South African international calling app Talk360, known for connecting migrant communities globally through affordable and reliable calls, has announced the spin-off of its payment platform into a standalone entity named NjiaPay. This strategic move positions NjiaPay as a fintech venture set to address the challenges of Africa’s fragmented payment landscape.
Founded in 2016 by South African entrepreneur Dean Hiine and Dutch partners Hans Osnabrugge and Jorne Schamp, Talk360 has grown into a leading international calling app with offices in South Africa, the Netherlands, India, and Nigeria. The app has successfully connected over four million users in 2023, doubling its customer base in just two years. Driven by its mission to bridge migrant communities with their families, Talk360 identified a critical gap in Africa’s payment systems, leading to the creation of NjiaPay.
NjiaPay is designed to tackle the complex payment challenges posed by Africa’s 54 countries, each with distinct currencies, banking systems, and local payment methods. Led by seasoned fintech executives Jonatan Allback and Co-CEO Roderick Simons, the platform integrates multiple Payment Service Providers (PSPs) into a unified checkout process. Leveraging advanced AI and machine learning technologies, NjiaPay optimizes payment routing, resulting in a 25% increase in conversion rates during its trial phase. Simons highlighted the platform’s transformative potential, saying, “This isn’t just about payments. It’s about unlocking the potential of African e-commerce by simplifying transactions and building trust in digital platforms.”
The payments platform, set for a commercial launch in early 2025, will primarily focus on small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), equipping them with tools to scale their businesses while reducing friction in payments. NjiaPay’s real-time PSP selection capabilities ensure higher transaction success rates, addressing the critical need for a single, streamlined payment solution in key African markets like South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.
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Talk360’s earlier funding successes played a significant role in catalyzing this spin-off. The company raised $7 million in 2022 and an additional $1.4 million in pre-Series A funding in 2023, with backing from prominent African venture capitalists and fintech angels, including executives from Adyen, Mollie, and the founders of TymeBank. Originally envisioned as an internal tool to streamline Talk360’s payment processes, NjiaPay’s potential as a standalone business became evident as it demonstrated significant operational efficiencies and cost savings during its pilot phase.
Co-founder Hans Osnabrugge emphasized that the spin-off enables both entities to focus on their core missions. While Talk360 continues to connect people globally, NjiaPay is poised to transform Africa’s e-commerce landscape by solving the persistent challenges of payment fragmentation. “The spin-off allows us to specialize and thrive in our respective domains,” Osnabrugge stated.
NjiaPay will reshape African e-commerce and payments, leveraging its proven effectiveness and ambitious plans to expand financial inclusion and economic opportunities across the continent.
