By the time most teenagers were learning algebra, he was already building a software. At nine, he taught himself to code; at 16, he founded a company that he scaled to six-figure USD revenue and sold it.
David Nandwa’s second venture, a financial platform, grew to 800,000 users before he sold his stake and exited to pursue the bigger mission of building financial rails that allow Africans to move money as easily within the continent as they do from abroad.
Today at 24, he leads HoneyCoin, one of East Africa’s fastest-rising fintechs, backed by $6 million in venture capital. In a fintech landscape often marked by hype, he stands out for his clarity of purpose, seeing technology not as a trophy, but as a tool to widen access and opportunity.
Still, there’s rightful concern about data security, platform misuse, and the uneven pace of financial innovation. That’s why it’s reassuring that someone as grounded and thoughtful as him is helping shape this future.
"He credits his courage to God, family, friends, and his young team. "
While he does not crave the spotlight and rarely seeks attention, he commands it, through vision, discipline, and results.
Five years since its founding, HoneyCoin’s impact can already be felt with more than 300,000 consumers and 1,000 enterprises relying on the platform to save, spend, and move money. Behind those numbers are tens of young people employed across East Africa, including developers, support teams, and operators whose careers began because a 24-year-old refused to wait for permission to build.
David is widely admired for how quickly he has scaled HoneyCoin across 15 African markets. Of course, that accomplishment is remarkable, but what is most striking is how he leads: with integrity, patience, and a calm confidence rare for any founder, let alone one his age.
He credits his courage to God, family, friends, and his young team. They are the engine behind HoneyCoin’s ambition to connect African economies and unlock new possibilities for millions.
–Lynette Igadwah