Startup Highlight – ElementPay
ElementPay is a blockchain powered fintech platform that makes digital payments simple, practical, and accessible across Africa. It allows businesses and individuals to send, receive, and accept payments using stablecoins, even in areas with limited internet access or without smartphones.
ElementPay is not about crypto speculation. It is about solving everyday payment problems using blockchain technology in a way people already understand and trust.
Evolution of ElementPay
ElementPay started in Kenya as a micropayment tool designed to handle small, frequent transactions. Over time, it evolved into a full payment infrastructure serving multiple African markets.
Today, ElementPay focuses on real world usage. Its goal is not trading or speculation, but enabling practical payments for businesses, workers, and everyday users across Africa.
Recognition and Milestones
ElementPay has received strong recognition within the blockchain ecosystem:
- Ranked the 3rd most impactful startup in the Lisk DAO Year Build Rewards 2025
- AYAHQ x Lisk finalist, and the only Kenyan project selected
- Selected for the Xfounders Bali accelerator program
- One of the few projects from the Base Buildathon 2024 that is still active and growing globally.
The Core Problem ElementPay Solves
Africa has over 54 different currencies, making cross border payments complex and expensive.
Many individuals and businesses face challenges such as:
- Slow and unreliable remittances
- High transaction fees
- Limited access to banks
- Dependence on mobile money systems that are not connected to global payment rails
Small businesses, freelancers, and informal traders struggle to send or receive value across borders. Existing systems also do not scale well for high frequency, low value transactions.
What ElementPay Does
ElementPay connects blockchain technology with familiar tools like USSD and mobile money.
It enables:
- Stablecoin payments and receipts through USSD and mobile money
- Payments without internet access on basic feature phones
- Instant conversion between stablecoins and local currencies
- Seamless settlement for businesses and individuals
All blockchain complexity is handled in the background.
How ElementPay Works
Users can make payments using:
- Smartphones
- Crypto wallets
- Feature phones via USSD
Each transaction is recorded on the blockchain, ensuring transparency and security. ElementPay automatically creates and manages wallets, so users do not need to understand private keys or blockchain mechanics.
Businesses can choose whether to receive funds in stablecoins or local currency.
Key Features
Payments Without Internet
USSD support allows users to send and receive money without internet access. This makes blockchain payments available in rural and underserved areas.
Stablecoin Payments
Stablecoins remove crypto price volatility, making them suitable for daily payments like shopping, salaries, and services.
Automatic Wallet Creation
Users do not need apps or technical knowledge. Wallets are created and managed automatically in the background.
Fast and Transparent Transactions
All payments are recorded on the blockchain, making tracking and reconciliation simple.
Business and Merchant Tools
ElementPay supports payroll, vendor payments, collections, and merchant payouts.
Developer Friendly APIs
Developers can integrate ElementPay into websites, mobile apps, and platforms using APIs and SDKs.
Real World Use Cases
ElementPay is built for everyday use:
- Agribusiness and Farmers: pay farmers, buy crops, enable insurance payouts
- Payroll and Gig Economy: pay workers in stablecoins with automatic local currency conversion
- Merchants and E commerce: accept online and in store payments
- Gaming and Digital Economies: in game payments and earnings withdrawal to local wallets
Impact Across Africa
ElementPay is trusted by businesses across:
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Ghana
- South Africa
- Uganda
During its six month beta test, ElementPay processed over 50,000 dollars in transaction volume.
It bridges the gap between crypto and everyday financial activity, helping merchants and users transact easily, reliably, and at lower cost.
Team and Leadership
ElementPay is led by an experienced team:
- Joseph Thuku: CEO
- Aly Mtsumi: CTO
- Birvon Makori: Head of Operations
- Patrick Lemay: Board Advisor
- Nelson Mwangi: Frontend Lead
ElementPay demonstrates real blockchain adoption in emerging markets. It shows that blockchain can be practical infrastructure, not just a tool for speculation.
By connecting stablecoins with mobile money and USSD, ElementPay makes modern financial tools accessible to people using the phones they already have.
ElementPay is building the future of payments by making blockchain useful in everyday life.
