Evelyn Kaingu, Co-Founder & CEO of Lupiya

Meaningful Business (MB): What are the challenges you are trying to solve, and why do they matter to you? 

Evelyn Kaingu (EK): At Lupiya, we are committed to ensuring that people across Africa have access to affordable, simple, and inclusive financial services. In Zambia, where Lupiya was founded, traditional banking services are often costly, complicated, and intimidating, preventing many individuals from growing their businesses, paying school fees, or planning for the future. 

This is personal to me. I founded Lupiya after experiencing these same barriers and recognising how transparent and convenient credit can transform lives. Every action we take as an organisation focuses on ensuring that more people, especially women, can see possibility where there was none before.

Our vision is to become the first pan-African neobank, offering millions of customers across Africa a comprehensive range of financial services and tools that enable them to make informed financial decisions capable of transforming their lives. 

MB: How is your work tackling these challenges, and what impact are you having?

EK: Our loans are not just numbers on a screen. They are seeds for growth. They pay school fees on time. They help farmers improve their harvest. They give a small business the push it needs to expand. 

Going digital during the COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for Lupiya. We began to scale quickly and were able to reach people we would never have reached through a physical branch. Whether they are in Lusaka or a rural farming village, Lupiya customers can apply for a loan, pay bills, or use financial tools right from their phone. 

MB: How do you work with partners in the broader ecosystem to achieve your mission? 

EK: We understand that creating meaningful financial change across Africa requires systemic collaboration. 

Whether we are developing new financial technology, shaping policy, or creating innovative financial services, we work with community leaders, technology experts, investors, and policy advocates. 

MB: What is your ambition for the future of your business, and what support do you need to increase your impact?

EK: We have demonstrated that digital financial services are effective in Zambia and are working to replicate and expand this success, enabling us to offer digital loans, payments, and investments across Africa.

To achieve this, we require strategic investment, innovative policies, and partners committed to helping us reach more underserved communities and promote financial freedom across the continent. 

Quickfire Questions

MB: Can you share a mistake that you’ve learned from? 

EK: In the early days, we launched too many products too quickly. We learned that focus and clarity are essential. 

MB: What is something you wish you were better at?

EK: Saying no. Every opportunity to help feels important to us, but the right ‘no’ makes room for the most meaningful ‘yes’.

MB: What underrated skill do you wish more impact-focused leaders invested time in?

EK: Listening deeply. Our best ideas come from the conversations we have with customers, partners, and even critics.

MB: What is one book that everyone should read? 

EK: Thinking Bigger by Sarah Dusek – it pushes you to grow your vision beyond what feels possible.

MB: What are the podcasts you can’t imagine your day without? 

EK: I really enjoy listening to How I Built This (with Guy Raz), Masters of Scale, and audio stories from Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneurs.