In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Kingsley Madu, a Google-backed serial entrepreneur and the founder of Expedier, shares his journey of creating Canada’s first BIPOC-led global money app. With a focus on providing fast, seamless financial solutions for BIPOC communities and small businesses, Kingsley discusses how his app addresses the unique challenges of international money transfers, enhances SMBs’ financial capabilities, and pushes the boundaries of security and innovation in the fintech space. Kingsley’s vision is transforming the way individuals and businesses handle cross-border transactions, and in this interview, he unveils how Expedier is changing the financial landscape for SMBs worldwide.
Kingsley is a Google backed, multi award winning serial entrepreneur that has built Canada’s first all-in-one money app that enables users with bank accounts, cards, payments, remittance and credit building for individuals and their businesses. Kingsley is also championing the first BIPOC focused Digital Bank in Canada and has been featured in several media outlets like the CBC. As a global leader and speaker, Kingsley captivates audiences with his powerful inspirational speeches tagged the “Unstoppable Series”. Kingsley has over 15,000 followers across his professional network and impacts thousands more everyday.
As the first Black-led BIPOC Global Money App, how does Expedier address unique challenges faced by BIPOC communities in international money transfers, and what inspired you to create this solution?
As you know, necessity is the mother of invention. I have had the humbling experience of living in 15 countries. I thought I had seen it all, but nothing prepared me for the “Canadian Experience”. On arrival, I was essentially stranded. Proactically speaking, I could do nothing attributed to my lack of credit history. It was a painful experience. This led me to looking for a technology based solution, and when I could not find any, I decided to build one and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Today, Expedier’s money app is the go to for sending and receiving money from the US, Africa and UK and EU joining soon. We make the experience so seamless, it’s comforting just using the app. The app feels like “your own” money app, built exactly for you, because it was built by people who experienced it all.
Expedier boasts some of the industry’s fastest transaction speeds. Can you elaborate on the technology behind this feature and how it benefits small and medium-sized businesses conducting international transactions?
Technology is what we do best at Expedier. In fact, the name “Expedier” is French for speed or fast. It means to expedite. And this is because SMBs need liquidity as fast as they can get it. SMBs typically run on small margins and so every dime counts. This is where we come in, making sure they have their money as fast as it should be, if not even faster.
With the development of the Expedier One Card, how do you envision this new product enhancing the financial capabilities of SMBs, particularly those engaged in cross-border commerce?
Expedier One-Card is a smart card that automatically links all of users bank accounts and wallets and allows users to spend from any account automatically, without worrying about funds or forex conversion. Think of it as a unifying card that allows you to spend from any currency anywhere in the world. Now, imagine the huge possibilities for SMBs engaged in cross-border commerce or travels. Its the perfect convenience solution for SMBs. With Expedier One-Card, SMBs can pay for goods and services seamlessly, globally irrespective of the currency.
Security is a top priority for Expedier. How does your approach to data protection and transaction security differ from traditional financial institutions, and what advantages does this offer to small business owners?
Expedier continues to leverage the best of industry technology and security practices to ensure our users, their data and transactions are safe and secure. We have multiple security layers on our mobile app just for this purpose. Users of Expedier use the app and our soon coming web platform with peace of mind, knowing we are always working behind the scenes to protect them.
Looking ahead, what advice would you give to SMB owners who are hesitant about adopting new financial technologies? How do you see Expedier continuing to innovate in the global money transfer space?
Technology is here to stay, particularly financial technology. Financial technology is the backbone of any new technology. Technology creates wealth and abundance and that’s why Fintech will always remain relevant. For us at Expedier, we are just getting started. Everyday is “day one”. We are headed for global dominance. And when we get there, it will still be “day one” for us.
