Our mission at USIU-Africa focuses on ‘Promoting the discovery and application of knowledge, the acquisition of skills, and the development of intellect and character in a manner that prepares students to contribute effectively and ethically as citizens of a changing and increasingly technological world.’ As such, the program will benefit the USIU-Africa community (faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and alumni) interested in turning innovative Future of Open Payment Technologies ideas into projects and programs that will address complex challenges faced by informal groups and MSMEs in Kenya through the provision of simple solutions while ensuring Financial Inclusion.
A key feature of a competitive market is the availability of viable payment options, as users associate choice with their convenience. To achieve the shift to digital financial inclusion in Kenya, deliberate efforts should be made to present digital payments as a superior alternative to cash, given their benefits across various payment channels. This Project proposes the implementation of Design Your Future Integrated Innovation Pipeline Program (DYF IPP) that integrates Startup Wars Platform, Innovation Nights, Design Thinking Workshops, Mastermind Sessions, Spin Out company building services, Business Development Services Training, and EDGE Leadership Programs into a unified innovation pipeline curriculum focusing on the future of open payment technologies for digital financial inclusion and social impact in Kenya. The primary objective is to generate eight transformative ideas and one startup around open payment solutions in the digitally excluded financial sectors, assemble multidisciplinary teams to refine and execute them, and bring them to life, inspiring a wave of change in the economic landscape. The aim is to be inclusive and open to participants from the following programs.
- Bachelor of Science in Finance
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analytics
- Bachelor of Science in Information Systems & Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
By aligning this initiative with the innovation and incubation center programs, USIU-Africa aims to lead in fostering impactful innovations. It seeks to leverage inter-institutional collaboration and prepare participants for real-world entrepreneurial challenges in financial inclusion, utilizing open-source payment systems. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone is part of a larger community working towards a common goal of digital financial inclusion in Kenya. We endeavor to integrate Interledger technology throughout the program, including communication platforms, open-source collaboration tools, monitoring and evaluation, project results documentation, prizes and incentives, further funding opportunities, and placement in fintech firms.
Top comments (2)
Really happy to be part of this exciting journey
I’m really excited to be part of DYF IPP 2025! I look forward to learning, innovating, and creating real solutions that promote financial inclusion in Kenya.