Africa's Tech Visionary: How Jamie Thurston Wyngaard is Revolutionizing Digital Payments

In the heart of Cape Town's vibrant tech ecosystem, a remarkable entrepreneur is crafting solutions that are transforming how millions of Africans access essential services. Jamie Thurston Wyngaard, co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of Loop, recently made headlines by winning the prestigious Science, Technology, and Innovation Award at the Africa 40 Under 40 Awards in Cairo—the African equivalent of Forbes' recognition for ground-breaking talent.

"What I really see from this is that Cape Flats can," Jamie explains with genuine passion when asked about what this recognition means to him. Growing up in Cape Town's Cape Flats, an area often highlighted for its challenges, Jamie embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that sees opportunity where others see obstacles.

"There's a lot of problems here. But the thing is, more problems means more opportunities," he points out. This perspective has guided his approach to building Loop, transforming it from a simple idea into what many now describe as a movement in digital mobility across Africa.

Loop began with a straightforward observation from MTS, Jamie's co-founder who comes from a third-generation taxi entrepreneur family. Why, in today's digital age, was the minibus taxi industry a transportation lifeline across much of Africa still operating entirely in cash?

The answer wasn't as simple as building another payment app. After careful study, Jamie and his team discovered that traditional banking solutions weren't working for this sector because:

Bank charges affected both the customer and the driver.

Traditional transfers took up to two days to clear an impossible timeframe for drivers who need to buy fuel immediately and support their family’s daily and pay their bosses daily. Cash created enormous security risks, with drivers often targeted by criminals.

Loop's innovative solution: enabling instant digital payments through a WhatsApp platform already widely used across the continent. No bank charges. No waiting periods. No need to download another app.

What started as a digital payment solution for taxis has expanded into something much more comprehensive.

Loop now offers:

Corporate booking systems for businesses needing reliable transport for employees.

An expanded fleet including seven-seaters and cars.

Digital payment options for small businesses of all kinds, from hair salons to Avon sellers.

Cross-border remittance capabilities allowing users to send money from anywhere in the world instantly via WhatsApp.

The technology even transforms ordinary smartphones into payment terminals with "tap to pay" functionality developed in partnership with Visa eliminating the need for expensive point-of-sale devices.

Perhaps most revolutionary is Loop's approach to financial inclusion. By tracking digital payment histories, Loop can offer access to finance for entrepreneurs who have traditionally been excluded from formal banking systems.

"Taxi drivers have been working mostly in cash, and entrepreneurs in emerging markets have been working in cash. They cannot go to a bank and ask for a loan. They're going to  ask you 'where's your banking records?” Jamie explains.

Loop fills this gap by providing specific-purpose financing based on the business's digital payment history not for "leisure loaning," as Jamie puts it, but for business necessities like vehicle maintenance, inventory, or clearing fines.

When asked about the cultural shifts needed in Africa's business ecosystem, Jamie's answer is immediate: "Number one is collaboration. People keep thinking we're competing with each other. I don't believe in competition."

He advocates for a mind-set shift: "If there are four businesses and three of them decide to work together, who's left behind? The one that thinks they're competing with everybody else."

This collaborative approach has been central to Loop's success. By partnering with traditional taxi associations rather than trying to disrupt them, as well as forming strategic relationships with companies, Loop has created a truly inclusive digital ecosystem.

As Loop continues to expand its reach across Africa, Jamie remains grounded in his roots while looking toward the horizon. For young entrepreneurs following in his footsteps, his advice is refreshingly straightforward: "If you want to go for it, go for it, man. If you want to start the business, if you want to get somewhere, just go do it."

In a continent filled with untapped potential and unique challenges, innovators like Jamie Thurston aren't just building successful businesses they're creating the digital infrastructure for Africa's economic future, one WhatsApp payment at a time.

Click on the video to hear more about Loop.

Presenter: Jasnine Roberts

Producer: Lydia M