Meet the founders of Juicyway: transforming fintech and cross-border payments in Africa

Oluwatosin Racheal Alabi -

Key Points

  • Justin Ziegler and Ife Johnson co-founded Juicyway in 2021 to address Africa's cross-border payment challenges.
  • Juicyway has processed over $1.3 billion in transactions, serving more than 4,000 customers.
  • The startup recently secured $3 million in pre-seed funding to expand its services across Africa.

Justin Ziegler and Ife Johnson, co-founders of Juicyway, bring deep expertise from the tech and financial sectors. Before launching Juicyway in 2021, Ziegler held a top management role at Andela, where he navigated challenges in global talent transactions. Similarly, Johnson worked as an executive at Bamboo, a leading African retail stock brokerage firm, where he witnessed firsthand the limitations of global payment systems.

Their shared experiences shaped their vision of solving Africa’s persistent foreign exchange and payment challenges, leading to the creation of Juicyway.

The birth of Juicyway: revolutionizing cross-border payments

Juicyway emerged as a fintech solution designed to simplify and optimize cross-border payments across Africa. By leveraging stablecoin technology, the platform enables fast, low-cost, and efficient money transfers, addressing liquidity gaps in intra-African currency pairs.

Under Ziegler and Johnson’s leadership, Juicyway has processed over $1.3 billion across 25,000 transactions for more than 4,000 customers. Remarkably, this growth has been achieved purely through word-of-mouth referrals, as the platform operates without a public-facing app or significant marketing efforts.

Driving financial inclusion through innovation

Juicyway’s platform accepts multiple fiat currencies, including the Nigerian naira (NGN), United States dollar (USD), and Canadian dollar (CAD), as well as cryptocurrencies like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC). The company offers advanced features, such as multi-currency accounts, liquidity pool connections for competitive rates, and APIs for seamless international financial management.

Ziegler and Johnson’s mission is to enhance the quality of financial services in Africa, making cross-border payments more accessible and efficient for individuals and businesses alike.

Achievements and a vision for the future

In December 2024, Juicyway secured $3 million in pre-seed funding led by P1 Ventures, with participation from Ventures Platform, Future Africa, Magic Fund, and prominent angel investors such as Andrew Alli, Gbenga Oyebode, and Tunde Folawiyo.

This investment is set to fuel Juicyway’s growth by enabling team expansion, technological advancements, and entry into new markets. With their innovative approach and dedication, Ziegler and Johnson are poised to reshape Africa’s financial industry, breaking barriers in cross-border trade and promoting financial inclusion.

Juicyway’s journey is a testament to the transformative potential of fintech in solving real-world challenges and driving economic growth across the continent.