Hilda Moraa is currently Founder & CEO of Pezesha, a digital financial infrastructure enabling SMEs and institutions in Africa.
She previously founded WezaTele, a Fintech startup in Kenya that was later acquired in 2015. She also led Pezesha to be the very first company to exit from the CMA regulatory sandbox and get approval.
She is an award-winning innovator and author with over a decade of experience in Fintech, Regulation, in developing innovations, entrepreneurship, and working with multinationals like Coca-Cola to develop mobility innovations for Africa.
Hilda has a Business Information Technology Degree from Strathmore University. In 2015, she was also featured as one of the top 40 under 40 women, and Quartz Africa listed her as one of the top 30 innovators in Africa in 2018.
Hilda is also celebrated across Africa as one of the 50, Africa’s most promising innovators by Global Shakers because of the impactful work she leads at Pezesha.
Dratech International celebrates Hilda Moraa as one of the industry giants who with his influence has reshaped and strengthened the Fintech sector.
This article will shed light on Hilda Moraa’s achievement and how he has influenced Africa’s financial technology space. Let’s get into it.
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Hilda Moraa`s Background
Hilda Moraa is one of the leading Fintech entrepreneurs and founders of Pezesha-an innovative platform seeking to advance financial inclusion among SMEs in Africa.
With her background in finance and technology, she was noted for devising this innovative approach of embedding finance into the value chains that would enable access to working capital by the SMEs.
What makes Hilda unique is her commitment to leveraging technology in order to bridge the financing gap faced by SMEs, especially in the underserved markets.
She was the first fintech to successfully exit the regulatory sandbox of Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority, an expression of her commitment to compliance and innovation.
Empowering SMEs: The Core Mission of Pezesha
In Africa today unemployment is a big challenge as there is a lot more supply for the very limited number of jobs.
It is common knowledge that SMEs are the biggest contributors to employment in developing and emerging economies (which Africa has a fair number of).
It is also common knowledge that these SMEs lack the necessary access to debt capital that is needed to help them succeed, mainly because many traditional banks consider them too risky to lend to.
To ensure productive and responsible lending, Pezesha has enabled Embedded finance to small businesses across value chains to access working capital for their businesses in a scalable and seamless manner.
Pezesha is leading the way when it comes to embedded finance in Africa with more than 20+ value chain partners leveraging their lending infrastructure- credit scoring models to offer financial services to their customers.
Hilda is totally convinced that embedded finance does not only boost SMEs growth but it’s the future.
The Role of Embedded Finance in Economic Growth
Pezesha has created a holistic digital financial infrastructure that is on a mission to the leading enabler platform and marketplace that connects small and medium sized businesses to working capital through a collaborative approach where banks,
MFIs and other financial institutions or networks can connect on our platform to be matched with quality SMEs driving meaningful financial inclusion and reducing any inequalities on access to formal financial services.
We are living in unprecedented times, and the future is already happening. It is almost impossible to predict the future as the impact of the current pandemic on the economy and sectors could get worse.
In addition, changes to the way business will be conducted in the future, is yet to reveal itself and it will take time doing so.
One aspect that is sure to play a larger role in the new trends driven by the current pandemic is technology and Fintech through open banking and crowdfunding platforms.
Global Recognition and Thought Leadership
Pezesha has reached several milestones since inception, making it cement its position among the leading fintech players in Africa.
This is a digital financial infrastructure set on a course to empower SMEs through affordable credit.
Pezesha was the first fintech company to successfully exit from the Capital Markets Authority Regulatory sandbox in Kenya, gaining its regulatory approval-a feat showing that it means business in compliance and innovation.
At the helm of Pezesha, she has been able to empower thousands of SMEs by enabling them to access credit to scale their operations.
With this impact, the company has been recognized globally, and Hilda herself has won accolades for her work; notably, Quartz listed her as one of Africa’s Top 30 Innovators in 2018.
In its push for scale across multiple African countries through strategic partnerships with multinationals and tech companies, Pezesha is solidifying its position as a key player in Africa’s fintech ecosystem, with the intent to drive financial inclusion and empower underserved businesses.
Innovation in Credit Access: Hilda Moraa’s Vision
Through her strategic vision and leadership in fintech, Hilda Moraa has positioned herself at the very vanguard of effecting change across Africa’s financial ecosystem.
She remains resolute in her commitment to closing the gap in financial inclusion by availing credit accessibly and affordably to SMEs.
Her approach entailed combining innovation, full regulatory compliance, and building partnerships, which placed Pezesha as the very first fintech to exit the regulatory sandbox of the Capital Markets Authority in Kenya with full approval-a feat unprecedented in the scope of new-era fintech.
Moraa’s vision is based on achieving sustainable financial ecosystems by including SMEs, lenders, and institutions.
To date, Pezesha has empowered thousands of SMEs to access credit for growth and continuity. Her foresight in the use of digital infrastructure and strategic collaborations expanded the reach of Pezesha into African markets, thus enhancing its impact.
Global leadership recognition continues for Hilda as a leading lady who paves the way for more inclusive financial solutions to empower Africa’s underbanked and underserved businesses.
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The Future of Fintech in Africa: Pezesha’s Roadmap
Moraa has opened the door to growth opportunities for thousands of businesses by making affordable credit accessible, fuelling economic growth both in Kenya and beyond.
Her leadership has helped create a much more collaborative fintech ecosystem: Pezesha partners with financial institutions, lenders, and regulators to build sustainable financial systems.
The vision of Moraa for a robust digital financial infrastructure created avenues for other tech startups, enabling the maturation of Africa’s landscape in fintech.
That she had earlier succeeded with WezaTele and was recognized for being among the best innovators in Africa underlines her influence in shaping the future of the continent through technology.
Her trailblazing work to ensure inclusivity, resilience, and interconnection for modern Africa comes through in the impact of her contributions.
She has gone the extra mile in promoting financial inclusion on the continent through the provision of innovative fintech solutions that empower the usually underserved SMEs.
FAQs
What does Pezesha do?
Pezesha is a digital financial infrastructure platform founded by Hilda Moraa that enables SMEs in Africa to access affordable credit and other financial services.
How has Pezesha impacted SMEs in Africa?
Pezesha has empowered thousands of SMEs by providing accessible financing, helping them grow and scale their operations, contributing to economic development across Africa.
What milestones has Pezesha achieved?
Pezesha was the first company to exit the CMA regulatory sandbox in Kenya and gain regulatory approval, a major milestone in fintech innovation.
What is Hilda Moraa’s background?
Hilda Moraa is a Kenyan entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in fintech. She previously founded WezaTele and holds a degree in Business Information Technology from Strathmore University.
Conclusion
Pezesha revolutionized access to credit for SMEs, hence driving financial inclusion and economic growth.
Her strategic vision and commitment to fostering innovation have earned her recognition among the top innovators in Africa, and Pezesha stands to play a major role in the Fintech landscape of the continent.
Moraa will continue to inspire other entrepreneurs in the ongoing development of financial services in Africa and on the journey toward an inclusive digital economy.
