Africa’s Fintech Funding Mirage: Revealing the Naked Truth, Lessons Learned, and Future Paths

By now it is not news that African fintech has grown beyond our imaginations and with that came promises of something different from what the traditional banks offered. That promise though as we will see in this article was achieved in some ways while largely it hasn’t really lived up to expectations. As expected Nigeria which is Africa’s most populous nations with one of the biggest financial hubs on the continent stood at the forefront, boasting numerous fintech unicorns attracting millions in investment with the likes of Flutterwave dominating the fintech scene on the continent. However, as the initial excitement fades, a stark reality emerges; many of these startups are struggling to survive, prompting a re-evaluation of the fintech narrative in Africa. We want to examine what seems to be happening now that the funding tide hype seems to be ending, we will see how some of these startups were swimming naked all the while.

With promises of changing the banking face and fostering financial inclusion, African fintech startups garnered immense attention and investment. Take the case of Paystack, a Nigerian payments company, which raised over $200 million in funding before being acquired by Stripe. Another example is Flutterwave, a payment technology company, which secured $170 million in Series C funding, making it Africa’s highest-valued startup and eventually becoming a unicorn.

I was discussing this topic recently with a friend and one we looked at what many of these fintech institutions were offering and we concluded that its either payments or lending. The payments processing was the different thing they brought onboard and when this began to go mainstream, many of the traditional banks like Zenith Bank and GTB began to propose their own proprietary solutions. But one big question remained, why couldn’t they integrate with the global market. Before you take on me with respect to this point, let me put it this way, why couldn’t many of them offer some kind of integration with PayPal and Stripe which are two of the global payments processing platforms. Many startups who would have been able to better serve global audiences could not. Flutterwave allowed businesses to collect payments from overseas customers, but you see it’s not the same as having access to the likes of PayPal and Stripe. When Stripe acquired Paystack, many were happy with the news of potentially accessing the Stripe platform but alas, this turned out not to be case. So again, payments and lending, but on the lending front, there’s the big issue of high interest rates and insufficient lending amounts to SMEs. They usually give very short-term loans at unsustainably high interest rates which has led to massive defaults in the economy and someone I recently spoke to even complained that Migo charged them a massive interest and when they defaulted once and asked to be given an extra one week to repay, Migo declined and rather charged a fresh monthly interest thereby making their interest payments nearly double, you can see why many have defaulted in light of recent economic challenges in Nigeria.   Now I say this from a really practical point of view, and this is the same story from customers of Carbon to PayHippo and to Lidya. Before putting this together, I spoke to some individuals and businesses who complained about inability to pay back loans in face of constant harassments from these fintech organisations.

Swimming Naked in Choppy Waters
Despite the initial fanfare, numerous fintech startups are grappling with challenges that threaten their viability. For instance, Lidya, a Nigerian fintech company offering digital loans to SMEs, shut down its operations in Nigeria and Poland due to the challenging regulatory environment and lack of scalability. Similarly, Branch, a digital lending platform, faced setbacks in Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania, citing difficulties in navigating local regulations and sustaining growth.

Shutdowns and Underperformance
The fallout from the fintech funding frenzy has been palpable, with startups either closing shop or struggling to meet investor expectations. Companies like KongaPay, a Nigerian digital payment platform, and Cellulant, a pan-African digital payment infrastructure provider, faced financial troubles and leadership disputes, resulting in layoffs and restructuring efforts. Meanwhile, underperforming startups like Kuda Bank, a Nigerian challenger bank, are grappling with customer acquisition challenges and regulatory hurdles. There is also the story of PayDay which accesses millions of dollars in funding only to highly underperform to the point of a potential sale.

Amidst the turbulence, valuable lessons have emerged for African fintech startups. It’s not just about securing funding; it’s about building sustainable business models that address real market needs and regulatory complexities. For example, PiggyVest, a Nigerian savings and investment platform, prioritized regulatory compliance and customer trust, leading to its continued success despite the challenging operating environment. Similarly, Carbon, a Nigerian digital financial services company, diversified its offerings to include lending, payments, and investments, mitigating risks associated with a single product focus of lending. While Nigeria has the market for startups like this to flourish, there is also the regulatory and environmental cost of doing business. The Central Bank of Nigeria for example has recently taken on several fintech even going as far as suspending their accounts in commercial banks and I haven’t even considered those with a touch of crypto in their operations.

Rethinking the Fintech Narrative
As the dust settles, the fintech narrative in Africa is undergoing a paradigm shift. Rather than chasing funding rounds and unicorn status, startups are focusing on tangible impact and long-term sustainability. Companies like Paga, a Nigerian mobile payment platform, are expanding their reach beyond urban centres to rural areas, tapping into underserved markets and driving financial inclusion. Moreover, collaborative efforts between fintech startups and traditional financial institutions are gaining traction, paving the way for innovative solutions that bridge the gap between traditional and digital finance.

The rise and fall of fintech startups in Africa serve as a sobering reminder of the challenges inherent in navigating complex markets. However, amidst the setbacks lie opportunities for growth and innovation. By embracing resilience, adaptability, and a renewed focus on solving real-world problems, African fintech startups can chart a course towards sustainable success and lasting impact. It’s time for a reality check, a recalibration of expectations, and a collective effort to build a thriving fintech ecosystem that empowers individuals and drives economic prosperity across the continent.