You don’t have to be familiar with
money transfer services to know the
significance of such numbers and
the growth potential with this level
of volume.
The company launched in Uganda
in January 2016 and later on spread
its wings to Rwanda and Nigeria.
“We are planning to expand the
app to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa with Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe
and South Africa commencing operations some time this year,” Nteziryayo offers.
The company hopes to increase the
number of subscribers to 20,000 by
the end of 2016.
“Uganda was the first market in
which we tested our business because it is easier to find Ugandans
than Rwandans abroad,” he adds.
Apart from users’ ability to send
money from the US or UK to Africa
via mobile money, the Pesa Choice
app also has the option of sending
airtime and paying TV, electricity, and water bills, among others.
And there is more to come.
“We are working on another option
that will allow subscribers to call
each other for free,” says Nteziryayo.
Integrated with mobile money and
foreign exchange systems, the app
allows users to see the exchange
rate of the day before sending money. Users in Africa can also use this
app, which can be downloaded for
free at www.pesachoice.com, to
send money to mobile money subscribers across Africa.
ADVICE
GEEKS
TO
UPCOMING
For young and upcoming app developers, Nteziryayo’s advice is simple:
“Let’s not confine ourselves in building solutions for Rwanda alone...
Yes, you can build them here and
test them here, but target the wider
African demography. Your biggest
asset is your brain and you would be
surprised how many people are willing to help if you use social media
and make use of networking. If need
be, sell shares to investors in order
for your idea to get off the ground.
Only keep your intellectual property rights.”
OCTOBER 2016 EDITION - 15