Leaf Global Fintech is a company that helps refugees and migrants safely store and transport cash across borders while fleeing conflict. Leaf can offer the secure storage and transport of assets across borders through new blockchain technology without the need for a smartphone or internet connection. With Leaf, refugees have increased access to funds and become less dependent on host countries and foreign aid.
Our company hired two Kepler students as interns this past summer to help evaluate the opportunities of providing savings and money transfer services to refugees in the Kiziba refugee camp in Rwanda. The students took the initiative to develop a list of all the financial service providers in Kiziba and interviewed approximately 50 people about the types of financial services they use in the refugee camp. The information was monumental in helping our company developing a live application for customers to use in the refugee camp to transfer money to family and friends. The students went above the job requirements and registered an additional 100 potential customers who are interested in future services from Leaf. The technology and business concept for Leaf is complex but the two students were able to clearly communicate the value proposition to prospective customers to gather interest for our services. The summer project was entirely remote and the students only had video calls, emails, and WhatsApp to communicate with their project coordinators.
The management team at Leaf was thoroughly impressed with the level of drive, professionalism, and creativity that the students demonstrated during the project. We now have a well-defined application that can benefit millions of people around the world to send money and support friends and family who are fleeing conflict. Leaf is continuing to engage with the two students and hopes to hire them into full-time business development positions when they graduate.
Aimee and Chance were the stars of the show with their introduction video for Leaf that was shown in Denver, CO to the executive team of Western Union along with numerous investors and top US tech entrepreneurs:
