About Us
Founders’ Story
Inspired by the opportunities that digitization offers Africa, Oumar Rafiou Barry (Founder and CEO) and Abdoulaye Bah (Co-Founder and CTO), two young entrepreneurs from Guinea, formed BNB Transfer Corp (originally known as EZ Money Transfer) in Canada in 2011. BNB Transfer Corp was founded to allow Guineans living in Canada to send money back home quickly, safely at a low cost, whilst integrating the “last mile of the payments journey” seamlessly into their service, building a product that strives to reduce queue times at, and travel time to cash payout branches.
Cauridor, which focusses on solving these last mile problems, was spun out of BNB Transfer Corp in 2022. Its mission is to develop payments technology in an African context, by merging mobile money (e.g., MTN, Orange) operators, banks (e.g., UBA, Ecobank), and merchants in a single platform that employs blockchain technology to enable interoperable local and cross-border transactions.
In just two years, Cauridor has grown into a global team of over 300 employees who continue this mission today.
Behind the Brand - The history of the Cauri
Cauridor isn’t just a name and a logo; it carries a significant part of African culture and history. Cowrie shells, known as “cauri,” were used as currency across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania since the 14th century. They were prized for their portability, durability, and difficulty to counterfeit. King Gezo of Dahomey even preferred them over gold because they ensured fair trade.
But cowries were more than money; they symbolized trade power. In the 16th century, Europeans used cowries to access African markets, even trading them for goods and people. In America, cowries were found in spiritual bundles, jewellery, and clothing, suggesting their use as protective charms against enslavement.
Our brand name, Cauridor, honors this rich legacy. “Cauri” signifies currency, while “d’or” means gold, encapsulating the essence of value and heritage.
Meet the Team
Brian Fox
Chairman
- 20+ years of experience in remittance industry
- Former SVP of Western Union
Dr. Oumar Barry
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
- Repeat entrepreneur
- 14+ years of experience in the Fintech industry
- PhD in Engineering, University of Toronto
Abdoulaye Bah
Co-Founder, Chief Technology Officer
- 20+ years of experience in software development focusing on payment solutions
- Holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science
Thomas Tewoldemedhin
Director
- Repeat entrepreneur
- 15+ years in software development focusing on payment solutions
- Degree in Computer Engineering, University of Toronto
Karen Jordaan
Chief Commercial Officer
- 20+ years cross-functional, digital payment leadership experience
- Held key positions at Western Union as Regional Director of Southern and East Africa as well as Head of UK at WorldRemit
Paul Ikopit
Chief Operations Officer
- 30+ years of experience in finance and operations
- Former MNO Head of Africa of MFS Africa, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and is a certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Mission and Vision
Be the best fintech company in every market we operate in Africa, as we strive to empower the unbanked and drive a new era of a cashless Africa. Our mission is to accelerate the digitization of the financial industry in Africa.
Our Values
P H I L E
/fil/
From the Greek, deep affinity or love for a particular thing or concept. It embodies our passion, dedication, and commitment to our mission and values, driving us to excel and innovate in everything we do.
People
We prioritize improving lives in Africa and support our team's growth, fostering a caring work environment.
Honesty & Integrity
Integrity is fundamental. We uphold transparency and trust, ensuring honest dealings in all aspects of our work and relations.
Innovation
We encourage creative thinking and strive for groundbreaking solutions, pushing boundaries to achieve exceptional results.
Learning
Continuous growth is essential. We are committed to personal and professional development, embracing new knowledge and skills.
Excellence
We aim high, striving to be market leaders and constantly improving our standards to deliver excellence in all we do.
Our Investors
In response to growing interest from the global investment community, we have secured equity investments from Rally Cap, Oui Capital, BKR Capital and BNB to support our ambitious expansion plans. Representatives of some of our investors serve on the Cauridor Board of Directors and help steer the strategy of the company.
