Disrupting Global Payments
One Fingerprint at a Time
The Cardless Payment Network for Africa & Beyond
The $2 Trillion Problem
Traditional card networks are broken, expensive, and exclude billions
💸 High Costs
Merchants pay 1.5-3% per transaction. These costs get passed to consumers. Annual processing costs exceed $50B globally.
🔓 Massive Fraud
$35B lost annually to card fraud. Card numbers stolen in data breaches are sold on dark web. PIN theft is rampant.
🌍 Financial Exclusion
Billions remain unbanked due to card network barriers. Rural areas lack infrastructure. High costs exclude small merchants.
🐌 Slow Settlement
T+2 days for merchants to receive funds. Cross-border payments take even longer. Poor cash flow for small businesses.
Our Solution: El-Fort Payment Network
A cardless, biometric payment network that works everywhere—even offline
What is EFN?
A global payment network specification that enables banks to issue Universal Account Numbers (UANs) secured by biometrics. Replace plastic cards with fingerprints and faces. Support 100+ currencies natively. Work offline via Bluetooth mesh technology. Settle instantly, not in 2 days.
- For Banks: Issue cardless accounts, reduce fraud 90%, cut costs 50%
- For Merchants: Accept payments from any bank, pay 0.1-0.3% fees (not 1.5-3%)
- For Consumers: No cards to carry, works everywhere, shop in 100+ currencies
- For Economies: Financial inclusion, lower fraud, faster GDP growth
How It Works
Simple for users, powerful for infrastructure
Why EFN Wins
Six unfair advantages over Visa, Mastercard, and fintech alternatives
(0.1-0.3% vs 1.5-3%)
(Biometric security)
(Native support)
(BLE mesh tech)
(Real-time)
(Banking + Commerce)
🎯 The Killer Combo
AI-Powered Autonomous Transaction Machines + Integrated Multi-Vendor Marketplace + 100+ Currency Support = The only payment network that combines full banking, commerce, and global currency exchange in one physical/digital infrastructure.
Market Opportunity
Targeting 50% of the $2 trillion global card market by 2027
Annual Global Card Transaction Volume
Addressable Markets
- Africa: 1.4B people, 60% unbanked
- Southeast Asia: 680M people, limited card infrastructure
- Latin America: 650M people, high remittance demand
- Global SMBs: Tired of high card fees
- Cross-border commerce: $20T annually
Value Creation
- Save merchants $120B/year in fees
- Prevent $25B/year in card fraud
- Bank 500M+ unbanked people
- Enable $100B+ cross-border SMB trade
- Create infrastructure for future CBDCs
Business Model
Multiple high-margin revenue streams with network effects
💳 Transaction Fees
0.1-0.3% on all UAN transactions. Volume scales with network adoption. Projected $600M+ annual by 2027.
🛒 Marketplace Commissions
Vendor fees on multi-currency sales. Take rate 2-5% on GMV. Projected $200M+ annual by 2027.
💱 FX Conversion Spreads
0.5-1% spread on currency exchanges. 100+ currency pairs. Projected $150M+ annual by 2027.
🏧 ATM Licensing
Hardware sales + software licensing. Recurring SaaS fees. Projected $100M+ annual by 2027.
🏦 Settlement Fees
$0.01-0.05 per transaction for clearing. Bank-to-bank charges. Projected $80M+ annual by 2027.
✓ WatrScan Verification
Product authenticity fees in malls. Anti-counterfeit premium. Projected $70M+ annual by 2027.
Projected Annual Revenue (2027)
Go-To-Market Strategy
Dual-channel approach: B2B2C through banks + D2C through Smart wallet
📊 B2B2C Channel (Banks)
- Target: Commercial banks, microfinance institutions, digital banks
- Value Prop: Reduce costs 50%, eliminate card fraud, attract unbanked customers
- Sales Cycle: 4-8 weeks integration, pilot program, full rollout
- Pricing: Revenue share model (bank keeps majority of fees)
🎯 Initial Markets
Nigeria (live), Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Egypt → Southeast Asia → Latin America → Europe/US
📱 D2C Channel (Smart Wallet)
- Target: Unbanked consumers, digital natives, cross-border shoppers
- Value Prop: 5-min account opening, 100+ currencies, works offline, no bank needed
- Acquisition: App Store optimization, social media, ATM signage, referrals
- Monetization: Transaction fees, FX spreads, premium features
🚀 Merchant Acquisition
Lower fees (0.1-0.3% vs 1.5-3%) drive rapid merchant adoption. Partner with payment processors and ISVs for distribution.
Traction & Proof Points
Not vaporware—working technology with real partnerships
with Stanbic IBTC
Deployed & Working
on Google Play
Marketplace Live
🏗️ Technology Readiness
- Backend: Django + Rust (1000+ TPS) + Go settlement gateway deployed
- Database: PostgreSQL + CockroachDB for global replication
- Biometrics: SourceAFIS + AWS Rekognition integrated
- Security: HSM encryption, PCI DSS compliance in progress
- Infrastructure: AWS + Kubernetes + Cloudflare CDN operational
📊 Early Metrics
Current Status: Limited pilot with Stanbic IBTC | Next 90 Days: 3-5 additional bank partnerships | 6 Months: 50K+ active UANs | 12 Months: $10M+ monthly transaction volume
The Team
Visionary founders with deep fintech, banking & technology expertise
Visionary entrepreneur from Calabar with extensive full-stack engineering experience. Built El-Fort from concept to live production platform with Stanbic IBTC.
37 years in banking, fintech, e-commerce. B.Sc Banking & Finance (UNILAG '88), MBA. Led transformational initiatives across Africa, UK, Canada, US.
20+ years in banking and private enterprise. Creator of SORT Strategy and Compatibility Thinking Method for business optimization.
Investment Opportunities
Two tracks available—choose your strategic fit
🏪 E-Commerce Malls Track
Deploy authentic retail malls with WatrScan verification technology. Eliminate counterfeits, drive explosive footfall with cardless payments, capture high-margin commissions.
- Year 3 target: ₦1.5B+ revenue
- 25% profit sharing for investors
- Physical retail + digital marketplace
- Rapid regional expansion planned
🌐 Global Fintech Scale Track
Scale AI-powered ATMs, biometric POS networks, compliance infrastructure across Nigeria and USA. Lead the global cardless revolution.
- Year 3 target: $30M+ revenue
- 10% equity for investors
- Nigeria + USA expansion
- Path to 100+ bank partnerships
12-Month Milestones
Clear execution plan with measurable outcomes
Metrics: $2M monthly transaction volume, 99.5% uptime, <5s latency
Metrics: $10M monthly volume, 1000+ merchants accepting UANs
Metrics: $50M monthly volume, break-even on operations
Metrics: $100M monthly volume, Series A fundraise or strategic exit conversations
Why Now?
Perfect storm of market conditions favoring cardless payments
📈 Market Tailwinds
- Post-COVID digital acceleration
- Africa fintech boom ($3B+ VC 2024)
- CBDCs creating infrastructure demand
- Biometric adoption at all-time high
- Card fraud at record levels
🎯 Competitive Timing
- Visa/Mastercard focused on existing infrastructure
- Fintechs lack bank partnerships
- No incumbent doing offline + 100 currencies
- Window to establish standard closing
🏛️ Regulatory Support
- Central banks pushing financial inclusion
- Governments want lower remittance costs
- AML/KYC frameworks favor biometrics
- Open banking regulations help integration
- PSD2/PSD3 in Europe enable new rails
💡 Technology Ready
- Smartphone penetration >60% in target markets
- BLE in every modern device
- Cloud costs at all-time low
- AI for fraud detection now accessible
Exit Opportunities
Multiple paths to liquidity for investors
🎯 Strategic Acquisition (Most Likely)
Payment processors (Fiserv, FIS), card networks (Visa, Mastercard seeking cardless tech), large banks (expanding digital offerings), or tech giants (Apple, Google, Microsoft entering payments).
Recent Comps: Plaid $5.3B (Visa, blocked), Tink $2.1B (Visa, approved), Afterpay $29B (Square), Currencycloud $700M (Visa)
📊 IPO (Long-term)
If we hit 100+ bank partners and $1B+ annual revenue, public markets become viable. African tech IPOs gaining momentum (Jumia, Flutterwave planning).
🔄 Secondary Sales
Series B/C rounds offer partial liquidity. Late-stage investors often buy out early investors at premium valuations.
Typical Exit Timeline for Strategic Acquisition
Join Us in Disrupting
Global Payments
Two investment opportunities available now
Direct Bank Transfer Options
🇳🇬 Nigerian Naira (₦) Account – Malls Investment
Account Name: EL-FORT GLOBAL SERVICES LTD
Account Number: 0126304914
Bank: Wema Bank Plc
🇺🇸 US Dollar ($) Account – Fintech Investment
Account Name: EL-FORT GLOBAL SERVICES LTD
Account Number: 0057979598
Bank: Stanbic IBTC Bank
All investments are processed securely. Contact us for wiring instructions or agreements.
Email: ebarim@el-fort.com
Phone: +234 806 680 9552
Web: www.el-fort.com
Financial Projections
Conservative base case with significant upside
| Metric | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Partners | 50 | 100+ | 250+ | 500+ |
| Active UANs | 500K | 5M | 25M | 100M+ |
| Monthly Transactions | 10M | 100M | 500M | 2.5B+ |
| Monthly Volume | $100M | $1B | $10B | $50B+ |
| Annual Revenue | $15M | $150M | $800M | $3B+ |
| Operating Margin | -50% | 20% | 40% | 50%+ |
| EBITDA | -$7.5M | $30M | $320M | $1.5B+ |
Assumptions: 0.2% average take rate on transactions | 2% marketplace commission | 0.5% FX spread | 30% transaction growth QoQ in Year 1-2 | 20% QoQ in Year 3+ | Operating leverage kicks in at scale with fixed cost base
Risk Mitigation
We've thought through the challenges
❓ Chicken-and-Egg Problem
Risk: Need banks AND merchants simultaneously.
Mitigation: Start with bank partnerships (they bring customers). Smart wallet provides D2C fallback. Merchants join for lower fees.
🏛️ Regulatory Complexity
Risk: Each country has different rules.
Mitigation: Banks handle compliance. We provide tools. Start in friendly jurisdictions (Nigeria, Kenya). Hire local regulatory experts.
🎯 Execution Risk
Risk: Global scale is hard.
Mitigation: Proven technology already live. Phased rollout by region. Experienced team (37 years banking exp). Strong dev talent in Lagos/Calabar.
💳 Competition Response
Risk: Visa/Mastercard fight back.
Mitigation: They're focused on existing infrastructure. Can't match our fees (legacy costs). We're bank enabler, not disruptor. First-mover advantage in offline + 100 currencies.
🔒 Security Breaches
Risk: Biometric data compromised.
Mitigation: Biometrics never leave device (only hash stored). HSM-protected keys. Regular penetration testing. Insurance for breaches. Better than card numbers!
💰 Capital Requirements
Risk: Need more capital than raised.
Mitigation: Prefunding model reduces capital needs. Banks provide liquidity. Asset-light infrastructure (cloud). Multiple exit opportunities for follow-on rounds.