By Omotunde Alawode
November 14 marks a significant milestone for Ifeoluwa Ariyo-Agbaje, who is celebrating his first anniversary at Vesti, a leading Techstars-backed migration fintech AI-first company. As partnerships and communications lead, Ifeoluwa has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s storytelling and forging strategic partnerships that have fuelled Vesti’s growth and impact.
Vesti, a company on a mission to transform the global financial services market for immigrants, has a target market of 36 million immigrants arriving in the top 10 developed countries each year, and the United States alone welcoming one million of them annually. The company is addressing a critical need for financial inclusion and empowerment. By 2050, there will be 200 million new immigrants fully settled in Vesti’s target markets, representing a vast and underserved market opportunity.
Driven by a passion for empowering immigrants and a belief in the transformative power of technology, Ifeoluwa joined Vesti a year ago. His contributions to Vesti’s success have been remarkable. He crafted and executed a brand strategy that significantly enhanced Vesti’s visibility and reputation among key stakeholders. He also forged strong relationships with strategic partners that expanded Vesti’s reach and impact. Additionally, he implemented effective communication strategies that amplified Vesti’s mission and value proposition to a global audience.
Ifeoluwa was selected as a speaker at Pitch Live at the fifth African Tech Summit (ATS) in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2023. The prestigious platform, with over 250 entries from more than 20 African countries, showcased the brightest minds and most innovative ideas shaping the continent’s tech landscape. Ifeoluwa’s selection was a testament to his groundbreaking work at Vesti and his dedication to transforming the financial landscape for immigrants. With captivating enthusiasm, Ifeoluwa shared his insights with an audience of eager entrepreneurs, investors and tech enthusiasts. His presentation, titled “Move anywhere on the planet and move your money,” resonated with the audience, sparking a wave of interest and admiration. Ifeoluwa’s ability to articulate complex ideas with clarity and passion left a lasting impression on those who witnessed his presentation.
His participation at the African Tech Summit marked a significant milestone in his career, not only as a testament to his personal achievements but also as a springboard for Vesti’s recognition on the global stage. His inspiring presentation solidified Vesti’s position as a leading migration fintech company poised to revolutionize the lives of immigrants worldwide.
With a keen eye for brand visibility and strategic partnerships, Ifeoluwa Ariyo-Agbaje secured Vesti’s headline sponsorship at Lagos Startup Week 2023. This high-profile event provided Vesti with an exceptional platform to showcase its innovative products and services to a wide audience of potential partners, investors and customers. Ifeoluwa’s efforts resulted in the formation of several impactful partnerships and significantly enhanced Vesti’s brand recognition within the African startup ecosystem.
Beyond his role as partnerships and communications lead, Ifeoluwa Ariyo-Agbaje’s strategic vision and unwavering commitment to Vesti’s mission have been instrumental in the company’s global expansion and the successful launch of its innovative products. His expertise in public relations has played a crucial role in Vesti’s expansion into new markets. He meticulously crafted and executed impactful public relations campaigns that resulted in the successful launch of Vesti in Ghana, Zambia and the United Kingdom. These campaigns generated significant media coverage, positive reviews from industry experts and a surge in user adoption in each of these new markets. Ifeoluwa’s efforts have not only expanded Vesti’s reach but also solidified its position as a leading migration fintech company on the global stage.
Venturing beyond international markets, Ifeoluwa spearheaded the successful launch of Element by Vesti in Dallas, Texas. This innovative product was specifically designed to meet the unique business banking needs of African entrepreneurs targeting the US and UK markets. Under Ifeoluwa’s guidance, Element by Vesti was met with great enthusiasm from the target audience, recognizing its potential to revolutionize the way African entrepreneurs manage their finances and grow their businesses.
As Ifeoluwa celebrates his anniversary at Vesti, it’s not just the passage of time that but also a remarkable journey of impact, innovation and unwavering dedication to empowering immigrants through technology. Ifeoluwa’s contributions to Vesti extend far beyond his role as partnerships and communications lead; he is a visionary leader, a strategic mastermind and a passionate advocate for immigrants worldwide. In the past year, Ifeoluwa has taken his public relations proficiencies to new heights, leveraging AI-powered tools to enhance Vesti’s brand visibility and amplify its impact. His innovative approach to communications has generated positive media coverage, engaged social media presence and thought-provoking insights into the immigrant experience.
As Vesti continues to grow and make a positive impact in the lives of immigrants worldwide, Ifeoluwa is poised to play an even more pivotal role in shaping the future of financial inclusion for all. Ifeoluwa’s dedication to empowering immigrants is evident in his words: “I believe that every immigrant deserves the opportunity to thrive in their new home. Vesti is making that dream a reality by providing immigrants with the financial tools and resources they need to succeed. In the past year, we have expanded our reach to three new countries, launched an innovative product specifically designed for African entrepreneurs and partnered with key organizations to further our mission. I am excited to continue to grow Vesti’s impact in the months and years to come, even beyond Vesti.”