Ifeoma Uddoh: Founder & CEO Shecluded - Innovating Finance: The Journey of Africa's First Female-Centric Fintech

African Business Stories

What if the key to financial empowerment for women in Nigeria lies in one woman's journey from a police barracks to the boardroom? Join us as we welcome Ifoma Uddoh, the founder and CEO of SheCluded, a pioneering fintech credit company transforming the financial landscape for Nigerian women. Ifoma shares her poignant personal story of resilience, shaped by the early loss of her father and her mother's strength, to the highs and lows of her career—from PwC to launching SheCluded. Her narrative is a testament to grit and innovation, offering invaluable lessons on overcoming adversity and the power of determination.
Discover how a chance conversation pivoted Ifoma from a pharmacy hopeful to a tech trailblazer, despite not owning a personal computer during her studies. Her internships at Echo Bank and Diamond Bank fine-tuned her resilience and work ethic, while her role at PwC opened doors to a wider world of tech investing and exposed the glaring gender disparities in funding. Ifoma's eye-opening experiences in tech investing revealed how women juggle multiple roles and face unique challenges in entrepreneurship, igniting her passion to create a financial platform catered specifically to women.
In our conversation, Ifoma delves into the genesis and growth strategy of SheCluded, spurred by the personal challenges she faced during her third pregnancy. She lays out her vision for scaling the company and forming strategic partnerships across Africa to enhance women’s banking services. The discussion also tackles the subconscious biases in lending and the innovative use of alternative data to support female entrepreneurs. Ifoma’s insights on mindset shifts, business coaching, and networking provide a blueprint for aspiring women entrepreneurs. Tune in for an inspiring episode that underscores the transformative power of perseverance and vision.

Ifeoma studied Industrial mathematics at the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri in Nigeria and has a Masters in Management Science and Operational research from Lancaster University in the UK. She was named Top 5 female Entrepreneurs by UK Tech Hub in 2020. The recipient of the Google Black Founders Fund in 2021 and winner of the 2022 Select USA Tech Pitch competition, she was recently named a 2024 Echoing Green Fellow.
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Chapter

1. Ifeoma Uddoh: Founder & CEO Shecluded - Innovating Finance: The Journey of Africa's First Female-Centric Fintech (00:00:00)

2. African Business Stories (00:00:01)

3. Career Transition Into Tech Startups (00:07:43)

4. Empowering Women in Tech Investing (00:21:58)

5. Women-Focused Financial Services Startup Expansion (00:27:04)

6. Strategic Growth and Business Impact (00:36:24)

7. Building Your Network for Success (00:43:25)