Ashley Gauzere is the founder and co-CEO of French fintech firm HUB2, a startup disrupting payment solutions in Francophone Africa.
He is a former telecom engineer with experience at Orange Africa in the Middle East. Gauzere launched HUB2 in 2019 to address the unique challenges facing the region’s e-commerce ecosystem.
“I wanted to solve the critical issue of payment infrastructure in Francophone Africa,” Gauzere explained. “After two decades in telecom, I saw the need for a high-quality, interoperable payment solution similar to what major platforms offer globally.”
Today, HUB2 serves as the backbone for 55 fintech companies across French-speaking Africa, including Julaya, Onafriq, NALA, and CinetPay. It powers the payment infrastructure for these companies, enabling seamless transactions in a fragmented market.
What does HUB2 do as a core service?
HUB2 is a payment aggregator that allows businesses to process transactions across multiple channels, ensuring interoperability between mobile money wallets within the same country.
Which customers does it serve?
The company’s primary clientele includes banks, microfinance institutions, and insurance companies. The startup has become a vital partner in the region’s financial ecosystem.
Notable Achievements
Since its inception, HUB2 has earned notable accolades including:
- Winner of the Overseas Innovation Competition and Best Overseas Startup at NxSe in 2018.
- Recognized by the Federation of African Insurance Companies (FANAF) as one of the top 10 companies providing digitalization solutions to African insurers.
What you should know
HUB2 aims to expand its reach by:
- Introducing cross-border payment solutions.
- Launching stablecoin-based remittance services.
- Enhancing its card payment capabilities.
Currently operating in six countries including —Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, and Cameroon, HUB2 plans to achieve full regional coverage within the next two years.
Funding: What we know
HUB2 recently raised $8.5 million in a Series A funding round led by TLcom Capital, with participation from FMO, Enza Capital, Bpifrance, and Thunes founder Eric Barbier.
In July 2024, it secured additional funding of undisclosed amount from Nairobi-based Enza Capital to accelerate its growth in Africa’s payment sector.
The startup has initially raised $1.8 million in 2021 from APICAP, COMPASS, and BPI Réunion.
Also, in September 2023, the startup raised €1.25 million equity investment from ESSOR PME La Réunion.
HUB2 may be the next unicorn out of Africa
With a 35-person team operating out of France, Ivory Coast, and Mauritius, HUB2 is poised to become a leading force in Africa’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape -all thanks to a visionary CEO as Ashley Gauzere.
