In this article, we discuss the life and entrepreneurial journey of a Nigerian Entrepreneur, Razaq Ahmed – the co-founder and CEO of Cowrywise Financial Technology Ltd. He used the right opportunity and reshaped his life from being a generator mechanic to a successful entrepreneur in Africa.
About Razaq Ahmed
Razaq Ahmed is the co-founder and CEO of CowryWise, which is an automated savings platform in Nigeria. CowryWise, a fintech app aims to make saving worthwhile and helps people manage their investment securely.
Early Life
Razaq Ahmed is a Nigerian native from Kano and has one of the most interesting stories in the Nigerian ecosystem. His family managed to escape from death while they were living in the northern part of Nigeria. Then they relocated to the southern part which gave Razaq a new ray of light for education. This wouldn’t have happened if stayed in the North as he was learning to become a generator mechanic.
After his relocation to the South, Razaq graduated with a first-class degree in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University. From the CFA Institute, he holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a professional association membership with the Institute of CFA- Certified Energy Risk Professional (ERP), and Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
The startup tree of Razaq’s life
Before the start of his entrepreneurial journey, Razaq has different organizations as an analyst, economist, and director. Razaq started his career as an Investment analyst at Meristem, Nigeria, and used to provide financial advisory for individuals and institutional clients on portfolio optimization. He also worked as a Research Analyst at Vetiva Capital Management Limited. At Shell Petroleum Development Company, Razaq worked as a Business Analyst for around a year and was later promoted to the Gas Commercial sector where he managed economic evaluation of upstream oil and gas projects.
Razaq founded Sart Partners, in the year 2013, which is a boutique investments-management company, through this his business career began. He also worked as the Executive Director of Sart Partners and was responsible for effective management of the company. Sart Partners, an investment management and financial advisory firm that offers companies strategic, financial, and industry expertise. Then Razaq heard that clients were constantly inquiring about how they could invest small amounts running from 1,000 to 50,000 of Nigerian money. In a way to give a solution to this requirement, Razaq founded Cowrywise in the year 2017. Cowrywise introduced its automated savings option which aims to make people save a invest their money frequently and easily.
Cowrywise – Invest wisely, Grow wealth.
Razaq Ahmed’s fintech startup which was Cowrywise Financial Technology Limited launched in the year 2017 is a fund manager in Africa. Cowrywise is licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria. It digitizes the investment management industry in Africa and provides access to savings and investment products for the growing population of the underserved African middle class and millennials.
The mission of the company is to empower the upcoming generation with powerful wealth-building tools and help them improve their financial status. Clients can easily access their mutual funds via web and mobile applications managed by fund management partners. The app is easy to sign in and use, one can create an account by providing basic details like name, email, and phone number. Next, add a payment method using a debit card or bank transfer and set your first plan. The last step is to watch your money grow every day.
Razaq Ahmed has led the startup – CowryWise to become one of teeth leading fintech platforms in Africa. It is the first company to be accepted into the Catalyst Fund Program in Nigeria and has also received support from UK Aid and JP Morgan. Razaq with his expertise in investment management and corporate finance has a major contribution to the success of the company.