People & Money

Meet Jessica Anuna: 29 Year Old Powering Cross-Border Payments Globally

Published by
Ameenah Hassan

From an idea while schooling in China, to one of Africa’s most used cross-border payment solutions, Jessica Anuna has positioned Klasha as a trailblazer in bridging the gap between Africans and global business.

The 29-year-old has redefined how both personal use and African markets can connect to the world, making it easier for international retailers to tap into the continent’s growing economy.

Early Life and Education

Anuna’s journey towards entrepreneurship was one of determination. Originally from Nigeria, she grew up in London and has a journalism degree from City University, London.

Additionally, she studied Chinese language at Imperial College London and King’s College London and furthered her language studies at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.

Career Journey

Before the birth of Klasha, Anuna used her skills in world-renowned companies. While studying in China, she was attracted to its economy and got interested in business.

She started with Net-a-porter, a luxury fashion retailer, where she gained insight into global e-commerce. She later moved to Amazon, where she learned more about logistics and operations.

Her time in these roles helped her realize a gap in global commerce: an underrepresentation of African markets.

Determined to close this, she created a platform to connect Africans and their businesses to the world.

The Birth of Klasha

In 2021, Jessica Anuna founded Klasha, a cross-border payment platform that simplifies the process of international businesses selling to Africa and vice versa.

Recognizing the barriers posed by currency differences and limited payment options, Klasha came in to save the day by facilitating transactions across borders.

The application currently collects and sends over 120 currencies with over 140,000,000 transactions worldwide.

The company’s mission is clear: to enable commerce in Africa by solving payment and logistics challenges.

Businesses can reach millions of customers throughout the continent and accept payments in local African currencies with Klasha’s solutions.

African consumers now have access to a greater variety of goods and services, and international retailers can now reach unexplored markets.

Key Accomplishments

Klasha has made impressive progress in a short period under Jessica’s direction.

She gathered funding from international investors for the business, starting with $2.4 million from Techstars.

The business also recently got additional funding of about $2 million to continue providing cross-border payment services for merchants.

Jessica has also been recognized as one of the leading innovators in Africa’s tech ecosystem.

Jessica Anuna

She has received recognition and respect for her ability to successfully negotiate challenging markets and her in-depth knowledge of consumer bbehavior

In addition to offering keynote addresses at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa and the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva and Nairobi, she has been highlighted in Forbes, WWD, and BBC London News.

In 2019, Jessica was named a New Wealth Creator in Africa and Forbes Africa named her 30 Under 30. She was also included in Management Today’s list of “35 under 35 Ones to Watch.”

The company also stands out for its commitment to gender diversity, with over 60% of its employees being women.

Klasha actively hires women across various roles, fostering an inclusive environment that champions female representation in the tech industry.

In addition to empowering women, this strategy improves the business’s capacity to successfully meet the needs of the market.

Ameenah Hassan

Ameenah Hassan is a content writer with experience in public relations. She has contributed to Arbiterz since 2021, writing research-based news and features on business. She is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at the University of Lagos.

Recent Posts

The Lunch Hour: Kola Karim – Leadership, Innovation, and the Future Of Oil and Gas in Nigeria

"We saw an opportunity to deepen our participation in oil and gas, and we took… Read More

3 hours ago

Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts and Allegations Against USAID in Nigeria

A recent report has resurfaced claims that U.S. foreign aid may have been misused in… Read More

5 hours ago

94-year-old Adedapo Idowu registers for 2025 UTME to fulfil lifelong dream

A 94-year-old Adedapo Idowu has registered for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), showcasing… Read More

10 hours ago

Chika Ike Denies Senator Ned Nwoko as Father of Her Unborn Child

Nollywood actress Chika Ike has publicly addressed and dismissed rumors circulating on social media regarding… Read More

10 hours ago

NLC Protests Mass Layoffs at IBEDC, Demands Worker Reinstatement

On Tuesday, the Oyo State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) staged a significant… Read More

10 hours ago

Why Is PMS Consumption Rising in Nigeria Despite Subsidy Removal and Rising Inflation Rates?

Data from NMDPRA shows that the 2024 daily average consumption of PMS continued to rise,… Read More

11 hours ago