Samuel Gikandi

Samuel Gikandi is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s Talking, a leading technology company that provides communication and payment APIs to developers and businesses across Africa. Under his visionary leadership, Africa’s Talking has transformed how companies build scalable digital solutions by simplifying access to essential mobile and financial infrastructure such as SMS, voice, USSD, and mobile money services.

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Gikandi combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of Africa’s digital landscape. Before founding Africa’s Talking in 2010, he worked as a software engineer at Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, where he gained valuable experience in systems development and financial technology.

Through his work at Africa’s Talking, Samuel Gikandi has been instrumental in empowering thousands of developers and startups across more than 20 African countries. His commitment to open innovation and local empowerment has helped shape Africa’s growing tech ecosystem. Beyond his corporate achievements, Gikandi is a strong advocate for using technology to drive inclusive growth and digital transformation. His leadership continues to inspire a new generation of African entrepreneurs building homegrown solutions for the continent’s unique challenges.