like Plush Car Wash are scaling financial access and resilience for informal workers.Street Wallet’s vision for expanding across Africa and shaping the future of cashless payments and financial inclusion in the informal economy.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Climate-Resilient Greenhouses and Digital Tools Are Transforming African Farming? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Kosta:LinkedIn - Kosta Scholiadis and Street WalletMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 198 with Anaporka Adazabra, Founder and CEO of Farmio Limited, an agritech company redefining agriculture through smart, accessible technology that empowers farmers to build profitable and climate resilient agribusinesses across Africa.Anaporka is a Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Awardee and a driving force behind the transformation of Africa’s agricultural sector. Through Farmio, she is combining engineering, data, and agricultural science to equip farmers with the tools, knowledge, and market access they need to thrive in a changing climate. From building durable smart greenhouses to launching a digital SuperApp that gives farmers real time control over their crops, Farmio is turning farming from guesswork into growth.In this episode, Anaporka shares how technology and innovation are reshaping food security, livelihoods, and sustainability across the continent. She discusses the importance of building climate smart farming systems, the role of digital infrastructure in unlocking farmer productivity, and how empowering women in agritech can accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.What We Discuss With AnaporkaAnaporka’s journey from aspiring entrepreneur to founder of Farmio Limited, and how her vision is redefining agriculture in Ghana and across Africa.Harnessing technology, data, and smart greenhouse systems to make farming more efficient, profitable, and climate resilient.Empowering smallholder farmers through the Farmio SuperApp, which provides real-time agronomic insights, financing options, and access to markets.The role of women in driving agricultural innovation, and Anaporka’s experience as a Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Awardee.Building sustainable partnerships that connect farmers, offtakers, and investors to strengthen Africa’s agricultural value chain.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Using Solar Drying Innovation to Tackle Food Insecurity in Sudan: The Solar Foods Story? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Omar:LinkedIn - Anaporka Adazabra and Farm.IO LimitedMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 197 with Omar Lababidi, CEO of Wafroex and Founder of Goldswarm, a premium West African honey brand that is redefining sustainable luxury while empowering thousands of smallholder farmers across Nigeria. With over twenty years of experience investing in, leading and scaling companies, Omar combines deep business expertise with a passion for innovation, sustainability and community development.In this episode, he shares how a single taste of honey in Benin in 2015 inspired a vision to elevate West African honey to the global stage, and how that vision has grown into Goldswarm the first Nigerian agricultural brand to export to the United States. From introducing advanced technologies such as honey DNA tracking to forging partnerships that protect biodiversity and support local beekeepers, Omar explains how Goldswarm is creating a blueprint for sustainable agribusiness in Africa.What We Discuss With OmarOmar’s journey from a life-changing taste of honey in Benin to founding Goldswarm, a premium West African honey brand.Building Nigeria’s first agricultural brand to export to the United States and redefining sustainable luxury.How Goldswarm’s honey DNA tracking and innovation are transforming transparency, traceability, and trust in African exports.Empowering local farmers, protecting biodiversity, and promoting climate-smart agriculture across West Africa.Navigating export challenges and positioning Nigeria as a global hub for organic and sustainable agricultural products.Omar’s vision for Africa’s future in global trade and the rise of purpose-driven entrepreneurship across the continentVerto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, Sankha Jinasena, Sales Manager for South Africa at Verto, discusses how South Africa’s removal from the FATF grey list is creating new opportunities for businesses operating across borders. He explains how improved investor confidence and regulatory stability are opening doors for B2B payment providers, driving stronger partnerships and renewed commercial momentum. Sankha also shares what this shift means for companies looking to trade with South Africa, and how Verto is repositioning its value proposition to meet rising demand with greater speed, transparency and trust.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Using Solar Drying Innovation to Tackle Food Insecurity in Sudan: The Solar Foods Story? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Omar:LinkedIn - Omar LababidMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 196 with Dr Alaa Salih Hamadto, Founder and CEO of Solar Foods, a pioneering Sudanese enterprise transforming food preservation, agriculture, and sustainability across Africa and the Middle East.Dr Hamadto is an award-winning scientist and social entrepreneur whose company merges traditional solar drying techniques with modern IoT and clean technology to build climate-resilient, community-centred food systems. Through Solar Foods, she has partnered with more than 5000 farmers and supported over 7000 during Sudan’s conflict, empowering local producers while cutting food waste and promoting fair trade agriculture.A Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Award recipient, Alaa shares her journey from scientist to social innovator, explaining how sustainable agri-tech, indigenous knowledge, and human-centred design can reshape Africa’s food future.What We Discuss With AlaaAlaa’s journey from scientist to founder of Solar Foods and her mission to merge ancient solar drying traditions with modern clean technology.How Solar Foods’ IoT-enabled solar dryers are revolutionising food preservation, reducing waste, and empowering smallholder farmers across Sudan.Building community resilience and supporting over 7000 farmers during Sudan’s conflict through sustainable, fair trade agricultural practices.The impact of the Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Award and how it helped scale Solar Foods’ innovation and visibility across Africa and beyond.The intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and women’s leadership in shaping Africa’s food security and climate resilience.Verto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, Tomasz Bilakiewicz, Product Director at Verto, shares how the product team is tackling some of the toughest challenges in cross border payments such as speed, reliability, transparency and foreign exchange management.He explains how these pain points can be solved creatively, not just for today’s fintech companies, but in ways that can scale as the industry evolves. Tomasz also discusses how Verto’s product roadmap adapts to new markets, currencies and regulations, and how emerging technologies are shaping the next generation of solutions.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Africa Can Unlock $500 Billion in Economic Value Through Smarter Infrastructure Investment? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Alaa:LinkedIn - Alaa Salih hamadto and Solar FoodsMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 195 with Thomas Kingombe, Managing Director and Partner at BCG South Africa and co-author of Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Execution GapAfrica is on the verge of an infrastructure transformation that could redefine its economic future. With more than 130 cross-border projects across energy, transport, digital and water sectors, the continent has the potential to unlock 500 billion dollars in additional economic value and create 74 million new jobs. The opportunity is immense, but realising it will require a shift from ambition to execution.In this episode of the Unlocking Africa Podcast, Thomas Joseph Kingombe from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) joins us to explore the findings from the groundbreaking report Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Execution Gap. Thomas shares how Africa can accelerate progress through strategic coordination, innovative financing, and stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors. He also discusses how the continent can tap into its four trillion dollars of domestic capital to fund sustainable, homegrown development.What We Discuss With ThomasAfrica’s 500 billion dollar infrastructure opportunity and how coordinated execution can unlock long-term growth across the continentMobilising domestic capital and reducing reliance on external financing through innovative investment structuresInsights from the Lobito Corridor as a model for infrastructure success through public and private collaborationThe vision for an African Union Coordination Hub to fast-track 130 high-impact regional projectsBuilding Africa’s infrastructure workforce with five million new professionals to meet growing development demandsVerto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, Chris Morris, Global Partnerships Manager at Verto, talks about how strategic partnerships are driving growth and innovation in cross border payments. He explains how Verto works with trusted partners to unlock value for clients, create new opportunities in emerging markets, and strengthen its position as a leader in global payments. Chris shares real examples, including how Verto’s collaboration with East African travel platform Tripoli helped solve major challenges around multi currency payments and cross border transactions.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Unlocking Affordable and Patient Capital for MSMEs in Africa? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Thomas:LinkedIn - Thomas Kingombe  and Boston Consulting Group (BCG)Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 194 with Dr Henry Clarke Kisembo, Group Global Lead and Executive Chairman of Development Associates Link International (DALI), an organisation driving inclusive finance, digital transformation, and sustainable business development across Africa and beyond.Dr Kisembo is a respected financial economist, development finance specialist, and digital economy advocate with over twenty five years of experience spanning fintech innovation, agrifinance, investment strategy, and private sector growth. He has collaborated with global institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, USAID, and UN Capital Development Fund to design inclusive financing systems that empower entrepreneurs and strengthen local economies.In this episode, Dr Kisembo explores how MSMEs can access affordable finance and what it will take to create a truly enabling environment for entrepreneurship in Africa. He breaks down the key impediments to MSME financing, from high interest rates and collateral requirements to policy and institutional bottlenecks, and shares practical solutions for building patient, inclusive, and sustainable capital systems.What We Discuss With Dr KisemboUnderstanding the realities of Africa’s MSME financing landscape and the structural barriers limiting access to affordable capital.Exploring the concept of patient capital and how long term investment can drive sustainable MSME growth and resilience.How fintech innovation, digital identity, and data-driven credit scoring are transforming financial inclusion across Africa.Strengthening MSME investment readiness and the role of private sector partnerships in unlocking new financing opportunities.The future of MSME finance in Africa, from blended and green finance to the rise of digital currencies and impact driven investment.Verto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, Erike Buys, Regulatory Exchange Control Manager at Verto, explains the vital role of exchange control in keeping cross border payments both compliant and efficient. She shares how Verto’s exchange control framework supports seamless trade across Africa while staying aligned with regulatory bodies in South Africa and other markets. Erike also discusses the latest developments shaping the region’s regulatory environment and what they mean for businesses trading internationally.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discus Raising ₦100 Billion to Fund Africa’s Digital Economy Through Verified Data and Local Infrastructure? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Dr Kisembo:LinkedIn - Dr Henry Clarke KisemboTwitter - @hkisemboMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 193 with Samuel Efosa-Austin, founder of ECO Africa, Tech for Good Africa, and the ECO Fund. Samuel is leading a bold mission to raise ₦100 billion in local currency to finance Africa’s data infrastructure, proving that the continent can build and fund its own digital future.Samuel shares how verified data, technology, and local capital can drive inclusive growth across Africa. Through ECO Africa’s integrated ecosystem, he is redefining economic measurement beyond GDP, investing in green data centres, AI-powered civic tools, and sustainability-driven platforms that connect communities, governments, and investors.He explains why verified data should be viewed as critical infrastructure, how to make data systems bankable for local investors, and what it will take to build trust and ownership within Africa’s digital economy. Samuel also discusses how blended finance models can balance social impact and financial returns while unlocking a new asset class for African investors.What We Discuss With SamuelSamuel’s journey from civic technology innovator to founder of ECO Africa and the ECO Fund.Why Africa must treat verified data as infrastructure, not a technology product.Mobilising ₦100 billion in local currency to fund Africa’s digital future.Blending catalytic impact capital with commercial investment to build resilient data systems.Training Africa’s next generation of technology leaders through the African Technology Leadership Academy.Reimagining Africa’s economic future through data ownership, trust and local value creation.Verto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, Megan Doherty, Director of Operations at Verto, explains why reducing payment friction is central to customer success and long term retention. She discusses how issues such as failed transactions, payout delays and foreign exchange errors do not just create costs but also damage trust. Megan shares how strong operational processes and the right technology can prevent these problems, ensuring reliability and transparency across every cross border payment. She also gives examples of how solving payment challenges has helped clients strengthen loyalty with their own customers.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discus Why Africa Holds the Key to Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Supply Chains? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Samuel:LinkedIn - Samuel Efosa-AustinTwitter - @ECOevangelistsMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 192 with Lindokuhle Shongwe, Project Leader at BCG and co-author of Africa Unleashed: Harnessing Africa’s Critical Mineral Opportunity.Africa sits at the centre of the global energy transition. With vast reserves of cobalt, lithium, copper, platinum group metals and rare earths, the continent holds the minerals powering electric vehicles, clean energy, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.In this episode, Lindokuhle Shongwe of BCG explains how Africa can turn its geological advantage into sovereign, sustainable and scalable growth. He unpacks the findings from the landmark BCG report Africa Unleashed, outlining why critical minerals matter, the continent’s leverage in the global mineral race, and the bold choices African leaders must make in this decisive decade.What We Discuss With LindokuhleWhat critical minerals are and why they are central to the 21st century global economyAfrica’s unique geological advantage in the global energy and industrial transitionHow the continent can move beyond raw mineral exports to industrial transformation and value chain developmentThree strategic levers to unlock Africa’s potential including investment, regional collaboration and global alliancesCase studies from Namibia, Morocco, Rwanda, the DRC and Zambia showcasing best practices in policy, ESG and innovationThe socio economic opportunity including jobs, skills, infrastructure and inclusive growth if Africa captures more value locallyVerto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, James Booth, Head of Revenue at Verto, explores Africa’s fast growing digital economy and the payment challenges holding it back. He explains how businesses such as marketplaces, SaaS platforms and exporters are losing margins to foreign exchange pressures and slow settlements, and why tackling these bottlenecks could unlock the next wave of growth. James also looks at how scalable models can be built in volatile markets and why reducing payout fragmentation is central to driving revenues across the continent.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss The Roads We Never Build: Rethinking Access to Infrastructure Finance in Africa? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Lindokuhle:LinkedIn -  Lindokuhle Shongwe and Boston Consulting Group (BCG)Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 191 with Joseph Kihara, Africa Practice Lead at Africa International Advisors and author of The Roads We Never Build: Rethinking Access to Infrastructure Finance in Africa.Joseph Kihara is reshaping the way we think about Africa’s infrastructure challenge. Rather than focusing on a shortage of capital, he reframes the issue around access — the ability to design, structure, and deliver finance systems that fit the realities of African economies.In this episode, Joseph explains why so many infrastructure projects never reach financial close despite available funding, and how the legacy of extraction-driven infrastructure still shapes priorities today. He shares lessons from Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, which was financed through innovative domestic mechanisms, and highlights how citizens, diasporas, and digital platforms could become Africa’s untapped financing engine.We also dive into practical strategies for improving project readiness, creating aggregation platforms to attract big capital, and using blended finance with discipline.What We Discuss With JosephWhy Africa’s infrastructure challenge is less about capital and more about access.The legacy of extraction-driven infrastructure and how it still shapes today’s priorities.Lessons from Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam on financing large-scale projects differently.Unlocking citizens, diasporas, and digital platforms as Africa’s untapped financing engine.Practical solutions: improving project readiness, aggregation platforms, and blended finance.Building credibility, governance, and trust to attract long-term investment at scale.Verto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, Robert Hallam, Director of Account Management at Verto, explains why client retention is the real engine of business growth. He shares how account management goes beyond reliable payments and transparent pricing to building long term partnerships rooted in trust and understanding. Robert discusses the risks businesses face if they overlook retention, and gives examples of how addressing complex client challenges can directly strengthen relationships. He also reflects on whether clients in African and other emerging markets have unique needs compared to global enterprises.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss AI in African Healthcare: Using AI to give Africans control of their health and Faster Health Diagnosis? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Joseph:LinkedIn - Joseph Kihara or Africa International AdvisorsMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 190 with Darlington Akogo, Founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, a pioneering company using artificial intelligence to transform healthcare access and quality across Africa. Darlington Akogo represents a new generation of African innovators translating global ambitions for sustainable development into tangible local solutions. In this episode, he shares how minoHealth is tackling systemic gaps in healthcare, from the acute shortage of radiologists to the urgent need for affordable diagnostic services.Darlington takes us inside his journey from AI enthusiast to founder of minoHealth AI Labs, and how his vision grew into a movement for AI-driven healthcare in Africa. He explains how AI diagnostics are transforming access and affordability, with breakthroughs in tackling chest conditions, breast cancer and malaria in under a minute. Along the way, he reflects on the challenges of building trust around new technologies, the importance of combining innovation with ethical responsibility, and training a new generation of African AI talent through the Runmila AI Institute.What We Discuss With DarlingtonDarlington’s journey from AI enthusiast to founder of minoHealth AI Labs.How AI diagnostics are transforming healthcare access and affordability in Africa.Breakthrough innovations tackling chest conditions, breast cancer and malaria.Training a new generation of African AI talent through the Runmila AI Institute.Shaping national and continental AI strategies with the African Union.Reflections on 30 years of youth engagement in Africa and the future of youth-led AI.Verto CornerIn this week’s Verto Corner, Tawanda Mudimbu, Enterprise Partnerships Director at Verto, discusses how faster settlements and greater transparency in foreign exchange are reshaping business in African markets. He explains why speed and clarity in payments are no longer optional, but essential for winning and retaining clients. Tawanda shares the frustrations he hears most often from businesses dealing with slow settlements and hidden FX costs, and highlights what finally convinces many to move away from traditional banking solutions. He also introduces the new Atlas for Fintechs and Platforms, launched this month, which offers companies a powerful resource to navigate these challenges.Access the Strategy HandbookDid you miss my previous episode where I discus Driving Sustainable Growth in Africa through Infrastructure Investment in Hospitals and Schools? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Darlington:LinkedIn - Darlington AkogoTwitter - @darlingtinhoMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]