Project Description
The BessPay Project aims to integrate Interledger Open Payments into the Sharetribe marketplace platform. This will empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the Global South to send and receive cross-border payments with:
- Lower fees
- Local currency support
- A no-code setup
The 12-month project roadmap includes market research, system development, and plugin integration using Interledger Open Payments and Chimoney’s global payment infrastructure.
During the final phase, the plugin will be piloted with select marketplaces in the Sharetribe ecosystem, including SouthLink Marketplace, which targets MSMEs in the Global South and an estimated 14.4 million Caribbean nationals living in the USA, Canada, and the UK.
Project Update
Our work is structured across three key streams:
- Technical - Design & Development of the BessPay Solution
- Commercial - Partner and vendor engagement to support development
- Research - Ongoing user research to inform solution design
Overall Project Status: On Target
💡What are we loving:
- The enthusiastic support and guidance from the ILF Team
- Collaborative synergy between our technical team and key partners: Sharetribe, Journey Horizon and Chimoney.
What are we learning:
- Payment Systems are as complexed and nuanced as the cultures of the Global South
- Having good documentation and strong team interconnection will save you challenges in the event a team member leaves
Project Impact & Target Audience(s)
BessPay directly addresses systemic barriers faced by underbanked and unbanked MSMEs in the Global South. These businesses, vital to their regional economies, often lack access to global financial services and trade infrastructure.
Our plugin will:
- Enhance financial inclusion and efficiency
- Reduce transaction costs
- Support South-South trade and diaspora commerce
Implementation Strategy:
- Begin with Chimoney-supported countries
- Expand to cover 146 countries by 2032, aligned with scalable, sustainable growth
Progress on Objectives, Key Activities
Technical
MVP Target Completion: September 30, 2025
- System Architecture Design
- Backend Implementation (database + APIs)
- Basic UI components for payment processing
Commercial
We’ve finalized milestone agreements with:
- Chimoney – Providing the digital wallet infrastructure for fund collection, settlement, and disbursement
- Journey Horizon – Our Sharetribe implementation partner, supporting the rollout of the BessPay Template, which enables open payments across the ecosystem and provides a low-cost turn-key solution for marketplaces.
Research
We’re expanding research to ensure BessPay meets real MSME needs in these emerging countries:
- Pilot surveys are underway to gather early user feedback.
- MVP updates will be guided by these insights.
- Full-scale surveys and interviews will follow to refine the product for wider rollout.
Communications and Marketing & What's Next
Technical
- Complete MVP by September 2025
- Incorporate initial insights from pilot surveys
- Finalize BessPay Marketplace Kit (deployment-ready package for Sharetribe marketplaces)
Commercial
- Secure funding for Phase 2 of the project
- Deepen marketplace partner engagement
Research
- Complete pilot surveys by July 31, 2025
- Analyze findings and refine instruments
- Launch broad-scale MSME research initiative
Community Support
Unfortunately, our Tech Lead had to step down for personal reasons. We are in the process of finding a suitable replacement. We would appreciate any strong recommendations or expressions of interest.
Know someone who’d be a great fit?
Reach out to:
darryl@gspen.net (Project Manager)
douglas@gspen.net (Founder)
Relevant Links/Resources
Interim Report Recap
- MVP Dev: On Track
- Partnerships: Confirmed (Chimoney, Journey Horizon)
- Research: Pilot in Progress
- Community Callout: Tech-Lead Needed
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