Financial Times Features Nigerian Fintech Startup Zone Among Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2023

British daily business newspaper Financial Times has listed Nigerian Fintech startup Zone among Africa’s fastest-growing companies in 2023.

Following the rigorous process of reviewing entries from hundreds of companies in Africa, Zone became the first blockchain company in Africa and one of a few Nigerian fintech startups to feature on the prestigious list.

Zone joins the likes of several other Nigerian companies such as AFEX Commodities Exchange Ltd, Sankore Ltd, Moniepoint, Paga, Bluecamp Ltd., Veritasi Homes and Properties Ltd., and several others, to feature on the 2023 list of Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies.

Speaking on the company’s feature among Africa’s fastest growing companies in 2023, Co-Founder and CEO of Zone Mr. Obi Emetarom said,

“We are deeply honored by this recognition from the Financial Times and Statista. The team also feels a sense of encouragement to double down on our mission to connect every monetary store of value by harnessing the power of blockchain. By fulfilling our mission, we are laying the foundation for a truly cashless world while  expanding access to financial services and fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for the African continent.”

Also commenting on the feature is Zone VP of Marketing Olayiwola Osoba who said,

“Being named one of Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies by the Financial Times and Statista is quite exciting for us at Zone. This recognition is an indication of our team’s immense effort to transform Africa’s payment landscape using innovative architecture and a superior tech stack. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain dedicated to enabling reliable, frictionless, and universally interoperable payments across Africa and beyond.”

Founded in 2008 as Appzone, before rebranding to Zone in 2022, the startup is on a mission to connect every monetary store of value using blockchain. As Appzone, it launched the first core banking and omnichannel software on the cloud as well as the first multi-bank direct debit service based on single global mandates.

With its transition to Zone, it is utilizing the power of blockchain technology to connect every monetary store of value and enable reliable, frictionless, and universally interoperable payments.

In doing this, the startup is building Africa’s first layer-1 blockchain network, to enable payments and the acceptance of digital currencies for financial service providers globally.  This will enable the payment of money to anyone through any means, in any currency, which will ultimately maximize financial inclusion and accelerate economic prosperity for Africa and the rest of the world, Investors King understands.