On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), marking the company’s recent IPO and entry into the public markets.
Flutterwave, a payments technology company founded in 2016 in Nigeria, has quickly become one of Africa’s fastest-growing and most prominent fintech startups. The company provides a platform that enables businesses to accept payments from customers anywhere in the world, in local and international currencies.
Flutterwave has processed over 140 million transactions worth more than $9 billion since its launch. The company operates in more than 30 African countries and has recently expanded into Europe and the United States.
Flutterwave’s recent IPO raised $200 million, valuing the company at $3.8 billion. The funds raised will be used to expand the company’s operations and develop new products and services.
In an interview with the NYSE, Agboola spoke about the importance of financial inclusion and the role that Flutterwave is playing in driving economic growth in Africa. “We are in the business of democratizing access to digital financial services for individuals and small businesses across the continent,” he said. “We believe that financial inclusion is key to unlocking economic growth in Africa, and we are committed to making it a reality.”
Agboola also highlighted the importance of innovation and technology in driving financial inclusion, noting that Flutterwave is at the forefront of this movement. “We are building the infrastructure that enables businesses and individuals to connect and transact seamlessly across borders and currencies,” he said.
Flutterwave’s IPO marks a significant milestone for the company and for the African fintech industry as a whole. It is a testament to the potential of African startups to disrupt traditional industries and drive innovation and growth on the continent.
As Agboola rang the closing bell at the NYSE, he expressed his gratitude for the support of the company’s investors, partners, and customers, as well as his excitement for the future of Flutterwave and the African fintech ecosystem.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but I’m even more excited about what’s to come,” he said. “We believe that Africa is the future, and we are committed to driving its growth and development through innovation, technology, and financial inclusion.”
Overall, Flutterwave’s successful IPO and Agboola’s ringing of the closing bell at the NYSE mark a major milestone for the African fintech industry and a validation of the potential of African startups to disrupt traditional industries and drive growth and innovation on the continent.
