Flutterwave 2024: A Year Forged in Fire, A Future Written in Ambition

What does it take to ignite a change?

2024 was a year of grit, audacious leaps into uncharted territories, and an unrelenting refusal to accept the boundaries of what African innovation can achieve. At Flutterwave, we don’t merely clock in—we fight. It was this belief that had us entering new markets like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Turkey to support the payment needs of one of our longest standing customers, a ride hailing behemoth. 

We fight for the entrepreneur in Cairo struggling to accept a payment from Nairobi. We fight for the multinational whose ambitions are shackled by fragmented systems and for the African business trying to take over the world. We fight because every transaction is a lifeline, a story, a heartbeat in the economic awakening of a continent.

This is not a review. This is a promise. 

Where Others See Walls, We Build Bridges

Africa’s payment landscape is a labyrinth of complexity. Imagine a world where paying a business in Lagos from Egypt feels as seamless as handing over cash. Now build that world.

For a multinational to receive payments in Africa and across the world, they need a payment partner that breaks down existing barriers by providing all the plumbing needed to connect African countries through payments. At Flutterwave we secure the licences and partnerships that break down barriers and empower others to innovate on our infrastructure. 

We acquired new licenses in Ghana, Uganda, and Egypt as well as an approval-in-principle for a Payment Aggregator License in Mozambique. We also joined forces with industry giants like American Express and solidified our collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) for Direct Debit services. These licenses and partnerships expand our geographic coverage and position us as the leader in enterprise payments across Africa which in fact contributes 90% of our revenue.

Security as a Symphony

Trust is fragile. In 2024, we armored it. Fraud detection tools and KYC advancements became our shield, holding out against bad actors.

We earned certifications (ISO 27701) for managing data privacy, renewed our certifications for information security (ISO 27001) and business continuity (ISO 22301) and also earned three new security certifications for cloud services, cybersecurity, and IT service management.

Our remittance consumer product, Send App by Flutterwave, also saw significant security upgrades around KYC capabilities, integrated fraud detection tools, and advanced address verification. Because in a world where trust is currency, we want to be the standard. 

Builders of the Future —The Human Engine Behind the Machine

Behind every milestone is a team that dreams bigger. In fact, I always say that our people are our secret sauce! 

In 2024, we celebrated 120 team members who have been with us for over four years, embodying the grit and ambition that defines Flutterwave. Some of them grew from interns to leaders, building a company that defies expectations. We’re super proud of them and what’ve built 

We strengthened our leadership bench with bold additions, including a CFO with two decades of expertise and visionary appointments to our boards. Our nearly 800-strong team remains the unstoppable force propelling us forward.

But, it was not all rosy as we lost a beloved teammate, Samuel Moneke, who passed in late 2024. He will forever be in our hearts and in our prayers. We continue to hope that his family and loved ones find the fortitude to bear this loss, and offer support as much as we can.

Innovation Without Limits—Shaping Lives, Not Just Transactions

In 2024, we didn’t just improve our products; we redefined what innovation means for Africa.

Take remittances, for instance. Our first-ever Remittance Report revealed an unexpected trend: bride price payments. It’s a humorous but profound reminder of the cultural significance of payments in African life. 

We recognize that the work needed to upgrade Send App contributed to some Send App users experiencing product unavailability and limited functionality in certain regions. We are actively addressing these issues and working tirelessly to ensure that Send App is available to all. 

As a result of our work on Send App, 98% of Send App transactions in 2024 took only 5 minutes or less to reach the destination account. Because innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about impact.

Of course there were major improvements to the experience of our enterprise customers: 

• Account Direct Debit in Nigeria: Turning delayed settlements into instant lifelines.

• Amex Integration: Unlocking global corridors for African businesses.

• Pay with OPay: Where convenience meets cultural nuance.

• A checkout experience so fluid, it feels like magic.

This is how empires of trade and commerce are built. I dare say, come and build your empire on Flutterwave!

Beyond Payments—Advocating for Africa

Flutterwave’s mission extends far beyond payments. It’s about lifting communities and amplifying Africa’s voice on the global stage.

We partnered with Wetech, a community of women technologists and entrepreneurs to support female-led startups and collaborated with STEAM Fun Fest to promote education among African children in the STEAM category. 

We launched FinTech Evenings, a monthly event and community for people who work in our industry to foster collaboration and drive digital transformation in Africa. We also collaborated with the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-financial crimes agency, on a cybersecurity centre to help law enforcement better fight fraud.

Globally, we represented Africa at platforms like Semafor’s Next 3 Billion Summit and the UN General Assembly. Through these efforts, we’re not just participating in global conversations; we’re shaping them.

Recognized, Resilient, Relentless

In 2024, the world took notice.

From CNBC’s Disruptor 50 to commendations from INTERPOL and the Nigerian Police Cybercrime Centre, we were celebrated for our leadership and contributions to cybersecurity.

These accolades are not destinations; they are milestones on a journey of unyielding progress.

2025: Writing the Next Chapter of African Innovation

If 2024 was forged in fire, 2025 will be written in ambition.

Flutterwave’s story has always been one of resilience, bold thinking, and relentless innovation. In 2025, we will build on this foundation by doubling down on what matters most: sustainable growth, and delivering seamless solutions to solidify Flutterwave’s position as the leading payment partner for local and global enterprises. Part of this journey to sustainable growth also includes taking advantage of any suitable funding or acquisition opportunities when we see one. 

To turbocharge innovation, we are launching our next-generation API in the first half of the year, setting new standards for payment infrastructure in Africa. With features like scheduled transfers, versioning, and seamless integrations, we’re building tools that will empower developers and businesses alike.

This is our promise. And this is only the beginning.

Happy New Year! 🦋