Breaking Banks Africa

Episode 14: From Payments to Platforms: Building Africa’s Fintech Ecosystem at Scale (March 2026)

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, Matteo Rizzi sits down with Dr. Stanley Jacobs, President of Fintech Nigeria and VP for West Africa at the Africa Fintech Network. They explore Nigeria’s fintech evolution, the rise of unicorns, and the opportunities shaping Africa’s youthful, tech-savvy population. From ecosystem building and cross-border innovation to talent development and digital inclusion, Dr. Jacobs shares insights on harmonizing regulations, fostering financial literacy, and empowering the next generation of African digital natives. This conversation offers a front-row seat to Africa’s booming fintech landscape and the strategies driving inclusive, scalable growth across the continent.

Episode 13: Building Resilient Tech Ecosystems in Emerging Markets (January 2026)

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Matteo Rizzi interviews Martin Labbé, a development and tech ecosystem specialist at the International Trade Centre (ITC). Labbé shares his journey from marketing and trade promotion into global tech ecosystem development, focusing on emerging markets across Africa. The conversation explores how ITC supports entrepreneurship by strengthening innovation ecosystems rather than directly financing startups. Key themes include the importance of connecting startups with investors, building trust among ecosystem actors, and prioritizing sustainable business models driven by customers rather than grants. Labbé highlights structural challenges in African startup ecosystems, such as limited venture capital outside major markets and entrepreneurs’ overreliance on competitions and funding programs. He advocates longer investment timelines, alternative funding models, and venture-studio approaches adapted to frontier markets. Ultimately, sustainable ecosystems emerge when local institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs collaborate effectively, enabling startups to scale internationally and reducing dependency on development aid.

Episode 12: Shaping Climate Innovation in Africa: From Finance to Tech (December 2025)

In the last episode of 2025 of Breaking Banks Africa, Matteo Rizzi interviews Shirley Mburu, Director of Advisory at BFA Global, to reflect on impact, innovation, and financial inclusion across the continent. Based in Nairobi, Mburu shares her journey into development finance and explains BFA Global’s work as a development consulting and venture-building firm supporting underserved populations. The conversation explores the tension between impact and financial returns, particularly in African investment contexts where entrepreneurs often must build missing infrastructure alongside their core businesses. Mburu highlights stark differences between urban and rural inclusion, stressing the importance of trust, financial literacy, and context-appropriate solutions. She also discusses the risks of under-supported capital deployment and BFA Global’s approach of pairing funding with tailored technical assistance. Finally, the interview spotlights climate and green fintech initiatives such as the Africa Blue Wave and TECA programs, emphasizing resilience, job creation, and long-term livelihoods as critical priorities for Africa’s future.

Episode 11: Redefining Community, Mentorship & Growth (November 2025)

This episode of Breaking Banks Africa features Anie Akpe, founder of LumoHubs.com [http://lumohubs.com/] and African Women in Technology (AWIT). The conversation explores how Lumo Hubs is shaping the future of work in Africa by partnering with universities to equip students and communities with hands-on digital, vocational, and AI-driven skills. Anie highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and building solutions locally – especially as AI accelerates global change. She also discusses the challenges faced by women in tech, ongoing funding gaps, and the crucial role of community-driven support in times of shrinking foreign aid. The episode emphasizes collaboration across African regions, the power of technology to bridge language and geographic barriers, and the need to invest in rural inclusion. Anie shares how AWIT has empowered women for a decade and outlines LumoHubs’ vision to nurture future innovators across the continent. Connect with Anie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anie-akpe-abb48312/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anie-akpe-abb48312/]

Episode 10: From Vision to Execution: Driving Digital Growth in Emerging Markets (October 2025)

In this episode of Breaking Banks Africa, Executive Producer Matteo Rizzi sits down with Sandra Yao, Group Head: Cross Border Remittance, Payments & BaaS (Fintech) at Ecobank. With 20 years of experience driving fintech and payment innovation across Africa, Sandra brings a unique “builder’s mindset” into one of the continent’s largest financial institutions, operating in 39 markets. From pioneering mobile money to tackling fragmented infrastructure and regulatory environments, Sandra shares how interoperability, accessibility, and digital transformation are reshaping the future of payments in emerging economies. She also reveals how Ecobank is empowering young African talent, forming major tech partnerships (including Google), and creating API-first solutions to help fintech founders scale across borders. A must-watch for anyone passionate about Africa’s digital growth story, inclusive innovation, and the people turning vision into execution—from Nairobi to the world.