Finance is often described as the backbone of economic growth, but in many emerging markets, it has too often become a barrier rather than a bridge. Across Africa and beyond, millions of individuals and small businesses remain excluded from the formal financial system. Informal traders, smallholder farmers, and micro-entrepreneurs are still navigating life without reliable access to savings, loans, or financial security. Traditional banking built on collateral, rigid paperwork, and narrow eligibility has simply failed to meet their needs.
Fintelle was created to change that. Co-founded by Chinelo Menkiti and Adegoke Olusegun, the company is reimagining financial services for communities that conventional banks have long overlooked. Its approach combines empathy with innovation, creating a model that adapts to users’ realities instead of forcing them into unsuitable systems. This vision of inclusion has not only transformed access for countless people but also earned the company recognition as the Fintech Champion Award recipient by Nigerian Finance Consults.
At its core, it is not just a fintech company, it is a financial ally. Microloans are tailored to match irregular income cycles, savings tools are built for flexibility, and AI-driven credit scoring looks beyond collateral to assess real potential. The company’s philosophy is simple yet radical: finance should empower, not exclude. In embedding this belief into its operations, the company has demonstrated why its reputation for innovation and trustworthiness has been celebrated within the industry.
Education is another pillar of its strategy. Financial literacy is built into the customer journey, ensuring that clients not only gain access to products but also understand how to use them effectively. This dual focus on access and knowledge has created a deeper level of trust particularly in markets where financial institutions are often met with skepticism. It is one of the reasons the company’s recognition as Fintech Champion resonated so widely; the award acknowledged not just technology, but the human-centered design behind it.
The company’s infrastructure reflects its long-term commitment. Proprietary systems are continuously refined to make credit scoring more context-aware and fair. Customer support networks are expanding to offer real-time guidance. Partnerships with regulators and local institutions are strengthening the credibility of its model across regions with complex financial systems. In every layer of its operations, the company is building resilience and trust.
The impact is evident. Small businesses once starved of credit are scaling with confidence. Informal workers are developing savings habits that create stability. Families once excluded from financial security are now experiencing growth and opportunity. These transformations echo the essence of the Fintech Champion Award, which honors innovation that delivers tangible change.
For Menkiti and her team, the mission goes beyond awards or recognition, it is about rewriting the rules of finance for the many, not the few. The company is proving that when finance is rooted in empathy, powered by technology, and backed by trust, it can become not a privilege, but a shared foundation for progress.
