Benjamin Fernandes
Founder & CEO NALA
Benjamin Fernandes is an award-winning Tanzanian speaker and entrepreneur. Benjamin grew up in Tanzania then earned scholarships that took him to America for the first time at the age of 17. At age 21, Benjamin was the youngest African in history to ever be accepted into Stanford Graduate School of Business. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Fernandes was previously a national television personality in Tanzania. After that, he worked at The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the United States. Fernandes founded NALA, a fintech startup that is on a mission to build payments for the next billion. NALA operates across 21 countries in Europe, the US and the UK with nearly 150 employees. In 2024, NALA recently became profitable. NALA recently raised a $40m Series A, backed by leading US investors such as Y- Combinator, Accel, Acrew, Amplo and Bessemer Partners.In 2020, Fernandes was listed as the 15th most influential Tanzanian.
In 2022, Fernandes was listed in the inaugural ROW100 most influential technology leaders in the world. In 2023, Fernandes was listed on the Top 100 Changemakers list for Africa. In 2024, Forbes online featured Fernandes on their daily cover with a cover story.
2025 AGENDA Sessions
Panel: The New Founder Playbook: Prioritizing Sustainable Growth and Profitability Over Growth-at-al
In an increasingly volatile funding and investing market, founders must balance rapid scale with long-term profitability to ensure sustainable business success. In this session, we will discuss overcoming obstacles, extending runway, and developing growth strategies that prioritize profitability. They will delve into scaling strategies, strategic acquisitions, and robust risk management. Join this panel to learn how to prioritize sustainable growth, manage risks effectively, and achieve long-term success while navigating market changes and operational challenges.
Wednesday 12 March 10:00 - 10:40 Hall C - Expo
Financing Fintech’s Future
In an increasingly volatile funding and investing market, founders must balance rapid scale with long-term profitability to ensure sustainable business success. In this session, we will discuss overcoming obstacles, extending runway, and developing growth strategies that prioritize profitability. They will delve into scaling strategies, strategic acquisitions, and robust risk management. Join this panel to learn how to prioritize sustainable growth, manage risks effectively, and achieve long-term success while navigating market changes and operational challenges.
Hall C - Expo US/Pacific
