Jon Wade

Lemme tell you bout Jon Wade, this guy’s the real deal in the fintech game, especially in Africa. So, he’s the CTO and founder of Union54, a company out of Lusaka, Zambia. Founded in 2020, right after he jumped into YC’s S21 batch, which is a big deal. That’s where he got the resources and network to really level up his vision.

Union54 is basically tearing down the old banking walls. They built this API infrastructure that lets African companies issue debit cards without needing a boring old bank as a middleman. Think about that, it’s like building the plumbing for fintech in Africa. And it’s not just talk; they’ve already issued over half a million virtual debit cards. That’s a shit ton of transactions, a lot of revenue, and major traction.

Jon’s process is all about solving real problems with tech. Before Union54, he probably saw the pain points in African banking, slow, expensive, limited access, and thought, “Nah, there’s gotta be a better way.” So, he jumped in, built the tech, and crushed it. Raised $3 million in seed funding, then a $12 million extension led by Tiger Global, those are serious checks. It shows investors believe in what he’s doing and his team.

What’s wild is how fast Union54 grew under his leadership. They’ve issued hundreds of thousands of cards, which means he’s not just talking; he’s executing at scale. That’s the kind of speed most startups dream of. It’s clear Jon’s got that hacker mindset, deeply technical but also super driven to make a real impact.

And I think his motivation is clear. He’s not in it just for the money; he wants to enable African businesses with the tools they need to thrive. That’s the kind of founder who sees the bigger picture, not just a startup, but changing how an entire continent’s financial system works.

Long story short, Jon Wade’s a tech whiz who’s not just building a company, he’s creating infrastructure that’s gonna shape the future of fintech in Africa. The dude’s got the skills, the vision, and the hustle to make big waves. No cap.