LemFi, the global financial platform serving people who live and work across borders, has committed £100 million to expanding its global infrastructure, marking a major milestone in its growth from African roots to international scale.
The announcement follows the UK–Nigeria State Visit in March 2026, where LemFi’s investment was recognised as part of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership between both countries.
LemFi serves more than two million customers globally, enabling cross-border payments to over 30 countries. The platform plays a critical role in supporting diaspora communities and the markets they connect, particularly across Africa, where remittances remain a key driver of economic activity.
By making a strategic £100m investment into its global infrastructure and designating London as its global hub, LemFi is equipped to better serve the diaspora and the markets they support. This move, in the world’s financial hub, gives LemFi the regulatory and capital market exposure it needs to deliver on its mission to provide fair and accessible financial services for people who live and work across borders.
Scaling a global platform for cross-border lives
LemFi’s growth has been driven by increasing demand from globally mobile communities. Today, the platform serves more than two million customers, enabling payments across 30+ countries while expanding into products including credit, savings and global accounts.
As the company scales, it continues to build infrastructure that supports how people actually live and work across borders, helping users not just move money, but manage and grow their financial lives internationally.
LemFi operates within multiple regulatory frameworks, holding licences and approvals in key markets including the UK, Ireland, Australia and Nigeria, as well as across 14 US states.
LemFi’s £100m commitment was made possible by the UK-Nigeria Department of Business and Trade, as part of the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership. LemFi will continue to innovate and develop innovative financial products and services for underserved communities globally.
Ridwan Olalere, co-founder and CEO of LemFi, said: “We started LemFi to solve a real problem for people living across borders and today that mission is scaling globally. From our roots in Africa, we’re now serving millions of customers across continents, building financial services that reflect how people actually live and move. This next phase is about expanding that impact: reaching more people, across more markets, with products that help them not just send money, but build and grow financially wherever they are.”
Rian Cochran, co-founder and CFO of LemFi, said: “Our £100m commitment is more than just a capital injection; it is a promise of stability and accessibility. By centralising our global operations in London, we are creating a hub that ensures every corridor we serve, whether in Africa, Asia, or Latin America, benefits from world-class financial infrastructure and a cooperative relationship with local regulators.”
About LemFi
Founded in 2021, LemFi’s mission is to build fair, simple and accessible financial services for people who live and work across borders. Initially focusing on remittance, with over two million people across Europe and North America relying on LemFi to send funds to families in more than 30 emerging markets, including China, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The LemFi team is 300+ people across Africa, Europe and North America, and it has $85 million in funding from investors including Highland Europe, Left Lane Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, Palm Drive Capital and YCombinator. lemfi.com
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