André De Wet on helping legacy retailers compete in a digital world

In this interview, André de Wet, co-founder and CEO of Flood Finance, explains how the platform helps offline retailers—like spaza shops and small grocers—become discoverable through apps people already use. Instead of needing their own e-commerce site, merchants can appear on a geolocation-based marketplace that drives foot traffic, enables in-store promotions, and supports digital payments and loyalty rewards. Flood Finance is designed to bring informal and legacy retailers into the digital economy without requiring delivery logistics. With successful launches in the Maldives and West Africa, and interest from Latin America to Southeast Asia, the platform offers scalable tools for onboarding, data tracking, and integration. It’s a simple plug-and-play solution for partners looking to power hyperlocal commerce.