Podcast appearances and mentions of elizabeth rossiello

Elizabeth Rossiello is the founder and CEO of AZA Finance, an African payments and foreign exchange fintech company. Elizabeth joins Elliot to talk about her journey from Queens, New York to Nairobi and how she overcame the volatility of new Presidents and fights with governments to drive her mission of powering trade in Africa and beyond.

Elizabeth Rossiello, founder and CEO of AZA Finance, has been riding the wave of startup life since 2013. Over the past decade, she has steered her company through 16 "crypto winters" and raised over $80M. Elizabeth's journey is not just inspiring because of the impressive figures but also because of her resilience, adaptability, and vision in navigating the ever-evolving fintech landscape.

Episode Topic: Welcome to an insightful episode of PayPod. We get into the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the African finance system with Elizabeth Rossiello, the CEO and founder of AZA Finance. She shares how her company focuses on bridging the gap between African economies and the global financial system. As a leading provider of cross-border payment solutions, leveraging blockchain technology, her company aims to facilitate smoother, more secure transactions, enabling small and medium-sized businesses to thrive while conducting business in local currencies. Elizabeth shares her deep insights on how blockchain is poised to revolutionize the financial landscape across the continent. Lessons You'll Learn: Listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of how blockchain technology is reshaping the way businesses operate. Elizabeth Rossiello discusses the initial excitement and subsequent skepticism surrounding blockchain, illustrating how the technology has evolved beyond its hype phase. You'll learn about the practical applications of blockchain in streamlining transactions, enhancing transparency, and reducing costs. Elizabeth also sheds light on the role of smart contracts and their potential to enforce agreements automatically. This episode provides valuable lessons on the importance of adapting to technological advancements and the need for regulatory frameworks that support innovation. About Our Guest: Elizabeth Rossiello, the CEO and founder of AZA Finance, is a trailblazer in the realm of blockchain technology in the African finance system. With a master's degree in International Business and Finance, Elizabeth has lived and worked in Germany, Kenya, and now London. Her extensive experience in global finance and her passion for leveraging technology to solve real-world problems has positioned her as a leading voice in fintech. At AZA Finance, she has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions that facilitate cross-border payments and promote economic growth in African markets. Her unique perspective and expertise make her an invaluable guest, offering deep insights into the future of blockchain in Africa. Topics Covered: This episode covers a broad range of topics centered around the impact of blockchain technology on the African finance system. Key areas of discussion include the initial hype and ongoing evolution of blockchain, its practical applications, and its potential to drive significant changes in the financial sector. Elizabeth Rossiello also delves into the concept of smart contracts and their ability to enforce agreements without human intervention. The conversation also highlights the challenges and opportunities of implementing blockchain technology in Africa, including regulatory hurdles and the need for technological infrastructure. Additionally, Elizabeth shares her vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of innovation and the role of the next generation in shaping the financial landscape. Check out our website- https://www.soarpay.com/

Episode 127 with Elizabeth Rossiello, who is the CEO and founder of AZA Finance, an established provider of currency trading solutions that accelerate global access to frontier markets through innovative infrastructure. By leveraging cutting-edge technology in its flagship products, TransferZero and BFX, AZA is able to significantly lower the cost and increase the speed of business payments to and from frontier markets.AZA is now a market maker in every major African currency and facilitates payments into G20 currencies directly. Elizabeth expanded the company from Nairobi, Kenya, to operations in 20 markets across Africa and Europe. What We Discuss With ElizabethHow has the payment infrastructure in Africa evolved since AZA Finance's inception in 2013?What role has technology played in lowering costs and increasing the speed of your payments process?Could you elaborate on AZA Finance's role as a market maker in major African currencies and how it impacts the facilitation of business payments to and from these markets?How did you navigate the diverse regulatory landscapes across the African continent to establish AZA's presence in 20 markets?How important has it been to address talent challenges within the payments space, particularly in retaining top talent in order to grow and expand the company?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How the Africa Oxford Initiative is Supporting African Research and Innovation Ecosystems? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Elizabeth  on LinkedIn at Elizabeth Rossiello, and Twitter (X) @e_rossiello Do you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Elizabeth Rossiello has transformed the foreign exchange landscape through her company AZA Finance. She joins us today to share her pioneering journey in launching one of the first cryptocurrency exchanges in Africa, empowering other women in fintech to find their footing and navigate the industry like a pro. This week, episode 195 of the Tech Intersect™ Podcast is about paving the way for women in fintech and blockchain!POWERED BY ADVANTAGE EVANS™ ACADEMY Navigate your way from cash to crypto with Digital Money Demystified. Dive into the definitive guide on crypto myths and truths by Professor Tonya M. Evans. This isn't just a book; it's a roadmap to the decentralized web's future of work, wealth, and creativity. Head over to DigitalMoneyDemystified.com and embark on your crypto journey today!Elizabeth Rossiello is the CEO and Founder of AZA Finance, an established provider of currency trading solutions that accelerate global access to frontier markets through an innovative infrastructure. Elizabeth expanded the company from Nairobi, Kenya to operations in 20 markets across Africa and Europe. Before founding AZA, Elizabeth was a rating analyst for microfinance institutions across sub-Saharan Africa, consulting for Grameen Foundation, Gates Foundation and the Acumen Fund, as well as working with regulators and policy-makers on legislation for financial innovations. Elizabeth sits on the Investment Committee for Bamboo Capital and the World Economic Forum's Future Council on Blockchain. She holds an M.A. in International Business and Finance from Columbia University.Topics Elizabeth and I go over in this episode include:How AZA Finance became a groundbreaking global payments and foreign exchange fintech company increasing the use of African currencies. Stablecoins play a crucial role in cross-border transactions, providing 24/7 settlement and reducing liquidity crunches in markets with volatile currencies.Empowering women in fintech to not be deterred by the uneven challenges in a male-dominated industry, leveraging the skills they already have to contribute to the overall growth and development.CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH ROSSIELLO:AZA FinanceLinkedInX (Twitter)CONNECT WITH DR. TONYA M. EVANS:Questions and requests: hello@techintersectpodcast.com Follow: Twitter @AtTechIntersect | Instagram @TechIntersect Web: Tech Intersect Podcast  Connect for exclusive content: https://advantageevans.activehosted.com/f/6 RESOURCES:Buy the Book + Leave 5 Star Review Digital Money DemystifiedConsulting,Start separating crypto fact from fiction today. Get your copy of , Digital Money Demystified, and start learning so you can earn safely, legally and confidently. https://digitalmoneydemystified.comRegulate & The Rabbit Hole by Notty Prod licensed via Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Produced by Tonya M. Evans for Advantage Evans, LLC

Wall Street can be a minefield for any competitive or ambitious person seeking a rewarding career, a name for themselves, and handsome paydays. They quickly find themselves surrounded by other competitive and ambitious people looking for exactly the same things. For women, the challenges can run even deeper and for them, the world of Wall Street is particularly fraught. What's it like to fight through those challenges, especially when your own dreams collide with hurdles – that is, when they collide with men? Elizabeth Rossiello is the CEO of AZA Finance, a fintech and forex company based in Nairobi and London, and her path has taken her through Wall Street, crypto, fintech and Africa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos this January, Circle Co-Founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire joined AZA Finance Founder and CEO Elizabeth Rossiello and Polygon Co-founder Antoni Martin Bertran in a discussion about crypto's next chapter hosted by CNBC's Emma Crosby. Allaire, Rossiello, and Bertran discussed the real-world problems they're helping to solve, the regulatory outlook, and the vision that motivates them as they contend with market tumult.

In this conversation, we chat with Dan Heyman, Co-founder and CEO of Palm NFT Studio and Network. Dan is a blockchain industry leader with experience building and leading organisations through the design, development and implementation of enterprise-grade blockchain protocols. Prior to Palm, Dan was the co-founder and Program Director of PegaSys, focusing on the strategy and operations of the team. Prior to joining PegaSys and ConsenSys, he was co-founder and CEO of Stack AI, COO of the Demeter Entrepreneur Support Network and Project Manager at MIT's Poverty Action Lab. He has an M.B.A. from MIT Sloan and a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Columbia University. More specifically, we touch on Dan's fascinating journey from working with the poverty action lab to founding Palm, as well as, Dan's experience at MIT, ConsenSys's enterprise solutions, the philosophy behind Crypto Art, NFTs and their value to large media enterprises, setting up a creator-focussed DAO, some exciting upcoming collaborations with DC Comics, and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Quantstamp.Explorations into digital currency technologies will shape the evolution of the global financial system, so understanding the African continent's approach to money is key.Joining this episode of “Money Reimagined” with hosts Sheila Warren and Michael Casey is Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO of African fintech firm AZA Finance. Rossiello previously joined the show in 2020 to discuss international crypto adoption.AZA announced this week a partnership with exchange FTX to build continent-wide infrastructure, education programs and crypto solutions to help accelerate Africa's integration into the emerging Web 3 economy.Though there were challenges, innovative solutions were found to implement effective digital payment solutions across the continent. How will crypto's influence impact Africa in the coming years?-Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31.-Quantstamp is the leader of blockchain security, having secured over 100 billion USD worth of digital assets. Visit quantstamp.com to learn why top DeFi projects like Maker, Compound and BarnBridge trust Quantstamp to secure the financial infrastructure of tomorrow. Learn more at quantstamp.com/blog.-This episode was produced and edited by Michele Musso with announcements by Adam B. Levine and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Our theme song is “Shepard.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Quantstamp.Explorations into digital currency technologies will shape the evolution of the global financial system, so understanding the African continent's approach to money is key.Joining this episode of “Money Reimagined” with hosts Sheila Warren and Michael Casey is Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO of African fintech firm AZA Finance. Rossiello previously joined the show in 2020 to discuss international crypto adoption.AZA announced this week a partnership with exchange FTX to build continent-wide infrastructure, education programs and crypto solutions to help accelerate Africa's integration into the emerging Web 3 economy.Though there were challenges, innovative solutions were found to implement effective digital payment solutions across the continent. How will crypto's influence impact Africa in the coming years?-Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welcome bonus. Valid through March 31.-Quantstamp is the leader of blockchain security, having secured over 100 billion USD worth of digital assets. Visit quantstamp.com to learn why top DeFi projects like Maker, Compound and BarnBridge trust Quantstamp to secure the financial infrastructure of tomorrow. Learn more at quantstamp.com/blog.-This episode was produced and edited by Michele Musso with announcements by Adam B. Levine and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Our theme song is “Shepard.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this conversation, we chat with Elizabeth Rossiello – the CEO and founder of AZA, an established provider of currency trading solutions which accelerate global access to frontier markets through an innovative infrastructure. Elizabeth founded the company in 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya and has expanded it to 10+ markets across Africa and Europe. Before founding AZA, Elizabeth was a rating analyst for microfinance institutions across sub-Saharan Africa, consulting for Grameen Foundation, Gates Foundation and the Acumen Fund, as well as working with regulators and policy-makers on legislation for financial innovations. Elizabeth co-chairs the World Economic Forum's Council on Blockchain and holds an M.A. in International Business and Finance from Columbia University. More specifically, we touch on ratings agencies and the activity of rating intitutions, M-Pesa and how it influenced the thinking towards a crypto-centric future, Africa's banking landscape and some of the outstanding issues it faces, Bitpesa and how it became Aza, banking infrastructure in Africa, and so so much more!

In this episode of the Africa Series, Stacey Japhta, VP Growth at TalentintheCloud, interviews Elizabeth Rossiello. Elizabeth is the CEO & Founder of AZA Finance. AZA Finance is an established provider of currency trading solutions that accelerate global access to frontier markets through an innovative infrastructure. This episode discusses AZA Finance acquiring businesses, how they've grown across Africa and advice on growing your business from 0-50 people. In addition, Elizabeth discusses all things FinTech, a fitting formula for acquisition, and why Boards push back on crypto.

In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Rossiello, Founder & CEO of AZA Finance. AZA Finance enables businesses to grow past their borders through safe and affordable FX and cross-border money transfer solutions.Elizabeth discusses all things FinTech, a fitting formula for acquisition, and why Boards push back on Crypto.TalentintheCloud's Website: https://talentinthecloud.io/TalentintheCloud's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentinthecloud/Elizabeth Rossiello's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-rossiello-589b8b1/AZA Finance's Website: https://azafinance.com/Stacey Japhta's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceyjaphta/

In episode one of this season, we explored how money moves within borders in Africa. In this episode, we explore how money moves across them. [01:27] - Africa is the most expensive region in the world to send money to, according to the World Bank's Remittance Prices Worldwide report. [07:26] - Why are there such limited cross-border payment options within Africa?[08:30] - And why is sending money across borders in Africa so expensive? AZA Finance's Elizabeth Rossiello tells the story of investment in infrastructure and liquidity, or lack thereof.[13:39] - How do you create liquidity across markets and between curriencies?[18:12] - How are fintechs providing better rates and leveraging technology to reduce the cost of cross-border payments?[24:32] - On the chicken and egg game of infrastructure and payment volumes across borders. Ham Serunjogi, Chipper Cash's CEO, shares the companies outlook on making cross-border payments more accessible in Africa.This season is sponsored by MFS Africa.All this season, we're exploring value chains. And in the payments value chain, no fintech has a wider reach on the continent than MFS Africa. Through their network of over 180 partners - MNOs, banks, NGOs, fintechs, and global enterprises - MFS Africa's API hub makes connects over 320 million mobile wallets across 30+ countries in Africa.

Join Michael Casey & Sheila Warren as they speak with Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO of AZA Finance and Sebastian Serrano, CEO of Ripio for a discussion on the past, present and future of bitcoin and stablecoins in Africa and South America.Bitcoin, Stablecoins and International AdoptionThis week's accompanying Money Reimagined podcast episode looks at the adoption of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in emerging markets, which over the past year has seen real signs of life. Is this finally the moment to realize one of the great hopes of this technology: to enable financial empowerment in developing countries where traditional finance is constrained? To explore that question, my co-host Sheila Warren and I are joined by Elizabeth Rossiello, the founder and CEO of AZA, which has for seven years been developing digital payment solutions in African markets, and Sebastian Serrano, the founder and CEO of Ripio, which has been doing similar work in Latin America for more or less the same amount of time.Photo by Captureson Photography on Unsplash modified by CoinDeskSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Michael Casey & Sheila Warren as they speak with Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO of AZA Finance and Sebastian Serrano, CEO of Ripio for a discussion on the past, present and future of bitcoin and stablecoins in Africa and South America.Bitcoin, Stablecoins and International AdoptionThis week’s accompanying Money Reimagined podcast episode looks at the adoption of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in emerging markets, which over the past year has seen real signs of life. Is this finally the moment to realize one of the great hopes of this technology: to enable financial empowerment in developing countries where traditional finance is constrained? To explore that question, my co-host Sheila Warren and I are joined by Elizabeth Rossiello, the founder and CEO of AZA, which has for seven years been developing digital payment solutions in African markets, and Sebastian Serrano, the founder and CEO of Ripio, which has been doing similar work in Latin America for more or less the same amount of time.Photo by Captureson Photography on Unsplash modified by CoinDesk

Jalak Jobanputra, founder and managing partner of Future Perfect Ventures, talks about how, in 2014, her experience as an investment bank and VC, her global background, and her observation that new streams of data were becoming available led her to launch her first fund, which ended up being 70% invested in blockchain. She describes what it was like selling LPs on the nascent technology in 2014, how her latest fund, which will be more than $50 million, is different and how it's drawing LPs who thought they could make money through liquid hedge funds invested in tokens. She talks about why she thinks early-stage technologies can't be IPO'ed -- and why FPV shied away from ICOs -- but why her second fund is capable of investing in tokens. She also explains how the space is still lacking in early-stage VCs with knowledge of the blockchain sector, why New York launched the New York Blockchain Center and whether crypto is becoming more diverse. Come See Unchained Live With Vitalik Buterin! Wednesday, March 20th, doors at 6, show at 7, venue TBD Get your tickets now! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unchained-live-with-vitalik-buterin-tickets-56189456176 Thank you to our sponsors! CipherTrace: http://ciphertrace.com/unchained Tokensoft: https://www.tokensoft.io Microsoft: https://twitter.com/MSFTBlockchain and https://aka.ms/unchained Episode links: Future Perfect Ventures: Futureperfectventures.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jalak Blog: Thebarefootvc.com Jalak op-ed on Bitcoin at $10,000 in Recode: https://www.recode.net/2017/11/29/16716014/bitcoin-price-10k-ethereum-blockchain-cryptocurrency-value-creation-global Profile of Jalak in Breaker Mag: https://breakermag.com/why-one-of-blockchains-first-vcs-thinks-the-developing-world-will-lead-the-way/ Jalak on the 10th birthday of the Bitcoin white paper: https://breakermag.com/remembering-the-bitcoin-whitepaper-part-3-the-thinkers/ New York Blockchain Center: https://www.nycedc.com/press-release/nycedc-open-nyc-s-public-private-blockchain-center Wired story on the Collective Future: https://www.wired.com/story/for-women-in-cryptocurrency-a-new-effort-to-grow-their-ranks/ Unconfirmed episode with Bill Barhydt of portfolio company Abra: https://unchainedpodcast.com/how-abra-enables-you-to-buy-5-of-an-etf-like-token-of-the-top-10-cryptos-ep-040/ Unchained episode with Elizabeth Rossiello of portfolio company Bitpesa: https://unchainedpodcast.com/bitpesas-elizabeth-rossiello-on-necker-island/ Unchained episode with Vinny Lingham of portfolio company Civic: https://unchainedpodcast.com/civics-vinny-lingham-on-when-crypto-demand-will-catch-up-with-the-technology/ Unchained episode with Josh Stein of portfolio company Harbor: https://unchainedpodcast.com/harbor-and-trusttoken-on-why-they-dont-mind-being-unsexy-ep-77/ Unchained episode with Riccardo Spagni of portfolio company Tari: https://unchainedpodcast.com/moneros-riccardo-spagni-aka-fluffypony-on-how-he-feels-about-monero-being-used-for-crime-ep-93/

Jalak Jobanputra, founder and managing partner of Future Perfect Ventures, talks about how, in 2014, her experience as an investment bank and VC, her global background, and her observation that new streams of data were becoming available led her to launch her first fund, which ended up being 70% invested in blockchain. She describes what it was like selling LPs on the nascent technology in 2014, how her latest fund, which will be more than $50 million, is different and how it's drawing LPs who thought they could make money through liquid hedge funds invested in tokens. She talks about why she thinks early-stage technologies can't be IPO'ed -- and why FPV shied away from ICOs -- but why her second fund is capable of investing in tokens. She also explains how the space is still lacking in early-stage VCs with knowledge of the blockchain sector, why New York launched the New York Blockchain Center and whether crypto is becoming more diverse. Come See Unchained Live With Vitalik Buterin! Wednesday, March 20th, doors at 6, show at 7, venue TBD Get your tickets now! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unchained-live-with-vitalik-buterin-tickets-56189456176 Thank you to our sponsors! CipherTrace: http://ciphertrace.com/unchained Tokensoft: https://www.tokensoft.io Microsoft: https://twitter.com/MSFTBlockchain and https://aka.ms/unchained Episode links: Future Perfect Ventures: Futureperfectventures.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jalak Blog: Thebarefootvc.com Jalak op-ed on Bitcoin at $10,000 in Recode: https://www.recode.net/2017/11/29/16716014/bitcoin-price-10k-ethereum-blockchain-cryptocurrency-value-creation-global Profile of Jalak in Breaker Mag: https://breakermag.com/why-one-of-blockchains-first-vcs-thinks-the-developing-world-will-lead-the-way/ Jalak on the 10th birthday of the Bitcoin white paper: https://breakermag.com/remembering-the-bitcoin-whitepaper-part-3-the-thinkers/ New York Blockchain Center: https://www.nycedc.com/press-release/nycedc-open-nyc-s-public-private-blockchain-center Wired story on the Collective Future: https://www.wired.com/story/for-women-in-cryptocurrency-a-new-effort-to-grow-their-ranks/ Unconfirmed episode with Bill Barhydt of portfolio company Abra: https://unchainedpodcast.com/how-abra-enables-you-to-buy-5-of-an-etf-like-token-of-the-top-10-cryptos-ep-040/ Unchained episode with Elizabeth Rossiello of portfolio company Bitpesa: https://unchainedpodcast.com/bitpesas-elizabeth-rossiello-on-necker-island/ Unchained episode with Vinny Lingham of portfolio company Civic: https://unchainedpodcast.com/civics-vinny-lingham-on-when-crypto-demand-will-catch-up-with-the-technology/ Unchained episode with Josh Stein of portfolio company Harbor: https://unchainedpodcast.com/harbor-and-trusttoken-on-why-they-dont-mind-being-unsexy-ep-77/ Unchained episode with Riccardo Spagni of portfolio company Tari: https://unchainedpodcast.com/moneros-riccardo-spagni-aka-fluffypony-on-how-he-feels-about-monero-being-used-for-crime-ep-93/

Connie Gallippi, the founder and executive director for BitGive, and Joe Waltman, the executive director of GiveCrypto.org, discuss charitable giving in crypto -- what problems in philanthropy it solves, what level of transparency they can achieve and how they measure impact. Connie explains why she has chosen to work with existing non-profits and Joe, why GiveCrypto is working on its own initiatives, and why its working thesis is that crypto will be especially helpful in places with broken money or broken government. They also dive into the tax implications of donating crypto directly -- namely that donors can offset taxes on gains, particularly by donating their oldest coins before the end of the calendar year. Connie talks about how BitGive needs to ensure it doesn't hold or convert money in order to avoid money transmitter regulations, and Joe, how GiveCrypto has to ensure it's not giving money to bad people, such as money launderers or people or entities under economic sanctions. Plus, the two discuss why a space that so often espouses the ideals of democratization of finance gives so little and what it will take for it to donate more. Thank you to our sponsors! CipherTrace: https://ciphertrace.com/unchained WeTrust: Donate in crypto and have your donation matched by WeTrust through Giving Tuesday, November 27! http://wetrust.io/unchained Episode links: Bitgive: https://www.bitgivefoundation.org GiveTrack: https://www.givetrack.org BitGive Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitGiveOrg GiveCrypto: https://www.bitgivefoundation.org GiveCrypto Twitter - https://twitter.com/givecrypto?lang=en BitGive's five-year report: https://d1i1964a5wuyjt.cloudfront.net/2018/11/5-year-deck-021118_compressed-1.pdf Joe's work trial for GiveCrypto: https://medium.com/givecrypto/givecrypto-work-trial-a-new-financial-system-a-new-opportunity-7f564b65aff5 GiveCrypto's October report: https://medium.com/givecrypto/givecryptos-october-monthly-report-5c191bc03b56 Unconfirmed episode with Robert Opp of the UN World Food Programme: http://unconfirmed.libsyn.com/the-un-world-food-programmes-blockchain-based-food-vouchers-for-syrian-refugees-with-robert-opp-ep017 Episode with Elizabeth Rossiello of Bitpesa: http://unchainedpodcast.co/bitpesas-elizabeth-rossiello-on-necker-island

Connie Gallippi, the founder and executive director for BitGive, and Joe Waltman, the executive director of GiveCrypto.org, discuss charitable giving in crypto -- what problems in philanthropy it solves, what level of transparency they can achieve and how they measure impact. Connie explains why she has chosen to work with existing non-profits and Joe, why GiveCrypto is working on its own initiatives, and why its working thesis is that crypto will be especially helpful in places with broken money or broken government. They also dive into the tax implications of donating crypto directly -- namely that donors can offset taxes on gains, particularly by donating their oldest coins before the end of the calendar year. Connie talks about how BitGive needs to ensure it doesn't hold or convert money in order to avoid money transmitter regulations, and Joe, how GiveCrypto has to ensure it's not giving money to bad people, such as money launderers or people or entities under economic sanctions. Plus, the two discuss why a space that so often espouses the ideals of democratization of finance gives so little and what it will take for it to donate more. Thank you to our sponsors! CipherTrace: https://ciphertrace.com/unchained WeTrust: Donate in crypto and have your donation matched by WeTrust through Giving Tuesday, November 27! http://wetrust.io/unchained Episode links: Bitgive: https://www.bitgivefoundation.org GiveTrack: https://www.givetrack.org BitGive Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitGiveOrg GiveCrypto: https://www.bitgivefoundation.org GiveCrypto Twitter - https://twitter.com/givecrypto?lang=en BitGive's five-year report: https://d1i1964a5wuyjt.cloudfront.net/2018/11/5-year-deck-021118_compressed-1.pdf Joe's work trial for GiveCrypto: https://medium.com/givecrypto/givecrypto-work-trial-a-new-financial-system-a-new-opportunity-7f564b65aff5 GiveCrypto's October report: https://medium.com/givecrypto/givecryptos-october-monthly-report-5c191bc03b56 Unconfirmed episode with Robert Opp of the UN World Food Programme: http://unconfirmed.libsyn.com/the-un-world-food-programmes-blockchain-based-food-vouchers-for-syrian-refugees-with-robert-opp-ep017 Episode with Elizabeth Rossiello of Bitpesa: http://unchainedpodcast.co/bitpesas-elizabeth-rossiello-on-necker-island

This week we're kicking of a mini-series on high-tech for business within a developing country context. We're talking to Elizabeth Rossiello, who co-founded BitPesa Ltd in 2014 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Elizabeth has worked in Kenya as a Microfinance Analyst and Investment Associate since 2009. She is an expert in East African financial product development and establishing best practices in risk, governance and IT for local banks. Prior to her work in East Africa, she served as an Analyst at Credit Suisse in Zurich and a Robert Bosch Fellow in Frankfurt. She speaks four languages and has a Masters in International Finance from Columbia University's SIPA. On this episode you'll learn: Cryptocurrency can be compared to how letters (snail mail) used to be sent to another country, and now email has replaced that. Cryptocurrency, or Bitcoin, was created to replace the traditional way of sending money to another person. Bitpesa is sending money around the world a lot cheaper than traditional means. They're increasing liquidity for companies. Bitpesa's business model is to take a small percentage on each international money transfer transaction. Bitpesa doesn't hold Bitcoin overnight so they're not affected by the fluctuating price that the currency has seen. Elizabeth built the simplest test case of how it could work. She hired one engineer and one UX (User Experience) team. They built it on the Mpesa system in Kenya to test it out. It took a month and a half. Their first customer traded in January 2014, and they relaunched in April with a market-ready product. The regulatory framework was setup for traditional money transfers, but Bitpesa showed they were doing the same thing just using a different tool to do so. Working with regulators still makes up part of their work today. It's about ensuring they're following the rules, and keeping the focus away from what the technology is. They've had plenty of setbacks, such as being sued by Safaricom in Kenya, and potential investors who learnt from their company and ended up creating something similar. Bitpesa started out on a small $50k seed investment which they used to build the prototype, and then raised follow on investment from international investors. Follow on investors were only willing to put in cash for 6-12 months runway, so Elizabeth says it was a really inefficient fundraising process. Elizabeth advises to enjoy the ride, because it's a long journey. Enjoy building a company that you want to work for. And take care of yourself along the way. Links to resources: Bitpesa Blockchain for Development: Emerging Opportunities for Mobile, Identity and Aid, a 2017 report from the GSMA Digital Identity Programme, which talks about the potential for blockchain for numerous use cases, including for identification and payment transparency. Connect with guest: Elizabeth on Twitter  

Elizabeth Rossiello is the Founder and Ceo and BitPessa. She breaks down the hustle and what it took to get BitPesa off the ground. 

This week we've got an excellent episode which looks at applying breakthrough technology, to frontier markets. You've probably heard of Bitcoin and blockchain, and here Elizabeth Rossiello CEO and founder of Bitpesa and I discuss how this technology can help African businesses grow through improving how they make international payments. Why? Well in mature markets there's a lot of liquidity between different currencies, meaning if you wanted to trade between Euros to Dollars to Pounds, the fact there's lots of people trading it means you can get a good price. However, when you are looking to trade African currencies, there's not so much activity meaning companies are getting caught with high high prices to move money around the world, such as paying suppliers. Bitpesa has stepped in to provide financial remittance services for anyone wanting to buy or sell African currencies, with Bitcoin and digital currencies acting behind the scenes to smoothen the process. Just a heads up that this interview took place over an internet call which is different to the in person episodes done to date, and also that Elizabeth will be speaking at The Economist's Innovation Summit in Nairobi, and so be sure to check that out if you're interested in learning more. READ MORE AT:https://theeastafricabusinesspodcast.com/2018/02/08/bitpesa-blockchain-enabled-international-payments-with-elizabeth-rossiello/

The prospect of providing digital cross-border payments for the world’s unbanked and underbanked population has always been one of the key use cases for Bitcoin. Cryptocurrencies can be seen as a way for people in developing countries to participate in the global financial market by allowing easy cross-border payments, cheap remittance transactions, and simplified lending options. We’re pleased to be joined by Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO and Founder of BitPesa. BitPesa provides companies in frontier markets with the financial infrastructure to facilitate commerce and payments, where traditional financial markets are known to be fractured and expensive. As an early Bitcoin company founded in 2013, BitPesa is now present in a handful of African countries and provides essential financial services to businesses, allowing them to send and collect payments, and perform quick and affordable Forex trades. Topics covered in this episode: Elizabeth’s journey to Bitcoin and BitPesa BitPesa’s vision and how it compares existing mobile money platforms present in Africa BitPesa’s offering and how it has evolved since the company was founded in 2013 The primary pain points and barriers to doing business in developing African markets Foreign exchange markets in Africa The challenges and opportunities regarding blockchain adoption in African markets The future of Bitcoin as a payment system Episode links: BitPesa Elizabeth Rossiello Describes How BitPesa Slashes International Payment Fees BitPesa Founder Elizabeth Rossiello Keynotes at ConsenSys' Ethereal Summit Elizabeth Rossiello on Twitter This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/215

Bitcoin has many skeptics in the West but in Africa it could transform payments. In this episode of AFP Conversations, host Ira Apfel spoke to Elizabeth Rossiello, co-founder of BitPesa, a Nairobi-based payments and FX startup which operates in six African nations, about the promise and challenges of bitcoin. 

In this episode, coming one day after the release of my Forbes cover story online, I answer listener questions, starting with my background, the history of the podcast, whether or not I trade or invest in crypto, and what tokens I think have the strongest real-world application. If you haven't read the cover package, I highly recommend you do so now: Cover story: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/the-emperors-new-coins-how-initial-coin-offerings-fueled-a-100-billion-crypto-bubble/ Sidebars: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/return-of-the-day-traders/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/how-crypto-tokens-work-a-close-look-at-golem/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/not-so-tiny-bubbles-the-top-25-crypto-assets/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/cryptos-in-wonderland-12-of-the-weirdest-wackiest-coins/ And if you haven't listened to the episode with Olaf Carlson-Wee, I strongly suggest you check that out now as well: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/why-the-first-employee-of-coinbase-launched-a-hedge-fund/id1123922160?i=1000382301347&mt=2 Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/Dg3qrzci54ppzevdqvztwap2yiu?t=Why_The_First_Employee_Of_Coinbase_Launched_A_Hedge_Fund-Unchained_Big_Ideas_From_The_Worlds_Of_Bloc I also get philosophical, fielding listener questions about whether blockchain is a Ponzi scheme, whether greed will undercut the democratic possibilities offered by blockchain and whether this isn't really a bubble but just a new form of exponential growth. I also cover security in this episode, and would like to point readers to this story that explains the phone hijacking situation: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2016/12/20/hackers-have-stolen-millions-of-dollars-in-bitcoin-using-only-phone-numbers/ Some tips on how to protect yourself: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2016/12/21/hackers-are-hijacking-phone-numbers-and-breaking-into-email-and-bank-accounts-how-to-protect-yourself/#720a302f4e1b Other episodes referenced in this podcast are the ones with Coin Center, Kathryn Haun, Michael Casey, Elizabeth Rossiello and Matt Roszak. Please give a listen to those as well if you haven't!

In this episode, coming one day after the release of my Forbes cover story online, I answer listener questions, starting with my background, the history of the podcast, whether or not I trade or invest in crypto, and what tokens I think have the strongest real-world application. If you haven't read the cover package, I highly recommend you do so now: Cover story: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/the-emperors-new-coins-how-initial-coin-offerings-fueled-a-100-billion-crypto-bubble/ Sidebars: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/return-of-the-day-traders/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/how-crypto-tokens-work-a-close-look-at-golem/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/not-so-tiny-bubbles-the-top-25-crypto-assets/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2017/07/10/cryptos-in-wonderland-12-of-the-weirdest-wackiest-coins/ And if you haven't listened to the episode with Olaf Carlson-Wee, I strongly suggest you check that out now as well: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/why-the-first-employee-of-coinbase-launched-a-hedge-fund/id1123922160?i=1000382301347&mt=2 Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/Dg3qrzci54ppzevdqvztwap2yiu?t=Why_The_First_Employee_Of_Coinbase_Launched_A_Hedge_Fund-Unchained_Big_Ideas_From_The_Worlds_Of_Bloc I also get philosophical, fielding listener questions about whether blockchain is a Ponzi scheme, whether greed will undercut the democratic possibilities offered by blockchain and whether this isn't really a bubble but just a new form of exponential growth. I also cover security in this episode, and would like to point readers to this story that explains the phone hijacking situation: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2016/12/20/hackers-have-stolen-millions-of-dollars-in-bitcoin-using-only-phone-numbers/ Some tips on how to protect yourself: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2016/12/21/hackers-are-hijacking-phone-numbers-and-breaking-into-email-and-bank-accounts-how-to-protect-yourself/#720a302f4e1b Other episodes referenced in this podcast are the ones with Coin Center, Kathryn Haun, Michael Casey, Elizabeth Rossiello and Matt Roszak. Please give a listen to those as well if you haven't!

Elizabeth Rossiello talks about how she went from being a credit ratings analyst for microfinance investors to heading up an "international mobile money" company for sub-Saharan Africa that uses Bitcoin's rails. Along the way she reveals how convoluted, expensive and unreliable the movement of money into and out of Africa can be -- many people sending money in envelopes via regional buses and even traditional banks having to send money from Africa to Asia via North America. With BitPesa's fast and inexpensive international solution, companies are opening up new markets and people sending remittances no longer have to pay exorbitant charges.

Elizabeth Rossiello talks about how she went from being a credit ratings analyst for microfinance investors to heading up an "international mobile money" company for sub-Saharan Africa that uses Bitcoin's rails. Along the way she reveals how convoluted, expensive and unreliable the movement of money into and out of Africa can be -- many people sending money in envelopes via regional buses and even traditional banks having to send money from Africa to Asia via North America. With BitPesa's fast and inexpensive international solution, companies are opening up new markets and people sending remittances no longer have to pay exorbitant charges.

BitPesa CEO Elizabeth Rossiello discusses Bitcoin in Africa.

On today’s show and thanks to one of our loyal listeners, I was able to finally meet up with Elizabeth Rossiello. Elizabeth is an American living and working in Kenya. She has worked as a microfinance analyst and investment associate since 2009. She is an expert in East African financial product development and she is the CEO and Co-Founder of BitPesa. BitPesa is the next logical step after mpesa and if you have no idea what I’m talking about, then stay tuned because this is a great interview. CREDITS: Links for the charities: Tunapanda Institute Contact: Jay Larson Jay@tunapanda.org R.O.C.K Contact Jason Lee JLee1782@gmail.com Heshima Kenya Contact Tracey Hagman tracey@heshima.org To get in touch with BitPesa: info@bitpesa.co Ode To Satoshi Ode to Satoshi lyrics & melody by John Barrett Copyright 2014 RJM Publishing - BMI Nashville. Lead Vocal, Harmony Vocals, Harmonica, Snare Drum: John Barrett Harmony vocals: John Barrett, Connie Sinclair and Lij Shaw Guitar: Jonathan Brown Mandolin: Ben Miller Bass Guitar: Michael Rinne Initial tracks recorded by Mark Thornton of Sidekick Sound Studios, Madison, TN. All other tracks Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at The Toy Box Studio, Nashville, Tennessee Engineer: Lij Shaw. Assistant to engineer: Don “The Don” Bates Produced by John Barrett & Elijah “Lij” Shaw Special thanks to Alex Munoz Guijarro for his excellent pedal steel playing on many of our shows. Interviews for this episode were edited and produced by John Barrett at The Tree House Studio - East Nashville, Tennessee. Theme song “Gravy” by the band, Eleanor Roosevelt with Lij on fiddle. Special thanks to Alex Munõz Guijarro for his excellent pedal steel playing on many of our shows. Interviews for this episode were recorded and edited by John Barrett at The Tree House Studio - East Nashville, Tennessee. All shows are produced by John Barrett with the moral support of his trusty sidekick Maxwell Rascalnikov CoyoTe Rex, aka Max. Theme song “Gravy” by the band, Eleanor Roosevelt with Elijah “Lij” Shaw on fiddle. And a big thank you for moral support from my good friends at The Tennessee Bitcoin Alliance: TennesseeBitcoin.org Questions or Comments? Bitcoins and Gravy Hotline: (615) 208-5198 Listeners . . . listen up! Call this number and say something funny, sing a song, read a poem or just rant! Or if you’d rather you can ask me a question, leave a comment, make a suggestion or record a complaint! If I like what you say I’ll put it on the next show! Email me to say Howdy!: howdy@bitcoinsandgravy.com Visit theWebsite: BitcoinsAndGravy.com Bitcoins and Gravy Tipping Addresses: Bitcoin: 1ByqQXLTm9JZGSwnfqCCakaifBt3grQkXS Litecoin: LgqYgxLTBPgr8C1JGLLJVLK4ZN1fveprAp And if you don’t feel like contacting me, just kick back, relax and enjoy the show. I hope you enjoy listening to my guests as much as I enjoy talking with them!