WEKEZA

Track 2: HBCU Alumni and Other Businesses

New York, NY

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

Be an important part of our groundbreaking movement; your support for Wekeza helps us dismantle barriers to financial education and inclusion for African American and Black immigrant families.

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About the Company

Have you ever experienced an ‘AH-HA’ moment?

Mine occurred in Nairobi, Kenya, during the Seamless Fintech Conference, where I represented WorldofMoney as its Founder and CEO. WorldofMoney is a longstanding global youth financial education non-profit with a remarkable track record: over $2 million in revenue, four NASDAQ appearances, and a significant impact in financially educating thousands of children aged 7-21 across the United States and four African countries. Our partnership with Mastercard to create a curriculum designed to educate millions of their customers financially was a groundbreaking achievement. However, it was the startling statistic from the Federal Reserve Board, stating that less than 6% of Black individuals participate in the stock market, that truly opened my eyes. This gap represents trillions in unrealized net worth, highlighting a profound need among the 45 million native-born African Americans and 5 million Black immigrants in the U.S., many of whom have historically lacked access to holistic family financial education and financial services, especially newcomers to the United States.

This realization sparked the creation of Wekeza, which means “save” and “invest” in Swahili. As the first Cultural Fintech, Wekeza provides family financial education in diverse languages and financial services tailored to the needs of 5 million Black immigrants and 45 million African Americans in the United States. Our mission is to serve a market where less than 6% of Black people use those other platforms, offering an inclusive alternative that resonates with their cultural and financial needs. Wekeza is the official financial education provider for HBCU Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, marking a significant step forward in our journey to empower the African diaspora with the tools and knowledge necessary for financial security and generational wealth building.

Pitch Summary

Imagine discovering a statistic so startling it propels you into action. That was my ‘AH-HA’ moment at the Seamless Fintech Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. As the Founder and CEO of WorldofMoney, I’ve led our global youth financial education non-profit to impressive heights: over $2 million in revenue, four NASDAQ appearances, and a transformative impact on thousands of young lives across the United States and four African countries. Our innovative partnership with Mastercard to develop a financial education curriculum for millions underscores our commitment to financial literacy. Yet, learning that less than 6% of Black individuals in the U.S. participate in the stock market, representing trillions in unrealized net worth, highlighted an urgent need for inclusive financial education and services among the 45 million native-born African Americans and 5 million Black immigrants.

This insight gave birth to Wekeza, Swahili for ‘save and invest,’ the first Cultural Fintech dedicated to providing family financial education and services in diverse languages for the African American and Black immigrant communities in the U.S. Our traction speaks volumes: a developed Wekeza app, a vibrant community of 7,000, insights from 6,400 surveyed members desiring family and youth financial education and access to U.S. stocks, over 100 beta testers rating us 4/5 stars, and successful completion of the HBCUfi pre-accelerator with an investment. Strategic partnerships with Mastercard, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and a broker-dealer with FINRA/SEC approval, alongside a 40% waitlist growth, national press, and weekly visibility on WBLS-FM, underscore our momentum. Our accolades include winning the Silicon Harlem Pitch Grand Prize and launching the Planet Wekeza podcast. Wekeza is not just a platform; it’s a movement toward financial security and generational wealth for the African diaspora, proving that when we invest in cultural understanding and financial inclusion, the potential for impact is limitless.