Building Bridges Between Africa and Sweden
Swedish–Congolese entrepreneur Dr. Gisele Mwepu has made it her life’s work to connect underserved communities to modern financial systems. Based in Sweden but deeply engaged across Africa, she draws on her dual heritage and advanced technical training to address a pressing global challenge: ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to safe, affordable financial services. Her academic foundation includes multiple Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Engineering, giving her the skills to design scalable, impactful fintech solutions.
Founding Okapi Finance to Serve the Unbanked
In 2011, Dr. Mwepu founded Okapi Finance Holding AB, a green fintech company with a mission to empower the unbanked and underbanked in Africa. Through products like the Okapi Wallet and SAFI app, the platform enables secure, mobile-first transactions, microloans, and payment services tailored to local needs. The focus is on practical, everyday financial tools, helping merchants, small businesses, and individuals gain economic independence without relying on traditional banking systems.
Aligning with Global Sustainability Goals
Okapi Finance is more than a fintech platform, it’s a vehicle for social impact. Its services directly support several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing poverty, combating hunger, and advancing gender equality. Women entrepreneurs, in particular, have benefited from Okapi’s accessible microfinance model, which fosters independence and resilience in communities that have historically lacked financial infrastructure.
Scaling for Continental Impact
The company has already reached over 500,000 users, with ambitions to serve 145 million people within five years. Partnerships with leading institutions like Ecobank have strengthened its distribution and trust, paving the way for a wider adoption of mobile-based financial services. This aggressive growth strategy reflects Dr. Mwepu’s vision of Okapi as a pan-African leader in inclusive finance.
Recognition for Innovation and Leadership
Dr. Mwepu’s pioneering work has earned her international recognition. She received the Innovation Talent Award from Sweden’s VINNOVA in 2017 and was named a Pan-African Influential Woman in Business in Financial Services in Accra, Ghana. These accolades underscore her ability to merge technology, social good, and business sustainability in a way that resonates both locally and globally.
A Vision for the Future of Finance
For Dr. Mwepu, the future of finance is inclusive, green, and digital. Her work with Okapi Finance is a testament to the belief that technology can level the playing field for marginalized communities. By bridging the gap between Africa’s growing digital economy and its vast unbanked population, she is creating pathways to prosperity that could transform entire regions for generations to come.
