Building fintech for frontier markets, with Elizabeth Rossiello

In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO and founder of AZA Finance, to explore how she's reshaping cross-border payments and foreign exchange across frontier markets in Africa and beyond.Elizabeth shares her journey from Wall Street to Nairobi, her groundbreaking work with BitPesa in launching digital currencies, and how AZA Finance is solving real-world problems through infrastructure, innovation, and deep local expertise. The conversation highlights the challenges of building a fintech across diverse and volatile markets, and the importance of representation, resilience, and culture in leading a global financial company.They also discuss AZA’s recent partnership with Dlocal, the growing role of stablecoins and AI in payments, and the importance of sticking to your values while building something that lasts.Topics covered:• From New York to Nairobi: Elizabeth’s founding story• Building BitPesa—the world’s first digital FX exchange• The evolution of mobile money and fintech in Africa• Why infrastructure, not hype, is the future of fintech• AZA Finance’s cross-border payments and FX strategy• How to lead in volatile frontier markets• The importance of diversity and representation in fintech• Culture as the engine of scale• The rise of stablecoins, 24/7 settlement & AI innovation• Lessons for female founders and fintech entrepreneurs• Why everything in business is cyclical—and persistence winsTune in to hear how AZA Finance is redefining payments in some of the world’s most dynamic markets—and what it really takes to lead with purpose and vision.