Flutterwave, Africa’s payments technology company, has once again been named on TIME’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential companies.
Returning to the global stage after its 2021 debut, the Nigerian-founded fintech powerhouse joins major global players such as Amazon, Netflix, OpenAI and Universal Music Group in the 2025 Titans category.
Fluttewave CEO and founder Olugbenga Agboola welcomed the recognition of the African firm that has revolutionised payment infrastructure for global merchants and payment service providers across the continent.
“This is a true honor. It’s a testament to our team’s incredible work. We’ve moved from building infrastructure to enabling global-scale solutions. Flutterwave today isn't just powering payments; we’re shaping Africa's financial future and connecting the continent to the world,” he said.
Founded in 2016, Flutterwave first made the TIME100 list following a COVID-era campaign that helped thousands of businesses digitise operations. Agboola underlined that its 2025 reappearance reflects the company’s consistent innovation and influence across Africa’s financial landscape.
Flutterwave has expanded rapidly over the past year, with a presence in over 34 African countries and a footprint that now includes Bahrain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. The innovative fintech’s work with Uber, a major global ride-hailing platform in these regions, marks a rare achievement for an African fintech.
A standout product, SendApp by Flutterwave, has also scaled significantly in the US, UK, and EU, enabling diaspora communities to send money home faster and more affordably. With 34 US licenses secured, the service now offers near-complete coverage in the country.
Agboola reflected with pride on the nine-year journey that has earned unicorn status for Africa’s largest startup worth over $3 billion, employing over 11 million people and generating $4.48 trillion in annual revenue.
“Starting Flutterwave in 2016 has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things we’ve ever done. We’ve faced the highs, market expansions and the lows, but we kept building. Only the test of fire makes iron steel.”
This latest recognition follows Flutterwave’s No. 1 ranking on Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies list for EMEA, and back-to-back appearances on the FXC Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies list.
“It’s still Day 1 for us. We’re now focused on long-term value creation, sustainable growth, and helping millions of businesses move money into, within, and out of Africa,” added Agboola.
Share