Shola Akinlade’s Blueprint for Success in Africa’s Tech Ecosystem

Shola Akinlade’s journey begins like that of many curious minds—rooted in a passion for solving problems and an innate understanding of technology. But what sets him apart is the way he transformed this curiosity into a groundbreaking force, reshaping how businesses across Africa handle payments.

Imagine it’s 2015, the year when Akinlade, a skilled software engineer, teamed up with his equally brilliant co-founder, Ezra Olubi. They looked around and saw a problem—African businesses were navigating a fragmented and unreliable payment landscape.

In a region where commerce was expanding at breakneck speed, there was no seamless way for businesses to accept payments online.

The solution they envisioned wasn’t just about software; it was about empowering a continent. And so, Paystack was born—a payment processing platform with the power to unify cards, bank accounts, and mobile money, making transactions effortless for businesses and consumers alike.

Under Akinlade’s guidance, Paystack didn’t just grow; it soared. His leadership was marked by an unyielding commitment to creating a user-friendly system, one that wasn’t bogged down by the usual complexities of finance.

His approach was simple yet profound: build tools that work for everyone, from small local businesses to global enterprises. The platform’s rapid adoption spoke for itself, as more and more businesses turned to Paystack to solve their payment challenges.

But the real magic happened in 2020, a moment that would forever change the African startup ecosystem. Stripe, the global payments giant, saw the potential in what Akinlade and his team had built. In a historic acquisition, Stripe bought Paystack for a staggering $200 million.

This was was a recognition of Africa’s place on the global fintech stage, and Akinlade stood at the helm of that transformation. The acquisition was more than a milestone—it was a beacon of hope for African entrepreneurs, a signal that world-changing ideas could and would emerge from the continent.

Yet, for Akinlade, the story doesn’t end there. His mission extends beyond the success of Paystack. He has become a mentor, an advocate, and a visionary for the future of African tech. Through his voice and his actions, he’s inspiring the next generation to dream bigger, to innovate, and to see technology not as a barrier but as a bridge to a brighter future.