Bolu Tella

A Nigerian fintech innovator who revolutionized payment systems across Africa.

Bolu Tella is the co-founder and CEO of Flutterwave, a Nigerian fintech company that has transformed digital payments in Africa. Launched in 2012, Flutterwave addresses the fragmented financial infrastructure of the continent by providing a unified payment gateway for businesses and individuals. Tella’s vision of "Africa for Africans" has enabled over 100,000 businesses to process payments seamlessly across 30+ currencies. His work directly contributes to financial inclusion, reducing the continent’s cash dependency and fostering cross-border trade.

In 2021, Flutterwave raised $250M at a $3.4B valuation, signaling global recognition of his impact. Tella advocates for local solutions to Africa’s challenges, partnering with governments to integrate payment systems with national IDs (e.g., Nigeria’s NIN). His innovations also support SMEs, enabling access to loans via transaction data analytics. By 2023, Flutterwave’s platform processed over $20 billion in annual volume, underscoring its role in Africa’s digital economy evolution.

Externally, Tella collaborates with organizations like the World Bank’s Global Financial Inclusion Initiative to scale financial access. His TED Talk "How fintech can transform Africa’s economy" highlights strategies for leveraging tech to bridge gaps in banking infrastructure. Critics praise his approach for avoiding Silicon Valley-centric models, instead prioritizing low-cost, high-impact solutions tailored to Africa’s realities.