Understandably, many people have different opinions about these events, but everyone in the tech space will agree that the annual Moonshot Conference hosted by TechCabal, is one of a kind.

At this year’s Moonshot event, Cardtonic leaders took the stage in a grand style. The spotlight was on a transformative panel session by the Growth lead, Tomisin Oduyemi, discussing “Scaling, Compliance, and the Cost of Growth for Fintech in Africa.” In addition, Cardtonic CEO Emmanuel Sohe delivered an inspiring speech on “Building Resilient Fintech Products for Africa’s Dynamic Economy.”

Both sessions left a lasting impression on attendees. If you missed the discussions, here’s a quick look at key insights shared by the Cardtonic’s leaders.

Why Scaling and Compliance Matter in African Fintech Today

Scaling as an Africa Fintech isn’t just about handling more users or transactions. It’s about expanding sustainably, while compliance ensures that this growth happens within safe, transparent, and legal boundaries. Together, they form the backbone of any fintech that hopes to grow in Africa’s digital economy.

Tomisin Oduyemi, Cardtonic’s growth lead, opened the panel session with a story that brought this to life.

She explained how, back in 2021, Cardtonic’s transaction volumes suddenly spiked. What happened was Nigerian cards had just been restricted for international payments, and both individuals and businesses were desperately looking for new ways to make cross-border purchases. That period brought a flood of users to Cardtonic, but it also came with a surge in fraud attempts.

“Imagine people creating fake profiles and trying to move money around at 2 a.m.,” Tomisin shared. “Unfortunately for them, it didn’t work.”

What protected the company was a safety feature that only allowed users to fund and withdraw from their own accounts. It was a small rule that made a big difference. 

Cardtonic’s Perspective on Responsible and Sustainable Scaling

Tomisin’s story opened the floor for a deeper discussion on what responsible growth truly means for fintechs operating in Africa.

Drawing from Cardtonic’s experience, Tomisin shared practical insights on how fintechs can expand sustainably while earning and maintaining trust across borders. Below are some of her views.

Understanding the Uniqueness of Each Market

According to Tomisin, one of the biggest mistakes fintechs make when expanding is assuming that compliance looks the same everywhere. “Compliance has never been a one-size-fits-all kind of shoe,” she noted.

She explained that each market has its own trust psychology, and ignoring that can damage credibility before a product even launches. For instance, rolling out a tax-related app in Nigeria without approval from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) would instantly raise doubts about its legitimacy.

To avoid this, she advised that fintechs take time to identify key regulators, licenses, and documentation that might shape user perception and market access. “Before building that shiny new product,” she said, “try to understand what each market requires, both legally and emotionally.”

Building Practical Collaboration Across Borders

On the subject of uneven regulatory frameworks across Africa, Tomisin took a realistic stance. While regional harmonisation sounds ideal, she pointed out that every regulator is solving different local problems, so a single rulebook for the continent is not likely in the near future.

Instead, she emphasised the value of smaller, practical collaborations, regulators sharing learnings, aligning on core principles like KYC and data protection, and keeping communication channels open.

She also stressed that fintechs must lead by example. “If you build disciplined systems at home and engage regulators transparently, you’re more likely to be trusted when you expand elsewhere,” she explained. In her words, cross-border credibility begins with local responsibility.

How Compliance Shapes Cardtonic’s Growth Strategy

When asked how regulatory frameworks affect Cardtonic’s growth strategy, Tomisin explained that compliance is not a barrier but a guide. It defines how the company builds and communicates its products.

For instance, Cardtonic ensures that every product guide and video clearly explains KYC levels and what each tier allows users to do. “It makes us more deliberate about educating users,” she said.

Marketing is also handled with care. Every major campaign goes through ARCON approval before publication, ensuring transparency and accuracy.

“It keeps us diligent to timelines and helps us avoid overpromising,” she added.

While some fintechs slow expansion due to high compliance costs, Cardtonic has never had to deprioritise a market. The company believes in growing deeply before expanding wide, and that focus continues to pay off.

Cardtonic’s Journey and How It Has Shaped the Future of Digital Transactions in Africa 

And just when you thought you couldn’t get any more solid stuff from Cardtonic Leaders, Emmanuel Sohe, the CEO, decided to deliver a beautiful speech to inspire the next generation of fintech growth in Africa.

But, instead of giving a boring speech on “Building Resilient Fintech Products for Africa’s Dynamic Economy,” he chose to tell Cardtonic’s story of grit and adaptability.

He recalled how the 2021 CBN ban on crypto transactions forced the team to rethink everything. And within days, they had to rebuild the app, remove crypto features, and reshape Cardtonic into what it is today. That tough moment became the foundation for new solutions that now let users trade gift cards, pay local and international bills, and make global purchases with Cardtonic’s Virtual Dollar Card.

Emmanuel ended by reminding innovators that resilience means turning challenges into opportunities. “We didn’t give up on dreams,” he said, “we focused on value, discipline, and growth that lasts.”

Wrapping Up

This year’s Moonshot event was a spectacular one, and Cardtonic’s presence truly contributed to its success. From insightful panel discussions to powerful storytelling, the brand reaffirmed its position as one of Africa’s most forward-thinking fintechs.

As a Platinum Sponsor of the event, Cardtonic’s participation made an even greater impact, inspiring conversations around innovation, resilience, and the future of fintech in Africa.

Scheduled to take place from October 15 –16, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, the future-shaping conference will convene over 4,000 participants and more than 120 speakers from over 15 countries, all focused on accelerating the trajectory of Africa’s tech-driven future.

This year’s theme, “Building Momentum: Africa’s Tech Ecosystem Positions Itself for Its Next Big Leap,” captures a critical moment for the continent’s tech landscape. Following years of resilience through economic downturns and funding contractions, the ecosystem is maturing rapidly and sensibly redirecting focus toward sustainable, scalable growth.

Moonshot 2025 will serve as a platform to consolidate these hard-won gains and align stakeholders around the next era of opportunity, across key tech verticals.

Headline sponsored by Sabi, a global trade and supply chain enabler, the agenda-setting conference has evolved into a continental platform for catalysing connections, unlocking capital, and amplifying bold ideas.

Now in its third year, Moonshot serves as a dynamic hub, and a living museum, of Africa’s innovation journey, actively bridging past achievements with future ambitions.

Speaking about the event, Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media, said:

“The last few years truly tested the resilience of Africa’s tech ecosystem, but they also undeniably sharpened it. The ups and downs in funding have given way to something far more intentional, with founders now building smarter and with clearer purpose. Despite the challenges, African founders have persevered and thrived. Crucially, regulations have also matured, providing much-needed direction. What we’re witnessing now is genuine momentum, firmly grounded in strong fundamentals, propelled by clarity, and intensely focused on scale. Moonshot 2025 offers a vital space to reflect on our journey and to channel this momentum into meaningful progress for founders, investors, and the entire ecosystem”

This year’s edition will welcome a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Andrew Alli, non-executive director, British International Investment (BII), Maxime Bayen, Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund, and Lexi Novitske, General Partner, Norrsken22, among others.

The event will also showcase its nine signature content tracks, now enhanced with refreshed programming designed to foster deeper, more impactful conversations. This include:

• FUEL: The Investor Conference: This track is significantly upgraded to improve deal-making and investment opportunities, with a stronger focus on attracting Limited Partners (LPs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and first-time investors in Africa. It will feature structured deal rooms, curated pitch sessions, an investor’s guide to Africa, and dedicated spaces for peer exchange across the investor landscape.
• Startup Festival: Tailored for both early- and growth-stage founders, this festival will offer intensive workshops, operator-led sessions, and live startup showcases, including the TC Battlefield – it’s flagship pitch competition.
• Emerging Tech (AI): A dedicated space to explore the practical applications of artificial intelligence across various sectors on the continent, featuring product demos and insights from leading builders and researchers.
• Government & Policy Conference: This vital track will convene policymakers from across Africa to engage in discussions on crucial digital policy reforms and work towards tangible commitments to support innovation and scale across the continent.

Additional tracks, including Creative Economy, Climate Tech, Future of Commerce, Big Tech & Enterprise, and Entering Tech, will feature compelling conversations on critical topics such as financing infrastructure, workforce development, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.

Also speaking about the event, Anu Adedoyin, CEO and co-founder of Sabi said:

“This marks our third year as a proud partner of Moonshot, and the evolution of this conference mirrors the incredible growth and ambition of African tech. We believe in building robust foundations for digital commerce, and Moonshot is crucial for fostering the connections and clarity needed for founders to build smart, scalable solutions. We’re excited to see the tangible momentum this year’s event will generate for Africa’s next big leap.”

Proudly supported by platinum sponsors Flutterwave, Luno, Fincra, Raenest, Cardtonic, Roqqu, Opay, and Busha, the conference will build on the outcomes of previous editions, including a $120,000 ecosystem pledge at last year’s Tech Ecosystem Alliance roundtable.

Delegates are encouraged to register via moonshot.techcabal.com  with Early bird tickets available through July 31.

The event is open to founders, operators, investors, creatives, policymakers, students, and professionals shaping Africa’s innovation economy.

Filani, who took on the role of Showmax’s first General Manager for its Nigerian operations in August 2022, not only offers strategic guidance but also implements plans to ensure the fulfilment of the company’s business development goals.

With him at the helm, Showmax Nigeria has added to its slate of Nigerian Originals, which now include its first limited drama series, Diiche; the second Nigerian adaptation of the NBCUniversal hit franchise The Real Housewives, The Real Housewives of Abuja as well as Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Lagos; its first animated series, Jay Jay: The Chosen One; and its first Nigerian telenovela, Wura.

Within a year of his leadership, the streaming service also launched its first-ever Nigerian masterbrand campaign with the tagline No One Tells A Story Like We Do, which celebrates Nigerians’ vibrant, larger-than-life knack for storytelling, and Showmax’s efforts in bringing Nigerian stories to the screen.

Filani holds an Executive MBA from the Warwick Business School, UK, and an MSc in International Marketing Management from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, with certifications from Harvard Business School in Sales and Distribution.

During this fireside chat, Filani will provide valuable insights into Showmax, one of Africa’s leading streaming services. He will delve into the platform’s significant milestones, the lessons learned, and its future aspirations, both in Nigeria and across the continent.

The conference will feature more than 50 speakers who are working to solve Africa’s biggest challenges, including Bosun Tijani, Nigerian Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; Anuoluwapo Adedoyin Adasolum, the CEO of Sabi; Olugbenga Agboola, the founder and CEO of Flutterwave; and Juliet Ehimuan, the founder of Beyond Limits and the former director of Google West Africa.

TechCabal describes Moonshot as its all-new flagship conference that aims to bring together Nigeria’s most audacious players, including founders, business leaders, startups, enterprise companies and all those who are building Africa’s dynamic tech scene, giving them the opportunity to network, collaborate, share ideas and insights, and celebrate innovation on the continent.