Hilda Moraa, founder and CEO of fintech startup, Pezesha, has been appointed as the eTrade Women Advocate for the English-speaking Africa region to the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The award-winning entrepreneur will serve as an advocate for the 2024-2025 period. “As an advocate during my tenor, I am looking forward to serving and representing the voice of Africa’s SMEs and Fintechs at a global level.” Hilda Moraa posted on LinkedIn following the appointment.
“With initiatives like eTrade for Women, I will be able to inspire and impact more women to drive purposeful entrepreneurship in STEM and join me in shrinking these inequalities once and for all.” Hilda shared with the eTrade for Women program.
Career accolades and accomplishments
Hilda Moraa has over 15 years of experience in the technology and entrepreneurship space – particularly in the Fintech sector. Notably, her first startup, WezaTele, was acquired for $1.7 million in 2015 (approximately Ksh 154 million back then). This marked Kenya’s first large acquisition up to that period.
She has raised over $15 million in both VC and local bank funding. Hilda’s fintech, Pezesha, raised $11 million in 2022 in a pre-series A round led by ed by Women’s World Banking Capital Partners II (WWBCP II). Pezesha offers B2B online lending infrastructure to MSMEs in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana.
Hilda has also served under the ICT Ministry in an advisory role for various innovation projects including Konza City. In her early career, she previously worked at Coca-Cola as a data and innovation analyst and also led innovation and research strategy at i-Hub.
During her extensive career, Hilda has recorded a long list of accolades and accomplishments. She recently won the 2024 Forbes Woman Africa, Tech & Innovation Award, just one year selected for the 2023 Bloomberg LP New Economy Catalysts class. Hilda also joined the Harambean Entrepreneurship Alliance which is pushing for African entrepreneurs. Other awards include the 2024 Kenya’s Best Women Fintech CEO and being listed as Top 40 under 40 in Kenya.
Hilda holds a degree in Business Information Technology from Strathmore University.
