What inspired you to establish 4G Capital?
I spent 17 years as a professional army officer operating in conflict zones, where I witnessed the desperate need for jobs and opportunities to replace cycles of violence. This insight drove my transition to business. After setting up a lending operation in Kenya for a South African startup, I led a management buyout in 2013, using my life savings and support from my wife to bootstrap the company.

Our mission is to empower micro-entrepreneurs, especially women, by offering collateral-free microloans ranging from $50 to $1,500, coupled with enterprise training. Inspired by global microfinance models, we adapted our approach to local contexts, enabling traders to succeed and thrive.

Today, 4G Capital is Africa’s highest-scoring B Corporation in financial services, with a remarkable score of 146 out of 200. We maintain repayment rates of 95–97%, an NPS (Net Promoter Score) of 70 for customer satisfaction, and an 80% customer retention rate—testaments to the effectiveness and sustainability of our model.

How do you balance social impact with profitability?
Our model creates a virtuous cycle. By providing micro-entrepreneurs with the financial tools they need to grow, we empower them to build wealth and integrate into the formal economy. This approach fosters a mutually beneficial dynamic: when our customers succeed, we succeed.

We prioritize designing customer-centric products and combining them with effective training, which ensures high satisfaction, sustainable growth, and transformative investments. For example, our Series C equity round with LightRock has fueled our growth.

Micro-entrepreneurs drive 80% of Africa’s economy, so supporting them contributes to a fairer and more prosperous economic landscape. For us, success lies in aligning social impact and profitability, proving that ethical business can drive meaningful change.

How are you diversifying 4G Capital’s offerings?
Our diversification strategy includes developing innovative loan products that enhance productivity and improve quality of life. These offerings include asset financing for green technologies, off-grid solar solutions for agricultural enterprises, and invoice financing for distributors.

For example, financing stock-keeping units for small shops has allowed them to double their sales, with repayment rates reaching 98% and shop revenues growing by 82% year-on-year. These tailored products respond to the specific needs of our customers and deliver measurable economic benefits.

What is your vision for 4G Capital, and how do partnerships fit into your plans?
By 2050, Africa will house a quarter of the global population and a third of the working-age population, making it a hub of untapped potential. This rapid growth is driving innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent. However, solutions imported from other regions often fail; success in Africa requires a deep understanding of local challenges and partnerships with those already addressing them.

Our vision is to deliver tailored, scalable solutions that meet the vast demand for SME financing. We are expanding rapidly with digital tools designed to empower micro and small enterprises. To sustain this growth, we are raising $20 million, targeting the $5-10 trillion global micro and SME financing opportunity.

Our model demonstrates how profitability can go hand-in-hand with sustainable economic growth, democratizing wealth creation and fostering resilience across Africa.

The full report on Jersey will be published in Global Investor 2025.