ABOUT US

MoneyPhone began with a simple question — and an unexpected journey.

Who We Are

Founded in 2022, MoneyPhone Africa Ltd. is a licensed Non-Deposit- Taking Financial Institution (NDFI) regulated by the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR). Led by an experienced Rwandan management team, we operate within the governance and technology framework of our Dutch parent company, MoneyPhone B.V. (Netherlands).

We serve MSMEs, students and smallholder farmers who are excluded from traditional lending systems. MoneyPhone is active in 10 countries and has tailored and launched 16 different digital loan products to the specific needs of each country.

Our Mission

Empower the 2 billion unbanked and poorly banked inhabitants of our planet through digital access to credit, anytime and anywhere.

Our Journey

From one rooftop experiment to a global impact movement

2018: The Beginning

MoneyPhone began with a simple question. A Dutch friend asked our founder to help Syrian refugees in Jordan. In Amman, he met women who had fled war and drought. They had lost almost everything except their smartphones. When asked if they would borrow money through their phones, they said yes.

The First Experiment

Within weeks, a small team built the first beta version of the MoneyPhone app literally on the rooftop of a hotel in Amman. Back in the Netherlands, the first digital loans were sent to Syrian refugees. Every single borrower repaid. That moment proved a powerful truth: trust travels faster than borders.

2022: Rwanda Launch

MoneyPhone Africa Ltd. was established in Rwanda, licensed by the National Bank of Rwanda as a non-deposit-taking financial institution. We began supporting smallholder farmers with collateral-free agricultural loans backed by cooperatives.

Global Impact

Since that first pilot, MoneyPhone has brought digital microcredit to 10 countries across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East—supporting refugees, small farmers, women entrepreneurs and cooperatives. Our global team collaborates across borders with colleagues in India, Tenerife, Netherlands working with clients in Mexico, Jordan, Rwanda and beyond.

Our Principals

Inclusive & scalable

At MoneyPhone, we are an impact-driven business, and inclusivity is most important to us. However, for our business to thrive, it's crucial that we scale while maintaining the highest level of inclusivity possible.

Design with end-user

All of our products are tailored to the specific needs of the end-user and adapted to the local context. We collaborate closely with our end-users to develop new loan products, ensuring they are precisely tailored to their requirements and preferences.

Co-create & collaborate

In Rwanda, there are many actors in the field of inclusive finance, each bringing their own expertise. We actively seek collaboration and co-creation opportunities with other companies, development cooperatives, and NGOs. We firmly believe that a holistic approach is essential for maximizing impact and creating sustainable change.

Data driven & evidence based

We strongly believe in the power of data and its crucial role in unlocking financial services for underserved and underbanked individuals. Simultaneously, the data generated by our data-driven solution provides evidence of the success of our products.

Our Talent

Marthe Paauwe

Chief Executive Officer

Marthe has over 15 years of work experience in Europe and Africa. She worked closely with partners such as EU, UN, EKN and BMGF and holds a Master from Erasmus University.

Laura Kluijtmans

Chief Operational Officer

Laura worked for various financial institutes before co-founding MoneyPhone. She is an Industrial Engineer from Eindhoven University of Technology.

Jan Vos

President and Founder

Jan is a serial internet & EM entrepreneur and a former Member of the Dutch National Parliament with an MA from Erasmus University.

Koldo Echavarren

Chief Technology Officer

Koldo is a software engineer with more than 20 years of experience. He holds a Master in Software Engineering from the University of the Basque Country.

Marc van der Wolk

Chief Money Officer

Marc is serial entrepreneur in publishing and internet ventures. He and Jan worked together on previous start-ups, from start to finish.

Koen Wagemaker

Interim CFO

Koen is an experienced CFO in Fintech. Koen holds an MBA in business economics from Tilburg University.

Jean Paul Mushumba

Country Director

Jean Paul works with our clients in Rwanda to serve the poorly banked. He has a background in agriculture, project management and sales.

Yanna in 't Veld

Head of Business Development

Yanna is a business developer and data-enthusiast based in Kigali with an extensive network in Rwanda. She holds a Master from Erasmus University.

Corneille Mutijana

Credit Manager

Corneille manages credit operations and supports the financial growth of our clients and cooperatives. He holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies.

Chantal Lopez

Digital Lending Lead

Chantal drives innovation across our lending processes. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of León.

Prateek Bhonsale

Senior Software Engineer

Prateek is a results-driven software engineer skilled in analysis, design, development, implementation, and testing, holding a degree in CS.

Aalok Kumar

Senior Software Engineer

Aalok is a skilled software engineer with six years of experience and a Master’s in Software Engineering from Bhopal University.

Rifka Roos

Compliance Manager

Rifka is passionate about working on world wide impact. She holds a bachelor in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics from Amsterdam University.

Fidele Habarurema

Sr. Finance and Administration Officer

Fidele is a seasoned finance and grants management expert with 15 years’ experience driving excellence in corporate and development sectors.

Prachi Jain

Operations Officer

Prachi is a Finance and Operations Officer with extensive banking experience, specializing in financial management, process optimization, and strategic operations.

Divine Irebe

Youth Fellow Coordinator

Divine Irebe is passionate about sustainable agriculture and financial inclusion, supporting Rwandan smallholder farmers through climate-smart financial solutions.

John Rwamucyo

Youth Fellow

Rooted in the region, John assists tea and coffee growers throughout the loan process to ensure timely and efficient access to finance.

Bertrand Rwampungu

Youth Fellow

Bertrand delivers excellent customer service by handling client queries across multiple channels, leveraging his Business & IT background.

Sam Kamugisha

Loan and Field Data Officer

Sam oversees field data tracking and impact measurement, supporting farmer cooperatives in improving financial access and youth employment outcomes.

Eric Kwisanga

Loan Recovery Officer

Eric is a dedicated Loan Officer in Rwanda, supporting cooperatives and farmers with loan collection and strong community relationships.