South African fintech startup NjiaPay is a spin-out from another tech venture, but is busy simplifying how businesses in Africa manage payments, by owning the complexity.
Co-founded in 2016 by South African venture builder Dean Hiine alongside Dutch entrepreneurs Hans Osnabrugge and Jorne Schamp, Talk360 is a user-friendly calling app designed to make international communication more affordable and accessible. The app allows users to make low-cost calls to both mobile and landline numbers worldwide, bridging connectivity gaps for individuals who need reliable communication across borders.
According to the reports from Disrupt Africa, talk360 is especially beneficial for people who want to stay in touch with family, friends, or business contacts abroad without incurring expensive international calling charges. Unlike traditional calling services that require both parties to have an internet connection or the same app, Talk360 enables calls to standard phone numbers regardless of whether the recipient has the app installed.
The company has expanded its presence across various markets, catering to users who seek cost-effective solutions for staying connected. With a focus on accessibility and convenience, Talk360 continues to grow its footprint, offering a seamless way for users to connect globally while minimizing costs.It is already Africa’s leading international calling app, with offices in South Africa, the Netherlands, India and Nigeria, and connected more than four million people in 2023. Talk360 raised US$1.4 million in pre-Series A funding in September, following a US$7 million seed round completed in 2022.
After raising that seed round, the startup started to explore the potential of establishing a modern payment aggregator designed to streamline and optimise the payment experience across the fragmented African market.
The result was a product called NjiaPay, spun out as its own entity in December of last year, a payments-as-a-service provider that aims to empower African businesses through a seamless, secure, and scalable payments management platform.
NjiaPay, led by CEO Jonatan Allback, is tackling fragmented payment ecosystems by offering solutions for cross-border transactions, domestic payments, and risk management. The startup aims to support smaller and mid-market online businesses by optimizing payment processes and ensuring efficiency in key African markets.
The company originated from Talk360’s needs to streamline payments after facing challenges with larger PSPs in Africa. To overcome issues like redundancy and frequent outages, Talk360 integrated with multiple providers across South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, resulting in a 25% increase in conversion rates.
Following this success, Talk360 spun off NjiaPay as a standalone company, and its growth has been remarkable. By simplifying digital payments and boosting transaction reliability, NjiaPay is quickly establishing itself as a key player in Africa’s fintech landscape.
NjiaPay has made significant strides in its first quarter, focusing on hiring founding engineers and refining its platform for scalability. The company has attracted interest from SaaS platforms, fintech firms, and online retailers in South Africa, highlighting its growing influence in digital payments.
Earlier this year, NjiaPay secured US$1.3 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round led by HAVAIC, with contributions from Renew Capital and angel investors across Africa and Europe. While already active in Nigeria and Kenya, the company is currently prioritizing expansion within its home market.
NjiaPay operates on a subscription-based model, offering three pricing tiers, with the lowest starting at US$50 per month. The company’s future growth will be shaped by customer needs, particularly as it supports South African retailers selling internationally and assists digital businesses in expanding across Africa.