Meet The Team
Our team, known as Fin Illuminaries, is dedicated to delivering more efficient and user-friendly payment solutions to the fintech industry. What sets us apart is not only the innovative system we have developed but also our strong and diverse academic backgrounds, which provide us with the technical expertise and problem-solving skills to make a meaningful impact in financial technology. These diverse backgrounds also allow us to approach challenges from a variety of perspectives, ensuring that our solutions are well-rounded, inclusive, and adaptable to real-world needs.
Our team members are:
- Ahmed Lateef – Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Computer Engineering
- Amukeleni Rikhotso – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business Computing
- Raibim Alam – Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical and Mechatronics)
- Sakeenah Majiet – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business Computing
- Moegamat Rashaad Samsodien – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bootcamp Experience
One of the fundamental insights we gained from the bootcamp is that without a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of money and how it has developed into what we have today, we cannot adequately address the challenges we face in making payments and transactions easier. Dr. Allan David emphasized this point and posed thought-provoking questions to us: Is the technology you want to build suitable for the times in which you are building it? Will it be effective, and will people actually be interested in using it? Are there existing solutions that could render your advanced innovation unnecessary?
He also highlighted that sometimes, creating a simple technology that solves real problems can have a greater impact than building something complex but impractical.
Overall, this bootcamp provided us with valuable insights and questions that shaped our approach to developing our solution. It influenced the creation of our payment system using the Interledger Protocol, aimed at providing a unified and accessible method of payment that everyone can use.
Hackathon Experience
For most of our team, the Interledger Hackathon was a completely new experience, with several members participating in a hackathon for the first time. One member had previous experience and found this hackathon just as enriching and rewarding as their first. Another team member, while not new to coding, was new to web development and working with APIs. They learned the necessary skills through the provided tutorials and were able to contribute meaningfully to the project. As a team, we appreciated the fast-paced and collaborative environment, as well as the opportunity to challenge ourselves both creatively and technically. The experience encouraged us to think on our feet, make quick decisions, and work together effectively under pressure. While achieving a successful outcome was important, our primary goal was to develop new skills, gain fresh insights, and grow both individually and as a team. This hackathon provided all of that and more.
The Problem We Tackled
Our team set out to tackle a challenge close to home: millions of South Africans are still excluded from digital payments due to high data costs, lack of internet access, and limited banking infrastructure. We saw this firsthand and built a solution that works on any mobile phone without the need for data, Wi-Fi, airtime, or a bank account. Powered by Interledger technology, it enables fast, secure, and low-cost transactions for anyone, anywhere. Our mission was to create real financial freedom and empower communities to fully participate in the digital economy.
Our Tech Solution
Our project, Cache Money, is a USSD-powered offline payment system designed to support financial inclusion in regions with limited internet access. It links users’ SIM cards to secure wallets tied to their national ID, allowing them to manage budgets and send token-based payments entirely through basic mobile phones. No apps or data required.
We built the backend using Interledger technology to handle value transfers efficiently across different currencies and providers. This ensures that transactions are fast, affordable, and work across borders. The simple USSD interface serves as a user-friendly frontend, enabling users to interact with their wallet, send payments, and check balances all without needing to go online. Cache Money provides a practical financial solution for communities typically excluded from the digital economy.
The Pitch Experience
We were given five minutes to present our idea to the judges and other participants, which felt like a very short amount of time considering the complexity of the problem we were addressing. The environment on the day was really supportive and filled with people who were genuinely excited to see what others had built. That helped ease some of the pressure. One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to clearly explain both the problem and our solution in just a few sentences. The issue we tackled is something that impacts the lives of many South Africans, so we felt a real responsibility to communicate our idea in a meaningful and impactful way. Despite the time constraints, we stayed focused, delivered our pitch with confidence, and felt proud of how we represented our project.
Mentorship Experience
We are deeply grateful to all the staff members who were present throughout the hackathon and took the time to genuinely listen to our questions and concerns. Their support made a significant difference to our experience. At one point, we found ourselves stuck on a technical challenge, and members of the Interledger team stayed with us, patiently helping us work through the problem until we found a solution. They consistently offered words of encouragement, maintained a positive attitude, and answered our questions with a smile. Their mentorship provided both technical guidance and emotional support, creating an environment where we felt heard, motivated, and confident in our ability to overcome obstacles.
What's Next For Fin Illuminaries?
Looking ahead, our next steps are focused on turning our prototype into a fully functional solution. We're finalizing the demo by integrating recurring token logic to support ongoing transactions. We're also in the process of applying for Interledger funding to help scale our impact. Once the MVP is complete, we plan to connect with fintech partners who share our vision, and begin conversations with USSD aggregators or mobile networks to gain the access needed to bring our solution to real users on the ground.
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