In 2022, mobile money transactions in sub-Saharan Africa surpassed $655 billion, a clear indication of the region’s growing influence in the global fintech landscape. This explosive growth reflects more than just technological advancement; it underscores the rising demand for accessible and user-friendly financial solutions.

However, for many small business owners in emerging markets, the challenges of accessing these tools remain significant. High documentation requirements, inflexible processes, and limited trust in digital systems often exclude the very people fintech aims to serve.

For Ifeoma Taylor, a product manager with deep expertise in user-centric design, solving these challenges is more than just a professional mission; it’s a passion. From her work at Lendha, a Nigerian fintech startup focused on SME financing, to her current role at FundR by Squareme, Ifeoma has championed a design philosophy that prioritizes empathy, siplicity, and adaptability.

“I’ve always believed that technology is most powerful when it reflects the realities of the people using it,” she says. “If your product doesn’t work for the user, it doesn’t work at all.”

In Nigeria, over 43 million adults remain unbanked, with small business owners comprising a significant portion of this underserved population. These businesses, often run informally, face systemic barriers to accessing credit and financial management tools.

Lendha, which focuses on providing financing solutions to SMEs, identified these gaps early on. But it was innovators like Ifeoma who turned insights into actionable products.

“When we started building our loan application platform, it became clear that the traditional model wasn’t working,” says one of Lendha’s co-founders. “Ifeoma’s ability to engage with users and translate their needs into technical requirements was key to the platform’s success.”

Ifeoma led over 50 user interviews, uncovering frustrations with documentation-heavy processes and rigid repayment terms. Based on her findings, the team developed an MVP that simplified loan applications, cutting unnecessary steps and introducing a user-friendly interface.

The platform’s impact was immediate. Within six months of launch, Lendha saw a 30% increase in user retention, as more small business owners embraced the solution.

“Listening to users doesn’t just help you build better products; it builds trust,” Ifeoma explains. “Trust is the currency of fintech, especially in markets where people have historically been excluded from the formal financial system.”

While the loan application platform was a success, Ifeoma understood that continuous improvement was essential. One of the biggest challenges was addressing the unpredictability of small business cash flows, which often made fixed repayment schedules unworkable.

Through data analysis and user feedback, Ifeoma and her team developed a flexible repayment feature. This allowed borrowers to customize their repayment timelines, aligning them with income cycles.

“This wasn’t just about making the product more convenient,” she explains. “It was about respecting the realities of our users’ lives.”

The results were significant: a 15% decrease in churn rates and higher user satisfaction scores.

This iterative approach reflects a broader trend in fintech, where scalability hinges on adaptability. A 2022 McKinsey report highlighted that digital financial inclusion initiatives could add $3.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030, with SMEs in emerging markets playing a pivotal role. For companies like Lendha, user-centric features are not just value-adds; they’re essential for growth.

The impact of Ifeoma’s work goes beyond metrics; it’s evident in the stories of the users she’s empowered. One such user is Kunle, a small retailer in Lagos who struggled to secure a loan due to rigid bank requirements. Using Lendha’s platform, Kunle accessed credit within days, customized his repayment plan, and expanded his inventory, doubling his revenue within six months.

“When I first saw the platform, I thought it would be like the others; complicated and frustrating,” Kunle says. “But everything was so simple. For the first time, I felt like this was built for someone like me.”

It’s stories like Kunle’s that Ifeoma finds most rewarding. “Hearing how our work has made someone’s life better; it’s the reason I do what I do.”

While Ifeoma’s work has been rooted in Nigeria, the lessons from her journey resonate globally. In her current role at FundR by Squareme, she has applied these principles to tackle new challenges.

“One of the biggest takeaways from my time at Lendha was the importance of simplicity,” she says.
“Even the most innovative features will fail if users don’t understand or trust them.”

At FundR, Ifeoma led the development of an invoicing tool tailored for SMEs. Designed to be intuitive and scalable, the tool has already driven a 20% increase in customer acquisition within its first year.

“User-centric design is about making every interaction as seamless as possible,” she explains.

“It’s not just about solving problems; it’s about creating experiences users want to come back to.”

The global fintech market was valued at $179 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20.5% through 2030. In developed markets like the UK, where small businesses often face their own barriers to financial tools, Ifeoma believes that the principles she champions; empathy, simplicity, and adaptability; are equally relevant.

A Deloitte study found that 68% of fintech users prioritize simplicity and transparency, highlighting the universal need for user-centric solutions. “These numbers tell us what we already know intuitively,” Ifeoma says. “Users want products that meet them where they are; not where we think they should be.”

As fintech continues to evolve, Ifeoma Taylor’s work offers a blueprint for inclusive innovation. By integrating empathy with data-driven insights, she has created solutions that not only meet immediate user needs but also lay the foundation for long-term trust and engagement.

“She’s someone who understands that fintech isn’t just about technology; it’s about people,” says James Oke, a senior analyst at the African Fintech Network.

Whether in Lagos or Nasarawa, Ifeoma’s contributions are shaping a future where financial tools are accessible to all, ensuring that no user is left behind.