Nick Hughes

Co-founder of M-Pesa, revolutionizing mobile money in Africa

Nick Hughes (born 1978) is a British innovator best known as the co-founder of M-Pesa, a mobile money transfer service that has transformed financial inclusion across Africa. While working at Safaricom in Kenya, Hughes identified the need for accessible financial services in a region where over 80% of the population lacked bank accounts. By leveraging mobile phone technology, M-Pesa allowed users to send and receive money via SMS, bypassing traditional banking infrastructure. This groundbreaking system now serves over 45 million customers in 14 countries, enabling micro-entrepreneurs and rural communities to participate in the formal economy. Hughes' work has been recognized by the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the Economist Innovation Award. Learn more about M-Pesa's impact at Safaricom's official site. His story is detailed in No Cash, No Problem: The Story of How M-Pesa Launched Africa's Mobile Money Revolution.