Breaking Banks Africa

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, Matteo Rizzi sits down with Selma Ribica, founder of First Circle Capital, to explore Africa’s evolving fintech and venture capital landscape. Ribica reflects on her journey from M-Pesa to investing, highlighting how mobile money demonstrated the potential for technology to bring financial services to underserved populations. She explains why First Circle Capital focuses on early-stage fintech founders and how regulation, talent, capital and market matur

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo sits down with Mikhail Velichko, CEO of AccèsBanque Madagascar (ABM), to explore how innovation is driving financial inclusion in one of the world’s most underserved banking markets. With fewer than 10% of adults using formal banking services and most businesses operating informally, Madagascar presents unique challenges for lenders and entrepreneurs alike. Mikhail shares how ABM leverages AI, chatbots, alternative data, and automated credit

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi sits down with Waleed Sadek, Founder and CEO of Fintra Holding and Paysky, to explore how interoperable payment infrastructure is transforming financial ecosystems across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Waleed shares the vision behind his group’s four businesses, from national payment systems and cross-border payment networks to digital banking platforms and Banking-as-a-Service. The conversation also examines the future of payment

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi sits down with Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), to explore how digital payment infrastructure is transforming Africa’s largest economy. Premier shares how NIBSS powers Nigeria’s payment ecosystem behind the scenes, driving interoperability, resilience, and innovation through instant payments and open APIs. The conversation covers the launch of the National Payment Stack, the role

In a media partnership with the 3i Africa Summit, and supported by CXO Conversations, Breaking Banks Africa brings you a special live episode from the heart of Accra. Host Matteo Rizzi sits down with two leading voices shaping Africa’s talent and innovation future: Adewale Yusuf of AltSchool Africa, and Rosy Fynn of the Mastercard Foundation. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping education, why Africa must leapfrog traditional systems, and how skills development and entrepreneurship can un

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, Matteo Rizzi sits down with Dr. Stanley Jacobs, President of Fintech Nigeria and VP for West Africa at the Africa Fintech Network. They explore Nigeria’s fintech evolution, the rise of unicorns, and the opportunities shaping Africa’s youthful, tech-savvy population. From ecosystem building and cross-border innovation to talent development and digital inclusion, Dr. Jacobs shares insights on harmonizing regulations, fostering financial literacy, and empow