Mystocks.africa is unlocking Africa’s stock markets for everyone
- Mandilakhe Somdle
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
With a vision to make cross-border investing as easy as buying mobile airtime, Mystocks.africa is reshaping Africa’s financial future, one retail investor at a time.
Mandilakhe Somdle of AfricArena sat down with Kebaya Mwamba and explores:
How unlocking Africa’s fragmented capital markets can build wealth from within
Why regulatory collaboration, not disruption, is the future of fintech
How digital investing can empower a new generation of African retail investors
When Kebaya Mwamba set out to help a Kenyan friend invest in South African stocks, he didn’t expect to hit a brick wall. Despite both countries having functioning capital markets, the journey was anything but simple: paperwork, forex agents, custodians, and weeks of waiting.
“I was shocked. We can send money in seconds with mobile money, but investing across borders in Africa felt like time-traveling to the 90s,” says Kebaya.
That frustration wasn’t just personal, it sparked a powerful realization. Africa, a continent with 30+ stock exchanges, rising remittance inflows, and a growing middle class, was still lacking the infrastructure to mobilize its own capital efficiently. And that’s when the idea for Mystocks.africa was born.
Bridging Africa’s capital gaps, digitally
Botswana-born and London-based, Kebaya is no stranger to the inner workings of Africa’s markets. He previously worked on the East Africa Commodities Exchange, giving him a front-row seat to the challenges of fragmented financial ecosystems. Mystocks.africa, co-founded with Mooketsi Morolong, is their bold answer to a continental problem.
“We’re building a platform where anyone, whether in Lagos, Gaborone, or the diaspora, can invest in African markets with the same ease as topping up airtime.”
The platform removes traditional barriers like currency exchange, regulatory differences, and institutional inefficiencies. In doing so, it offers investors access to previously siloed markets in minutes, digitally, legally, and affordably.
“Africa has wealth, ambition, and capital, but no infrastructure to move it efficiently across borders.”- Kebaya Mwamba, Co-founder of Mystocks.africa
Post-pandemic, post-permission
Launched in the wake of COVID-19, Mystocks.africa was built with resilience in its DNA. The early team bootstrapped $15,000 in life savings to bring the MVP to life, talking to retail and institutional investors, validating pain points, and iterating fast.
“We didn’t just want to build an app. We wanted to build trust,” Kebaya shares.
Since then, the startup has raised over $125,000, gained interest from African capital markets regulators, and helped first-time investors in Botswana buy stocks in Kenya, an achievement that’s more than symbolic.
“That moment, when a user bought shares across borders with total transparency, was when I knew: we’re building something transformational.”
From summit pitch to continental momentum
Pitching at the AfricArena Fintech & Enterprise Summit in Johannesburg was a key milestone for the team. “AfricArena amplified our voice. It gave us access to the right rooms, sharpened our pitch, and connected us with investors and partners who truly understand the opportunity.”
Mystocks.africa is now raising $500,000 in 2025 to scale across key markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, focusing on regulatory licensing, product expansion, and go-to-market growth.
The startup is also exploring stablecoin payment rails, which could eliminate the traditional forex friction faced by cross-border investors.
“Success for us is not just user growth, it’s how much African capital is flowing into African markets as a result of what we’re building.”- Kebaya Mwamba
Building the future of African wealth
Looking ahead, Kebaya envisions a pan-African platform that powers inclusive investing for millions, from students in Accra to pension funds in Joburg.
By 2030, Mystocks.africa wants to be the financial infrastructure behind AfCFTA’s investment vision, enabling billions in intra-African capital flow.
Kebaya’s advice to young Africans building in fintech? “Stay rooted in real problems. Africa doesn’t need Silicon Valley clones, it needs brave, patient builders who understand the market and commit to long-term impact.”
Follow their journey at https://mystocks.africa Watch the Mystocks.Africa Pitch on Youtube
Catch the next wave of founders at africarena.com
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