Rania Belkahia
Moroccan fintech pioneer democratizing e-commerce in North Africa
As co-founder of Afrimarket, Rania Belkahia created the first secure cross-border payment platform specifically designed for Francophone Africa. Her innovation addresses the 74% unbanked population in West Africa through:
- Blockchain-based mobile wallet system
- Local currency stabilization mechanisms
- AI-powered fraud detection
Starting in 2014 with €2 million seed funding, Afrimarket now processes €150M+ annual transactions across 8 countries. Belkahia's geo-specific approach respects regional commerce patterns while introducing digital transformation:
Key milestones include:
- 2017: Partnership with Orange Money reaching 15M users
- 2020: COVID-19 emergency remittance corridors
- 2022: Integration with Alibaba's African operations
The MIT-educated engineer regularly speaks at IMF fintech forums, advocating for regulatory frameworks that balance innovation and consumer protection. Her 'digital first, cash compatible' philosophy makes her a unique bridge between traditional markets and Web3 economies.
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