Africa’s leading payment technology company, Flutterwave, has been recognised in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies List of 2025, marking the second time it has earned the prestigious honour.
The Lagos-based fintech joins industry heavyweights like Amazon, Netflix, OpenAI, and Berkshire Hathaway in the “Titans” category of this year’s list. TIME’s annual ranking celebrates 105 companies from across the globe that are “making an extraordinary impact” through innovation, ambition, and success.
Founded in 2016, Flutterwave was first featured on the TIME100 list in 2021, following a campaign that supported thousands of businesses in Africa to transition online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its return to the list in 2025 reaffirms the company’s growing stature as a key player in the global fintech landscape.
“This is a true honour,” said Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, Founder and CEO of Flutterwave. “It’s a testament to our team’s incredible work. We’ve moved from building infrastructure to enabling global-scale solutions. Flutterwave isn’t just powering payments; we’re shaping Africa’s financial future and connecting the continent to the world.”
The company provides digital payment infrastructure for businesses and individuals across sectors including e-commerce, travel, remittances, and payroll. With a footprint spanning over 34 African countries, Flutterwave has expanded its services to include international operations in Bahrain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia—supporting a major global ride-hailing service’s entry into those markets.
Flutterwave’s international reach has grown steadily, with nearly half of its users receiving payments in new markets over the past year. In parallel, the company’s remittance service, SendApp, now operates widely across the US, UK, and EU, providing Africans in the diaspora with faster and more affordable options for sending money home.
In a notable milestone, SendApp secured 20 new US state licences in the past year, bringing its total to 34. This gives Flutterwave near-complete coverage across the United States—a rare feat for an African fintech firm.
The company’s rise has also been marked by a sharpened business strategy. Flutterwave has appointed a strengthened executive team and introduced a focused growth plan centred on profitability, market penetration, and international expansion.
This year’s TIME100 list was compiled through nominations from TIME’s global network of contributors, correspondents, and industry experts, with companies evaluated on key criteria such as innovation, impact, ambition, and success.
Flutterwave’s inclusion comes on the back of several other recognitions. It was ranked first in Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies list for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and appeared for a second year running on the FXC Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies list.
As Flutterwave continues its journey, its recognition by TIME signals the company’s enduring impact—not just as a technology enabler in Africa, but as a growing force in global financial systems.
