Crossfin, a Cape Town-based fintech investor, unveiled a daring new chapter. It opened an investment arm in Singapore and branched out outside of Africa with a strategic investment in the UAE fintech company Unitey.
This move signals Crossfin’s ambition to transform from a regional powerhouse into a global fintech player.
Crossfin: Africa’s fintech success story goes global with new ventures
Crossfin has built a strong reputation by backing fintech ventures across Southern Africa, focusing on payment platforms that drive financial inclusion. Its new Singapore arm is designed to tap into the Middle East and Southeast Asia markets, starting with the UAE-based Unitey Digital Holdings.
Anton Gaylard, Crossfin’s co-founder and CXO, stated, “Our goal since the founding of Crossfin is to put money behind strategic payment rails in Africa and beyond and then invest in fintechs that provide innovations that can be leveraged across the rails.”
This expansion is supported by anchor investors like Standard Bank and Turing Capital Fund, underscoring confidence in Crossfin’s strategy to build a portfolio of fintech assets that process large transaction volumes globally. The move out of the South African sandbox into international waters marks a new growth phase, leveraging Crossfin’s proven expertise.
Crossfin’s South African model drives global fintech growth
Crossfin’s success in South Africa is rooted in investments like DigiSquad, a Johannesburg-based payments advisory and platform provider focused on underserved markets.
DigiSquad, founded in 2015 by Bishnen Kumalo, developed DigiEngine, a cloud-based payments platform that recently became one of Eskom’s five national vending agents, beating larger competitors.
Kumalo emphasizes the importance of local solutions: “Many products for underserved communities overlook existing local solutions. We are enabling these solutions through our digital offerings and are committed to redefining digital innovation as a black woman-owned fintech”.
Crossfin’s backing of DigiSquad reflects its broader mission to support fintechs that enhance access to financial services for marginalized communities. Anton Gaylard notes, “DigiSquad stood out to us with its cloud-based payments system, which fits well with many companies in our portfolio. Their recent success with Eskom also shows their credibility”.
Crossfin’s investments are not just financial but strategic, fostering synergies across its portfolio to accelerate growth and impact. This approach is now being extended beyond Africa, as Crossfin’s Singapore launch and UAE investment demonstrate.
The statement by South African fintech investor Crossfin on May 19, 2025, represents a turning point in the company’s development from a regional leader to a major player in the global fintech market.
Crossfin is positioned to transform fintech ecosystems across continents, focusing on payment innovations and financial inclusion.