What Julaya does

Julaya is a Franco-Ivorian business-to-business fintech founded in 2018 that provides a unified professional payment account platform to medium and large enterprises operating in francophone West Africa. The company is legally domiciled as JULAYA SAS in Bondy, France (RCS Bobigny 838 578 516), with regional headquarters in Abidjan and operational offices in Dakar, Cotonou, and Lomé, serving customers in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, and Togo under a Payment Establishment license granted by BCEAO (the regional central bank governing the UEMOA zone).

The platform is built on a cloud-based financial-operations architecture hosted on AWS, with proprietary transaction-processing technology that orchestrates payouts across six major mobile money operators (Orange Money, Wave, MTN MoMo, Moov, Djamo, Wizall) and all banks in the UEMOA zone. Its three core products are Money Transfer (batch and individual payouts of up to 3,000 transfers per click), Cash & Collect (a 15,000+ point physical cash-in network integrated with Wave and Xpress), and Billing (instant settlement with a network of 600+ companies including CIE, SODECI, Abidjan Terminal, and HKB Pass). These are supplemented by add-on modules for sub-wallet multi-entity management, configurable multi-level approval workflows, two-factor authentication, real-time tracking with SMS/email notifications, accounting exports, and a Julaya-issued IBAN/RIB for receiving UEMOA-wide bank transfers via RTGS. The company reports 97%-100% transaction quality on mobile money payouts and a 24/7 support SLA with 15-minute response and 72-hour resolution.

Julaya monetizes exclusively on a transaction-based take-rate model (0.1%-1.5% incl. VAT depending on volume and product) with no subscription fees, setup costs, or monthly minimums. Reported scale metrics include 10,000+ professionals, 1,000+ medium and large enterprise customers, 700,000+ payments and salaries processed annually, and more than 1,000 finance directors using the platform daily. Named enterprise customers span construction (EMD Groupe, DIAMATECH, GK Construction), security services (Axess with 1,500+ payroll recipients, OMNI Security), distribution and FMCG (KDS with 20 stores, SODECA/La Casamançaisaise), staffing (TECTRA with 3,500+ monthly temporary worker salaries), transit and logistics (ETIMEX, IVOIRE TRANSPORT), utilities and port operations (SODECI, Abidjan Terminal), and marketplaces (Jumia). Banking partners Ecobank, SIB, and BOA provide account-funding rails across all four operating countries. Cumulative funding totals approximately $9.8M across multiple rounds between 2018 and 2025, with the most recent being a $1.4M convertible bond from CDC-CI Capital (Côte d'Ivoire's public investment fund) in October 2025, earmarked for product development, client acquisition, and the launch of SME credit services.

Name

Julaya

Legal name

JULAYA SAS

Website

https://julaya.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Julaya is a Franco-Ivorian B2B fintech founded in 2018 that provides medium and large West African enterprises with a unified professional payment account enabling multi-operator mobile money payouts, cash collection, and inter-company billing across Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, and Togo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Transaction Fees - Mobile Money Transfers: Fees charged on outgoing mobile money transfers (grouped and individual) to networks including Orange, MTN, Moov, Wave, and Djamo. Rates between 0.5% and 1.5% incl. VAT depending on transaction volume.
2. Cash & Collect Fees: Fees on cash collection and mobile money deposit services through Wave and Xpress networks. Rates between 0.5% and 1% incl. VAT depending on volume and operator.
3. Billing / Invoicing Fees: Fees on inter-company bill payments (CIE, SODECI, HKB Pass, Abidjan Terminal, and 600+ other companies). 0.5% incl. VAT for bill payments. Inter-company transfers between 0.1% and 0.5% incl. VAT at beneficiary's charge. Fast collection fees between 0.1% and 0.5% incl. VAT.
4. Bank Transfer Fees: Fees on outgoing bank transfers to all banks, charged based on transaction volume. Day-J transfers available if received before 15:00 cut-off.
5. SME Credit Services: Future revenue stream supporting SME credit services across West Africa, mentioned in the October 2025 CDC-CI Capital funding announcement as part of regional expansion plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Julaya provides African businesses with a unified digital professional payment account that enables instant transfers to all major mobile money operators (Orange Money, Wave, MTN MoMo, Moov, Djamo, Wizall) and banks across West Africa, with support for batch payments up to 3,000 transfers per click. The platform also enables cash and mobile money collection through a physical network of 15,000+ points in Côte d'Ivoire and an inter-company billing network covering 600+ companies for utility, supplier, and port fee payments. It operates in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, and Togo, serving medium and large enterprises with features including sub-account management, multi-level approval workflows, two-factor authentication, and accounting exports.

Product overview

Julaya offers a unified professional payment account platform designed for African businesses and public institutions. The core product portfolio consists of three primary modules: Money Transfer (for batch and individual payments to mobile money operators and banks), Cash & Collect (for receiving instant cash and mobile money deposits via a physical collection network), and Billing (for paying and receiving inter-company payments including utility bills and supplier invoices). These core products are supported by a suite of add-on modules including Account Funding (via partner bank deposits), Multi-Companies and Sub-Wallets (for multi-entity financial management), Access Levels and Approval Workflow (for delegated payment controls), Transaction Security (2FA and data protection), Real-Time Tracking (live transaction monitoring with notifications), Accounting Exports (XLS/CSV/QIF export with auto-generated receipts), and IBAN/RIB Julaya (for receiving UEMOA bank transfers). The platform operates in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, and Togo, processing over $1.5 million monthly and serving more than 10,000 professionals across medium and large enterprises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Money Transfer Enables businesses to send simple or batch money transfers (up to 3,000 transfers in one click) to all mobile money operators (Orange Money, Wave, MTN MoMo, Moov, Djamo, Wizall) and all banks across the UEMOA zone from a single Julaya account, with unlimited transaction history, customizable SMS notifications, and 97%–100% transaction quality rates. Targeted at businesses making high-volume salary and supplier payments.
• Cash & Collect Enables businesses to receive instant cash and mobile money deposits from customers and field agents via a network of over 15,000 physical collection points across Côte d'Ivoire (via Wave, with instant processing, and Xpress, with max 1-hour processing), with no hidden fees and no transaction caps. Targeted at distribution, trading, and retail businesses collecting payments from retailers, dealers, and customers.
• Billing Julaya's inter-company payment network enabling instant bill payments to utilities (CIE for electricity, SODECI for water), service providers, port operators (Abidjan Terminal), and suppliers (HKB Pass and 600+ other companies), as well as the ability for businesses to receive payments from their own clients. Targeted at businesses needing to settle and collect recurring bills with utilities, ports, and large corporate counterparties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Payroll processing reduced from 3 people over 3 days to 10 minutes by 1 person (Axess)
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EcobankcoreTechnology or IntegrationJulaya is partnered with Ecobank for account funding. Businesses can make cash deposits or bank transfers at any Ecobank branch to credit their Julaya accounts quickly. Ecobank's extensive West African branch network serves as a key funding touchpoint.
• SIB (Société Internationale de Banque)coreTechnology or IntegrationJulaya is partnered with SIB (Société Internationale de Banque) for account funding. Businesses can make cash deposits or bank transfers at SIB branches to credit their Julaya accounts quickly.
• BOA (Bank of Africa)coreTechnology or IntegrationJulaya is partnered with BOA (Bank of Africa) for account funding. Businesses can make cash deposits or bank transfers at BOA branches to credit their Julaya accounts quickly.
• Orange MoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationJulaya enables instant outbound payments to Orange Money subscribers across West Africa as part of its multi-operator payment network, allowing businesses to disburse salaries and supplier payments to Orange Money accounts.
• WavecoreTechnology or IntegrationJulaya integrates with Wave for instant mobile money transfers and Cash & Collect deposits. Wave transfers are processed instantly with no fees. Wave's agent network of 15,000+ points in Côte d'Ivoire is a core part of Julaya's physical collection infrastructure.
• MTN MoMocoreTechnology or IntegrationJulaya enables instant outbound payments to MTN MoMo subscribers across West Africa as part of its multi-operator payment network.
• MoovcoreTechnology or IntegrationJulaya enables instant outbound payments to Moov mobile money subscribers across West Africa as part of its multi-operator payment network.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cinet Pay: Cinet Pay is a Côte d'Ivoire-headquartered payment gateway serving businesses across francophone Africa with merchant payment processing, bill collection and mobile money disbursements. Directly comparable to Julaya in geography (Côte d'Ivoire), customer base (SMEs and enterprises), and product set (mobile money payouts, bill payments).
• Wave: Wave operates a mobile money platform in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire (its Ivory Coast launch overlaps Julaya's home market) offering instant payments, cash-in/cash-out, and business-facing tools. Overlaps with Julaya on mobile money disbursements, cash collection network, and target SME customer base in West Africa.
• onafriq (formerly MFS Africa): onafriq is a pan-African digital payments network connecting mobile wallets, banks and businesses across 35+ African countries, offering cross-border disbursements and B2B payment rails. Comparable to Julaya in mobile money interoperability, B2B payment aggregation, and West African footprint; onafriq was also an early Julaya investor.
• Flutterwave: Flutterwave is a pan-African payment infrastructure provider enabling businesses to accept payments, disburse funds and process transactions across mobile money, cards and bank channels. Comparable business model (B2B payment aggregation, multi-rail disbursements) and shared target market (African SMEs and enterprises) although Flutterwave has broader geographic coverage.
• Paga: Paga is a Nigerian mobile money and payments platform offering consumer and business payment services including agent banking, bill payments and merchant collections. Comparable in business model (multi-channel payments, cash-in agent network, mobile money interoperability) though Paga's primary market is Nigeria rather than francophone West Africa.
• Chipper Cash: Chipper Cash is an African cross-border payments platform serving consumers and businesses across multiple African markets, with mobile money, cash pickup and B2B payout features. Comparable in cross-border and B2B disbursement offerings, although Chipper has historically been more retail/cross-border remittance focused than B2B treasury.

Broad incumbents

• Orange Money: Orange Money is West Africa's largest mobile money network (operator-side) with tens of millions of users across UEMOA. Comparable as both a core Julaya integration partner and a potential incumbent competitor; offers B2B payment APIs at scale that could substitute for some of Julaya's layer.
• MTN MoMo: MTN MoMo is one of Africa's largest mobile money operators with significant UEMOA presence. Comparable to Julaya as an integration partner (one of six mobile money networks Julaya routes to) and a potential incumbent competitor at the operator layer for B2B payouts.
• Ecobank: Ecobank is a pan-African commercial banking group operating across the UEMOA zone and beyond. Comparable as Julaya's largest banking partner (cash deposit and bank transfer touchpoints) and as a potential competitor offering its own corporate digital payment and IBAN products across West Africa.
• Paystack: Paystack (owned by Stripe) is a leading African payment processor serving businesses with online and mobile money acceptance across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and beyond. Comparable business-to-business payment aggregation model and shared African enterprise customer base, though Paystack has historically focused more on acceptance than disbursement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JulayaMoney
• Facebookfacebook.com/julayamobilemoney
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/julaya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Julaya