05 Aug Paymentology: Celebrating Women, Championing Inclusion

As Women’s Month unfolds and Digital Divas Summit 2025 approaches, we spotlight the organisations stepping up to back real inclusion, visibility, and transformation. Among them is Paymentology, a global leader in advanced payments technology, and sponsor of the official Digital Divas Cocktail Reception, a curated space for meaningful connection among female founders, funders, and future leaders.

We caught up with Drisha Kirkman, Head of Programme Management and Sustainability at Paymentology, to find out what’s driving their commitment to women in tech and fintech.

Why did Paymentology choose to support Digital Divas 2025, and specifically the Cocktail Reception?

We chose to support Digital Divas 2025 because it creates a rare and much-needed space for women to be celebrated for their achievements, individuality, resilience and vision. The event honours the entire spectrum of women in business, and that spirit of authenticity and reinvention resonates strongly with us at Paymentology. We strive to drive innovation that reflects real-world needs and diverse voices. The intimate cocktail reception offers the ideal setting for meaningful conversations, powerful connections and moments of shared inspiration.

Your brand is rooted in driving inclusive financial innovation. How does this sponsorship align with that mission?

At Paymentology, inclusion isn’t just principle, it’s a practice. We believe financial innovation can only be truly transformative when it includes everyone, particularly those historically excluded or underrepresented. Globally, The World Bank estimates that approximately 740 million (19%) women are still unbanked and in sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage of women with a formal bank account lags behind men (37% vs 48%). The gap highlights lost opportunity, and supporting Digital Divas is one way we’re actively committing beyond rhetoric, reflecting our commitment to ensuring inclusive innovation starts with inclusive representation.

What message would you like to send to women in fintech and tech more broadly through your presence at Digital Divas?

You belong here! Not just in the room, but at the helm. Whether you’re a coder, founder, strategist or dreamer, your presence in fintech and tech is powerful and necessary. The industry needs your perspective, your leadership and your ability to reimagine what’s possible. We believe that innovation thrives when different experiences shape the outcome. So, our message is simple: keep showing up, keep breaking through and know that there are companies like ours ready to champion your journey.

Paymentology operates in more than 50 countries. What are you seeing globally in terms of women’s leadership and innovation in financial services?

Across our global footprint, we’re seeing more women redefine what leadership looks like in financial services. From fintech pioneers in Latin America to digital banking reformers in Africa and breakthrough technologists in Southeast Asia. These women are building inclusive products, reshaping compliance frameworks and pioneering fintech ecosystems that work better for everyone. But there’s still a long way to go.

In Africa just 17% of tech startups have at least one female co-founder, and only 11% have a female CEO. Among the 100 most-funded African startups since 2019, only three have a female CEO. And globally, women make up just 11% of fintech board members. It’s a stark reminder that visibility doesn’t always equal equity. Yet change is happening from within the ecosystem itself. One of the most promising trends, that we have seen some movement in, is the rise of female-led VC firms and founder communities committed to enabling other women. For example, First Circle Capital is a female-led VC fund targeting early-stage fintech startups across Africa. It recently secured a US $6 million commitment from IFC and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative to back women entrepreneurs continent-wide.

What role do you think corporate sponsorships and partnerships can play in supporting the growth of female founders and decision-makers?

Corporate sponsorships and partnerships can act as powerful catalysts. They provide visibility, open doors to networks, and offer crucial resources that often determine the success of early-stage ideas. But beyond that, they signal belief. Today, only about 2% of venture funding in Africa goes to startups with female founders, and just around 1% goes to teams with only female founders. This dramatic funding gap is a reflection of systemic barriers. When companies like us sponsor platforms, such as Digital Divas, that uplift female founders and decision-makers, we’re affirming that their contributions are not only valuable but essential.

What excites you most about the future of women in digital-first industries, and what would you like to see more of?

What excites us most is that the next generation of digital-first industries is becoming more shaped by women who are rewriting the rules, from decentralising finance to building human-centric AI. We’re seeing women create tools and platforms that revolutionise how people interact with money, identity and opportunity.

For example, Nigerian fintech founder Odunayo Eweniyi, co-founder of PiggyVest, is helping over 4 million users save and invest digitally, many of whom are women and first-time savers. In Kenya, Cynthia Wandia, CEO of Kwara, is transforming access to affordable financial services through digital platforms for credit unions. More sustained investment in women-led ventures, more inclusive hiring at senior tech levels and greater representation in boardrooms and product design decisions is what we want to continue seeing more of.

If there’s one takeaway you’d like attendees to associate with Paymentology after the event, what would it be?

One key takeaway is that Paymentology is the most digitally advanced and global player, aiming to support digital banks and fintech in making payments faster, fairer, and more inclusive. We operate in over 50 countries, but our mission is the same everywhere: to ensure the most advanced financial technologies serve the broadest possible base. That means building for the underrepresented. Supporting Digital Divas reflects that commitment. We’re investing in the people, communities and ideas that will shape the future of finance. Our presence at events like this is purposeful: to listen, to learn, and to help ensure that innovation reaches those it too often overlooks.

💫 Thank you to the team at Paymentology for backing bold, inclusive innovation and investing in the future of women in fintech.

📍 Don’t miss the Digital Divas Cocktail Reception powered by Paymentology

📅 29 August 2025 | Innovation City Cape Town 🎟 Get team tickets at a discount here