Niani · What we are building

How Niani began

Niani grew out of a family experience. My mother and other Africans in our circle who lived abroad sent money to relatives back home. For some of those relatives, managing the money they received was stressful. They had to keep track of spending, deal with unexpected costs and keep their plans on course. Others suffered losses that unfortunately undermined their plans or delayed their efforts to build assets in their country of origin.

Born in Côte d’Ivoire, I now live in Switzerland. With more than six years of experience in finance and tech, I am building Niani based on experiences within my family and among the people around me.

Niani’s ambition is to contribute to economic development in West Africa, starting in Côte d’Ivoire. This means making financial services more accessible to individuals and developing tools to support small businesses.

Franck Doué Rafiou, founder of Niani.

What we are building

We are designing Niani for members of the diaspora and people living in Côte d’Ivoire. Our aim is to make their financial lives simpler and offer services that evolve with their needs. Our customers’ interests guide our decisions and the development of Niani.

For members of the diaspora, the planned offering includes an account in their country of residence for everyday needs, alongside transfers to Côte d’Ivoire. People living in Côte d’Ivoire could receive money into their accounts and use it for everyday payments.

Niani is developing the app and tools for managing finances. Accounts and payment services would be provided by licensed partners. Country availability and eligibility requirements remain subject to confirmation.

The prototype

A prototype shows several ways to use the app.

French-language prototype of Aminata’s fictional personal account, showing a balance of 52,500 CFA francs and recent transactions. — Sample data.

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Niani Business

Small businesses and merchants play an essential role in the local economy. We want to support their growth through Niani Business by providing management tools suited to their work.

Clearer financial information helps business owners make decisions and plan for the growth of their business. We also want to make it easier for them to connect with financial partners.

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Manager behind the counter of a drinks shop in Abidjan, with stocked shelves behind her.

French-language Niani Business concept on an iMac: Restaurant Akwaba overview with fictional balance, income, expenses and transactions. — Business management

French-language Niani Business checkout concept on a gold-stand display: a fictional request for 4,500 CFA francs at Restaurant Akwaba, awaiting payment. — Taking payments

Sample data.

Access without a smartphone

We consider the needs of people using basic phones or living in areas with limited connectivity as we design Niani. The prototype demonstrates a payment journey without a smartphone.

Our approach to service

We want to build a relationship of trust with our future customers. Being available and offering sound guidance matter as much as reliable services. The support we are planning takes their needs into account and respects their time, from their first contact with Niani.

Talk to us about the project

To discuss Niani or a potential partnership, email us at contact@nianifinance.com.

We are preparing to offer accounts and financial services to members of the diaspora living in Europe, as well as individuals and small businesses in Côte d’Ivoire.