When I come across companies in Nigeria or Africa in general that are making a difference, I am always inspired to work harder in my software development growth because I can see the success stories of people I can easily relate to. If you've heard of Buycoins or Sendcash, you'll recognize the company I'm referring to; if not, this article will introduce you to Helicarrier.
As a web3 enthusiast, I look for companies that make crypto and payment more accessible to individuals.
Helicarrier (Y Combinator S18), previously known as Buycoins, is building cryptocurrency infrastructure for Africa. The company's mission is to financially connect the African, anywhere they are in the world. They are achieving this through building a suite of cryptocurrency products.
Why does Helicarrier inspire me?
- The products offered
Helicarrier has different products. In less than five years, the company went from being a website for P2P (peer-to-peer) Bitcoin trading to building:
Buycoins — The easiest way to buy, sell and store cryptocurrencies in Africa.
Buycoins Pro — Orderbook for advanced digital asset trading.
Sendcash — Crypto powered remittance.
Sendcash Pay — A suite of developer tools that let you add borderless payment experiences to your digital products.
NGNT — A collateral-backed digital currency that bridges the Naira with the advantages of decentralized blockchain technology.
For a company to operate and thrive in an African economy, particularly in Nigeria, where it is always difficult for startups, I believe Helicarrier broke down barriers. They are addressing one of Africa's most pressing issues, digital payment, by providing a platform for seamless, borderless payments for individuals as well as ways to trade cryptocurrencies.
- The leadership
Helicarrier was built and is operated by young adults, people my age who I can easily relate to and look up to. The story of the CEO, Timi Ajiboye, dropping out of university to pursue his passion in software development and solve African problems is one that truly inspires me.
- Company’s vision
Helicarrier believes that digital currencies and the technology that underpins them will aid in the transition to a global open financial system.
"People need to be able to gain utility without having to interface with any of the associated technical complexities for crypto mass adoption to occur", so they are providing a platform that enables easy operation. The company considers it their responsibility to create not only seamless end-user experiences, but also the infrastructure that allows others to do the same.
These are the reasons why Helicarrier inspires me, and why, like the company and its leadership, I want to use my software development skills to solve pressing African problems with technology.
As a web3 enthusiast, what do you think about the solutions offered by web3 companies?
Please leave a comment. Don't forget to like and share.
Thank you 😊