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OPay to Raise $400 Million at $1.5 Billion Valuation

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OPay, an Africa-focused fintech platform owned by Chinese, is reportedly in talks to raise up to $400 million at a valuation of $1.5 billion.

The fundraising is coming two years after OPay announced two funding rounds in 2019 — $50 million in June and a $120 million Series B in November.

The $170 million raised so far came from mainly Chinese investors who have collectively begun to bet big on African startups over the past few years. Some of them include SoftBank, Sequoia Capital China, IDG Capital, SoftBank Ventures Asia, GSR Ventures and Source Code Capital.

In 2018, Opera, popularly known for its internet search engine and browser, launched the OPay mobile money platform in Lagos. It didn’t take long for the company to expand aggressively within the city using ORide, a now-defunct ride-hailing service, as an entry point to the array of services it wanted to offer. Since then, the company has tested several verticals — OBus, a bus-booking platform (also defunct); OExpress, a logistics delivery service; OTrade, a B2B e-commerce platform; OFood, a food delivery service, among others.

While none of these services has significantly scaled, OPay’s fintech and mobile money arm (which is its main play) is thriving. This year, its parent company Opera reported that OPay’s monthly transactions grew 4.5x last year to over $2 billion in December. OPay also claims to process about 80% of bank transfers among mobile money operators in Nigeria and 20% of the country’s non-merchant point of sales transactions. Last year, the company also said it acquired an international money transfer license with a WorldRemit partnership also in the works.

OPay plays in an extremely competitive fintech market. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, and with a large share of its people underbanked and unbanked, fintech is arguably the most promising digital sector in the country. The same can be said for the continent as a whole. Mobile money services have long catered to the needs of the underbanked, and per GSMA, Africa had more than 160 million active mobile money users generating over $495 billion in transaction value last year.

While fintech upstarts like OPay and Paga are trying to capture as much market share as possible, telcos like MTN and Airtel, with operations in multiple African countries, are spinning off mobile money service arms as billion-dollar businesses to compete as well.

With the money OPay has raised so far, it’s quite surprising that the country until last year December was only present in Nigeria. None of its plans to expand to South Africa and Kenya (countries it expressed interest in during its Series B) has come to fruition yet. Although the company blamed the pandemic for these shortcomings, it has set up shop in North Africa by expanding to Egypt this year. This next raise, likely a Series C, will be instrumental in the company’s plans for geographical and product offerings expansion. According to The Information, OPay’s valuation will increase to about $1.5 billion, three times what it was worth back in 2019.

We reached out to OPay for confirmation but they declined to comment at this time.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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From Trading to Credit: Robinhood Launches No-Fee Credit Card with Gold Membership Perks

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Robinhood Markets Inc. has announced the launch of its highly anticipated no-fee credit card and it was accompanied by exclusive perks for Gold membership subscribers.

This bold move is a step in the company’s mission to evolve into a comprehensive financial services provider.

The Robinhood Gold Card boasts an array of enticing features. Chief among them is the absence of annual costs or foreign transaction fees, positioning it as an attractive option for consumers seeking financial flexibility.

Moreover, cardholders stand to benefit from a generous 3% cash back on all categories of purchases, a competitive offer in comparison to industry rivals.

Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation and industry leadership in an interview.

He expressed the intention to not merely introduce a credit card, but to revolutionize the market with a product that sets new standards for customer satisfaction and financial empowerment.

The announcement has sparked enthusiasm among investors, with Robinhood’s shares witnessing a 6.9% surge in early market trading following the news.

This surge further underscores the market’s confidence in the company’s strategic direction and its potential to disrupt traditional financial services.

Beyond the credit card venture, Robinhood has been steadily diversifying its offerings. With the introduction of retirement products and the expansion of commission-free trading services internationally, the company is positioning itself as a formidable player in the global finance landscape.

As Robinhood continues to innovate and expand its suite of services, its trajectory suggests a promising future as a leading force in democratizing access to financial tools and services.

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Moniepoint Inc Vows to Drive Financial Inclusion Amidst National Development Agenda

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Given the critical importance of financial inclusion to national development and building a sustainable economy, Group CEO Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda has reaffirmed his organization’s resolve in increasing financial inclusion and driving the adoption of technology by the underserved consumers in the country.

The Moniepoint boss was speaking on the sidelines of the 16th edition of Leadership Newspapers Conference and Awards where Moniepoint Inc received an award as the Fintech Company of the Year. The event, which took place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja also coincides with the 20th anniversary of founding of the Leadership Group. The selection of the award recipients followed a critical review of their various contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria, as laid down by the founding chairman of the LEADERSHIP Newspaper Group, the late Sam Nda-Isaiah.

The prestigious Fintech company of the year award recognizes Moniepoint’s innovative efforts to increase access to financial services for underserved and unbanked populations across Nigeria. Through its nationwide network of point-of-sale terminals and digital payments platform, Moniepoint has empowered millions of Nigerians, including petty traders and roadside businesses, to participate in the digital economy.

“We are immensely proud to receive this recognition from Leadership,” said Tosin Eniolorunda. “From the start, our mission has been to democratize financial services and create equal opportunities for every Nigerian to thrive. Powering dreams and ensuring that the large majority of our people irrespective of where they live experience financial happiness is our reason for being. This award validates our commitment to driving genuine financial inclusion in tandem with the government’s mandate and we are spurred to do more in terms of leveraging innovative solutions and technology to create more value for Nigerians.”

In her welcome remarks, Chairman, Leadership Newspapers, Zainab Nda-Isaiah signposted the role of the awards in recognizing individuals and organizations who are taking bold strides towards creating a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous nation. While paying homage to the legacy of the legendary and visionary Founder and her late husband, Sam Nda-Isaiah, she noted that awards spotlighted those considered deserving and exemplary in their various categories.

“We may not be where we would like to be, but these men and women are making strides in the direction that we hope will lead us to a nation of peace, stability, and the possibility of prosperity for all who dare to seize it”, Nda-Isaiah said.

Keynote presenter, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, who was speaking to the theme, “An Economy In Distress: Which Way Forward?”, made a case for fixing the fundamentals and advised that the current economic crisis must not be allowed to go to waste.

“There is no better time to fix these challenges than now. The CBN’s policy actions are well intended and will serve to stabilize the macroeconomic environment. We must fully understand the causes that have led us to where we are and ensure that they are fixed by deploying real strategies.” He canvassed for property rights, innovation and access to capital as core pillars for a successful and productive economic growth.

Prominent personalities at the event include, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi who represented awardee for Person of the Year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who received the Politician of the Year award; Governors Fr Hyacinth Iornem Alia of Benue State; Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State; Managing Director/CEO of First City Monument Bank Plc, Mrs. Yemisi Edun who received Banker of the Year Award and Salisu Auwalu, a keke rider from Kano who returned a  bag containing 15m naira  left in his tricycle,  received an award as outstanding Young Person of the year.

It will be recalled that in 2023, Moniepoint MFB received the prestigious Rising Star Family Business Award Pwc/Businessday Family Business Summit; the Most Outstanding Microfinance Bank in Consumer Engagement at the Brandcom Awards, while Moniepoint Inc was listed for the second year running amongst the 100 most promising private fintech companies by CB Insights and the reputable Financial Times named it Africa’s second fastest-growing company. Moniepoint Inc also received critical acclaim as the “Most Outstanding Fintech Company in Financial Inclusion at the Brandcom Awards. Group CEO, Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda was named the 2024 Legit Business Leaders Awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economy.

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Kuda Business Surpasses 100,000 Customers, Empowering Entrepreneurs

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Kuda Business, a segment of Kuda Microfinance Bank, has surpassed 100,000 customers on its platform.

Launched in 2022, Kuda Business serves as an all-in-one business management and banking platform tailored for freelancers and micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).

The platform offers a range of features including sending estimates and invoices, making bulk transfers, and paying business bills all in one place.

Its user-friendly interface and efficient banking processes have made it a preferred choice among entrepreneurs seeking agility and accessibility in financial management.

Nosa Oyegun, the Vice President of Product Innovation Strategy at Kuda, emphasized the platform’s commitment to empowering small businesses and freelancers.

He highlighted Kuda’s mission to provide essential financial tools necessary for thriving in today’s competitive market.

Okoronkwo Kanno, the Senior Product Manager at Kuda, explained the importance of intuitive and efficient banking platforms in an increasingly digital world.

Kuda Business has rolled out unique features like Sales Mode, Kuda Payroll, and business registration on its mobile app, enhancing its appeal to entrepreneurs.

As recent data from the International Labour Organisation indicates, MSMEs contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP and employment.

With Kuda Business exceeding the 100,000 customer milestone, it stands as a testament to its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and driving economic growth in Nigeria.

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