Building the Rails: Catalytic Finance & Tanzania’s SME Fintech Frontier | Swahilies on #FUNGUOPulse

What does it take to build an SME fintech in Tanzania, and actually earn regulatory recognition? In this episode of FUNGUO Pulse, John Haule, Co-Founder and CEO of Swahilies, talks about the journey from a bootstrapped consumer app to a Payment Service Provider licence holder from the Bank of Tanzania. Swahilies has worked with 15,000+ Tanzanian SMEs, providing bookkeeping, payroll, lending, and mobile money solutions. But the real turning point came when a FUNGUO catalytic grant helped them pivot to B2B, and when they finally applied for a PSP licence. John shares what that grant unlocked, how the regulatory process actually works, and what it means to build the financial infrastructure Tanzania’s SMEs desperately need. This is a story about recognizing market gaps, timing, and building something that earns its own legitimacy. ▶️ Watch now and join the conversation About FUNGUO Pulse FUNGUO Pulse is the official podcast of the FUNGUO Innovation Programme, bringing together leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development partners to discuss the ideas and investments shaping Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more. #FUNGUOPulse #Swahilies #Fintech #SMEFinance #Tanzania #FinancialInclusion #UNDPTanzania