In a world where digital transformation dictates business success, Olaide Adepoju has established herself as one of Africa’s most versatile and globally minded technology sales professionals. With extensive experience spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia, she has mastered the complex art of connecting innovative technology solutions with the business realities of clients across sectors and continents.
As a Solution Sales Expert, Olaide has sold everything from digital payment platforms and cross-border financial systems to core banking software and AI-driven IT solutions. Her ability to merge technical depth with commercial strategy has made her a sought-after voice in the fintech and enterprise technology space.
Her track record includes working with global unicorns and reputable brands such as dLocal, Interswitch Group, Budpay, and technology firms like Fiter, among others. Through these experiences, she has developed a nuanced understanding of how to scale financial solutions across diverse regulatory, cultural, and technological environments.
Today, she serves as the Head of Partnerships at Klasha, a fast-growing fintech company simplifying cross-border commerce in Africa. In addition, she is the Founder of Cudi Tech Services, a UK-registered company that connects IT solution providers with global enterprises—helping organisations leverage artificial intelligence and automation to drive performance, security, and scalability.
In this exclusive conversation, Olaide discusses her journey, the dynamics of selling technology solutions globally, and the innovations redefining Africa’s fintech ecosystem.
1. How has your technical and commercial background shaped your approach to solving complex problems in African cross-border fintech?
My journey sits at the intersection of technology, business, and people. My technical grounding allows me to understand the realities of fragmented infrastructure, compliance requirements, and data integrity across multiple markets. But my commercial background brings another layer that assures that every solution I support, or sell, is market-relevant, customer-centric, and financially sustainable.
In Africa, solving payment or technology problems isn’t just about code or systems; it’s about understanding people, how businesses operate in uncertain regulatory environments and how consumers adapt to change. That’s the balance I bring to my work at Klasha, where partnerships must solve not only for payments but for growth, trust, and user confidence.
This passion drove the birth of Cudi Technologies Services, an AI driven B2B business which focuses on customer success and reselling of technology solutions for IT companies. The goal is premium service delivery for businesses across the UK, Europe, and Africa identify and deploy IT solutions (fintech and payment inclusive) that simplify operations, increase productivity, and strengthen their digital posture.
2. What is the single biggest hurdle still preventing seamless cross-border transactions for enterprise merchants?
The greatest barrier isn’t technology, it’s regulatory inconsistency. African countries often operate under very different rules governing FX controls, KYC/AML standards, and data residency policies. This makes interoperability difficult, even when the payment infrastructure is strong.
Until we achieve regional regulatory harmonisation and deeper collaboration between central banks and private players, technology alone cannot deliver a seamless experience. The key lies in combining innovation with compliance strategy—building systems that respect local regulations while supporting global standards.
3. Beyond cost, what drives a B2B merchant to choose one payment or technology partner over another?
In B2B relationships, trust and reliability always outweigh price. For enterprise merchants, especially in volatile FX environments, settlement assurance, liquidity stability, and transaction transparency are critical.
Merchants want partners who can guarantee uptime, minimise friction, and provide predictable cash flow visibility. Beyond that, they value responsiveness—partners who truly understand their business model and can adapt technology to fit their specific workflow.
At the heart of it, what wins isn’t the cheapest solution; it’s the most dependable one.
4. How do you balance flexibility for clients with scalability in your solutions?
Scalability doesn’t mean rigidity; it means building adaptable systems that can flex to meet different needs without losing structural coherence. My philosophy has always been to design or recommend configurable solutions where clients can tailor settlement currencies, corridor rules, or integration flows without altering the platform’s integrity.
That’s how you support both SMEs and multinational enterprises efficiently—through a single architecture that scales across markets but still feels local to the end user.
5. How do you use market intelligence to stay ahead of industry shifts?
Information and networking are my biggest competitive advantages. I track real-time indicators—FX movements, regulatory updates, transaction volumes, and merchant behaviour across key corridors like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and the UAE. I live inside information bank platforms like LinkedIn, Statista, Google Market Finder and Mintel.
At Klasha, this intelligence translates into proactive product decisions and partnership strategies. By the time a regulation or trend becomes mainstream, we’ve already adjusted our strategy. That ability to anticipate rather than react is what gives successful fintech players an edge.
Similarly, through Cudi Tech Services, I apply the same principle—helping clients anticipate IT risks, assess emerging tools, and deploy technology that’s not just relevant for today but future-ready.
6. What indicators matter most when structuring enterprise liquidity or partnership frameworks in volatile markets?
I pay close attention to regulatory predictability, partner resilience, and corridor liquidity depth. In markets with frequent FX fluctuations or evolving rules, the strength of your counterparties and the transparency of your settlement process determine long-term sustainability.
A good liquidity framework balances float efficiency with risk management—keeping the system liquid enough to meet demand while protecting exposure to unstable currencies. It’s both an art and a science, blending technical analytics with financial intuition.
7. How do you advise merchants to optimise cash flow and minimise FX friction?
Cash flow optimisation is about timing, corridor strategy, and discipline. I usually recommend that merchants collect and hold in local currencies, use virtual multi-currency accounts, and plan conversions based on market forecasts rather than impulse.
Additionally, routing transactions through trusted corridors with proven liquidity reduces delays and conversion losses. When businesses approach FX strategically rather than reactively, they unlock working capital that fuels their growth instead of draining it.
8. What’s your philosophy for building high-performing sales and partnership teams in tech and fintech?
I believe in empowerment through clarity. High-performing teams thrive when they understand their purpose, have measurable goals, and have the freedom to innovate. I focus on building cross-functional teams that combine sales, technical expertise, and compliance awareness.
In my experience, the best salespeople aren’t just good talkers; they’re consultants. They listen deeply, understand the client’s ecosystem, and co-create solutions. My teams have consistently achieved 115–120% of revenue targets because they operate with autonomy, data, and trust.
9. How do you align sales goals with compliance, especially in emerging markets?
I view compliance as an enabler, not a constraint. Every sales motion begins with compliance embedded in the strategy. We operate within licensed corridors, maintain clear documentation, and engage proactively with regulators.
This approach not only protects the organisation but also builds credibility—and in fintech, credibility is currency. When partners and clients know your processes are compliant, trust grows exponentially.
10. What innovation will most redefine B2B cross-border payments in Africa over the next 3–5 years?
The future belongs to interoperability and regional connectivity. With initiatives like PAPSS, AfCFTA, and blockchain-backed settlement frameworks, we’re moving toward an ecosystem where intra-African trade becomes instantaneous, transparent, and cost-efficient.
The next phase of fintech in Africa won’t just be about faster payments; it will be about smarter ecosystems where data, trust, and liquidity move seamlessly. It’s an exciting time to be part of this transformation.
