On Day 35 of the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative for Tanzania, we caught up with Nice Msangi; the director of partnerships at IDC Tanzania and overseer of Founders Academy. Both IDC and Founders Academy are at the centre of start-ups and innovators’ empowerment in Tanzania. Importantly, Nice Msangi is the 40 Days 40 FinTechs Coordinator for Tanzania.
First implemented in Uganda, 40 Days 40 FinTechs is an annual FinTech Innovation initiative presented by HiPipo to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations who are making significant strides in promoting financial inclusivity through the use of technology.
It is aimed at promoting innovation and collaboration among FinTechs in Africa. The initiative is designed to provide FinTechs and startups with mentorship, training, exposure, and networking opportunities to help them grow and scale their businesses.
In this episode, Ms Msangi shares her experience with the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative and views on Tanzania’s FinTech industry and the broader technology ecosystem.
HiPipo: Please give a brief about yourself.
Nice Msangi: My name is Nice Msangi. I am the director of partnership and strategy at IDC. IDC is an impact-driven consultancy and its main work is to develop sustainable and inclusive digital solutions. I am also an overseer of Founders Academy which supports and empowers African startups. Founders Academy exists to support and empower African startups, providing them with the resources they need to succeed.
HiPipo: What role are you playing in the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative?
Nice Msangi: I am currently the coordinator and supervisor of 40 Days 40 FinTech Tanzania; an initiative that sheds light on the prime stories of innovations and innovators within the FinTech space.
HiPipo: How relevant is the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative to Tanzania?
Nice Msangi: The importance of initiatives like 40 Days 40 FinTechs is that startups get to showcase their innovations; and tell their stories, so it’s easy for them to be seen. It is easy for them to understand the ecosystem that they are working in. It is also easy for them to network and build more partnerships, for them to grow even more.
Such initiatives also create space where regulators can easily hear out start-ups, and understand the environments that they are working with so that they can create policies that favour, and somewhat facilitate them.
HiPipo: What has been your experience with the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative so far?
Nice Msangi: My experience with working on the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative is an exciting journey. I have got to see how big the FinTech ecosystem is. I got to understand the available innovations. I got to see how the innovations touch the lives of low-income earners and underserved people. I got to also understand the opportunities that are still available in our market. So, I am excited to see what the future holds for the FinTech space given the available opportunities and the solutions that are available in our market.
HiPipo: What are your takeaways from 40 Days 40 FinTechs Tanzania Season One?
Nice Msangi: I am happy that we managed to cover a number of FinTech companies and startups. So, this makes it easy for people outside to see how rich the ecosystem in Tanzania is; the number of solutions that are available in our country and what market problems they solve. Even for those who are interested in investing in Tanzania, it is easy for them to see the opportunities available. So, I look forward to seeing more initiatives that cover the other sectors too; be it FinTech or Healthtech or Agritech or any other sector. This will market our country as more people will see how much there is in Tanzania. To all investors interested to invest in Tanzania, 40 Days 40 FinTechs is the space for them to see and know better about Tanzanian Technology stories.
Include EveryOne Program.
40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative is part of HiPipo’s broader Include EveryOne Program that is generously supported by the Gates Foundation and implemented in partnership with Level One Project, ICTC Tanzania, Ideation Corner, Cyber PLC Academy, INFITX, Crosslake Technologies, NG Films, Founders Academy and Mojaloop Foundation.
The Include EveryOne program is a beacon of acceleration of FinTech Innovation, empowerment for Women in FinTech and a catalyst for investment and development in the ICT sector. Minus 40 Days 40 FinTechs, other initiatives under the Include EveryOne Program are the FinTech Landscape Exhibition, Women in FinTech Hackathon, Summit and Incubator, Digital Impact Awards Africa and the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit.
HiPipo is recognized as a premier advocate of digital Innovation and financial inclusion champion, a fervent proponent of the #LevelOneProject. HiPipo has been at the forefront, actively promoting digital innovation, Instant, Inclusive Payment Systems (IIPS), and DFS across Africa. With a legacy of advising, mobilizing, and facilitating the adoption of inclusive financial services, HiPipo’s efforts have been nothing short of transformative! For almost two decades, HiPipo has successfully facilitated the inclusive adoption of these crucial services.
