Founder of Kenyan fintech startup WayaWaya, Teddy Ogallo, has highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing African technology innovators as the continent accelerates towards digital banking and artificial intelligence driven financial services. Speaking during an interview in Nairobi, Ogallo described himself as a “builder” focused on creating practical technology solutions capable of addressing the realities of African markets, particularly in areas such as cross border payments, conversational banking, and financial inclusion.
WayaWaya develops conversational banking tools that allow users to access financial services through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and mobile applications. According to Ogallo, the company’s vision is to move beyond traditional banking systems by using artificial intelligence to create adaptive banking experiences tailored to individual users.
He explained that the platform is designed to help banks deliver personalised financial services, spending alerts, and automated support directly through messaging applications, reducing the need for complex banking interfaces. Analysts say such innovations could influence financial technology development across Africa, including Nigeria, where fintech adoption and digital banking usage continue to grow rapidly.
Ogallo also pointed to major structural problems slowing innovation across African countries, including regulatory bottlenecks, lack of interoperability between payment systems, and bureaucratic banking structures. He noted that many African financial systems were not designed to support young entrepreneurs or digital startups, forcing innovators to look for alternatives outside their home countries.
Drawing from his early business experiences, he recalled having to register a company in South Africa to access international payment systems because some digital payment services were unavailable locally in Kenya at the time. He argued that improving interoperability and reducing regulatory delays are critical to unlocking Africa’s digital commerce potential.
Despite the challenges, the fintech entrepreneur expressed optimism about the future of African technology, especially the role of small and medium scale enterprises in driving economic growth. He predicted that digital businesses and online commerce would continue expanding across the continent as more Africans combine traditional employment with entrepreneurship.
Ogallo added that his long term ambition is to build technology products designed specifically around African realities, including devices and financial systems capable of serving communities with limited infrastructure and irregular power supply. He said the journey has taught him resilience and strengthened his determination to become what he described as a genuine changemaker in Africa’s technology ecosystem.