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Oluwaseun Sokeye
Oluwaseun Sokeye was always passionate about solving complex problems and building products that drive real impact. His journey into fintech wasn’t linear—he has a background in business and product management, working across different industries before moving into financial technology.
“Growing up, I saw first-hand how access to financial services could change lives. I come from a place where many hardworking people struggle to access credit, not because they aren’t capable of repaying, but because the system lacks the right tools to assess their potential. This sparked my interest in using data and technology to bridge financial gaps,” noted Oluwaseun, Chief Product officer of Periculum.
Oluwaseun’s career has been centered around building and scaling data-driven financial solutions. Before joining Periculum, he worked on various fintech and lending projects, focusing on credit risk, identity verification, and automation; working with partners and teams across different markets to make financial services more accessible.
Periculum is a fintech solution that uses AI and machine learning to provide actionable insights from data, improving business decisions. It was founded to address critical challenge in emerging markets—financial exclusion.
“What excites me about working in a fintech startup is the opportunity to challenge the status quo. Large financial institutions move slowly, but fintech startups can innovate rapidly, leveraging AI, alternative data, and automation to transform credit access. At Periculum, I get to build solutions that empower businesses, enable financial inclusion, and create real economic opportunities—and that’s what keeps me going every day," Oluwaseun narrated
Traditional financial institutions struggle to assess credit worthiness due to a lack of reliable data, leaving millions without access to fair credit. Periculum team recognized that data-driven insights could bridge this gap, enabling better credit decision-making and financial inclusion. In many African countries, the fintech ecosystem is rapidly growing, but access to credit remains a challenge. Digital lending is on the rise, but many lenders lack the tools to accurately assess risk.
The Journey through timbuktoo Fintech Accelerator Programme
Periculum was one of start-ups in the first cohort of the timbuktoo Fintech Accelerator Programme, being supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Before joining the timbuktoo Fintech Accelerator Programme, Periculum’s biggest challenge was scaling—integrating with financial institutions, expanding its data partnerships, and navigating regulatory complexities. Since joining the timbuktoo Fintech Accelerator Programme, Periculum has grown significantly. Their focus has shifted from primarily on financial data analysis into expansion of identity verification, fraud prevention, and decision automation.
“One major lesson from the programme was the importance of strategic partnerships. Instead of trying to do everything ourselves, we learned how to collaborate with banks, fintechs, and mobile money providers to maximize impact. A breakthrough moment was securing a partnership with a leading microfinance institution, which integrated our decision engine to automate loan approvals. This has increased our loan processing speed by 60% and reduced default rates,” stated Oluwaseun.
Oluwaseun and his team
Making a Difference
Solutions being offered at Periculum are empowering financial institutions to extend credit to underserved individuals and businesses. The direct impact has been witnessed through improved financial access, increased loan approvals, and reduced default rates. Through the Fintech Accelerator Programme, Periculum has been able to partner with fintech startups in East and West Africa, scaling their reach across the continent.
“This journey has shaped me into a more resilient and strategic leader. Running a fintech startup requires balancing innovation with regulatory compliance, which has taught me patience and adaptability. One of the hardest decisions was pivoting our go-to-market strategy. Initially, we targeted large banks, but we realized that smaller lenders and fintechs were more agile in adopting our solutions. This taught me the importance of market fit and timing.”
Oluwaseun at work
Scaling for More Impact
Periculum is focused on expanding and integrating with more financial institutions across Africa and enhancing their AI capabilities. Key milestones include scaling to five new markets, doubling the customer base, and launching additional AI-driven risk assessment tools.
The company has benefited from business development support and a $20,000 equity-free funding from the timbuktoo Fintech Accelerator Programme. These supports are to help Periculum refine its technology, invest in customer acquisition, and deepen impact.
“Our vision for the African fintech ecosystem is a more inclusive financial landscape, where alternative data and AI democratize access to credit. By driving innovation in credit assessment, Periculum is paving the way for responsible lending and financial empowerment.”
For Periculum, success in five years means becoming the leading AI-driven credit decisioning platform in Africa, enabling millions of individuals and businesses to access fair and affordable credit.
Working together to support more start-ups like Periculum to realize their dreams will go a long way to advance sustainable development across Africa.
Oluwaseun and team
