#71: TymeBank - How the South African Neobank is integrating digital and physical experiences to provide holistic financial services across emerging markets
Afrobility: Africa Tech and BusinessPlay episode
Show notes
Overview: Today, we’re going to explore TymeBank - the South African neobank. We’ll discuss the story across the following areas:
African & Nigerian banking context
TymeBank's launch, early history, growth & fundraising
Product & monetization strategy
Competitive positioning & potential exit options
Overall outlook.
Companies discussed: TymeBank, African Rainbow Capital (ARC), MTN, Kuda Bank, Chipper Cash, FairMoney, Carbon, Discovery Bank, Branch, Pick N Pay, TakeAlot, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank Zero, Naspers & NuBank
Business concepts discussed: International expansion, Startups and Distribution, Deposit banking, International expansion, Data sovereignty,
Conversation highlights:
(00:30) - TymeBank context
(08:15) - Context of African Banking
(24:20) - TymeBank founding story
(52:20) - Fundraising
(55:01) - Growth and geographical expansion
(1:20:03) - Product & Monetization Strategy
(1:50:08) - Competition and options for Exit
(2:00:33) - Bankole’s overall thoughts and outlook
(2:10:38) - Olumide’s overall thoughts and outlook
(2:15:00) - Recommendations and small wins
Olumide’s recommendations & small wins:
Interested in investing in Africa Tech with Olumide: Read about Adamantium fund & contact me at olumide@afrobility.com. Founders looking for funding: If you're a B2B founder working on Education, Health, Finance or food, please contact me for funding at olumide@afrobility.com
Checkout my FIREDOM book = FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) + Freedom = personal finance and financial independence book. Website, Read: Substack Newsletter & Buy: Print, eBook or Audiobook)
Recommendation: AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future (Kai-Fu Lee): Great book about the potential of AI told across 10 stories
Recommendation: Dangote (song by Burna Boy). Incredible song
Recommendation: Good Bad Boy (song by Lil Kesh). Catchy and smooth chorus. With a deeper meaning about searching for companionship
Small win: I was in NYC book launch for FIREDOM Book launch. Dope.
Bankole’s recommendations & small wins:
Recommendation: Plunder by Brendan Ballou - A book on the excesses of Private Equity. PE is an example of well-intentioned policy having (unintentional?) downstream impact.
Recommendation: Business Breakdown Podcast on Mobile Gaming: The uneven distribution of paying customers in mobile gaming reminds me of emerging market telco companies
Small win: Quest 3 Headset! VR is coming along nicely.
Other content: TymeBank Holdings 2022 Financial Statement & Substack on the history of Tyme Global
Listeners: We’d love to hear from you. Email info@afrobility.com with feedback!
Founders & Operators: We'd love to hear about what you're working on, email us at info@afrobility.com
Investors: It would be great to link up with you. Contact us at info@afrobility.com
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