SendOva
SendOva (trading as Balazoo Express Ltd) is a UK-based FCA-registered remittance fintech offering a mobile-first platform for zero-fee money transfers from the UK to Nigeria, monetized via FX spreads and primarily serving the Nigerian diaspora.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SendOva does
SendOva is a UK-based cross-border remittance fintech operating under Balazoo Express Ltd, a private company incorporated in England and Wales and headquartered in Canary Wharf, London. The company runs a mobile-first money transfer platform that enables users to send funds from the United Kingdom to Nigeria with zero transfer fees, monetizing through foreign exchange spreads embedded in real-time displayed rates (e.g., £1 = NGN1,872). Its primary customer base is the Nigerian diaspora living in the UK, with secondary use cases for small businesses and professionals paying remote staff or business partners in Nigeria.
The technology stack centers on a consumer mobile application available on iOS and Android, with funding supported through open banking integrations and debit/credit card payments. Compliance and identity verification are handled through KYC/CDD infrastructure required under UK law, supporting passport, driving licence, national identity card, and residence permit verification. The platform is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as a Small Payment Institution (#572855) and with HMRC for Money Laundering Regulations (#XJML00000174536), establishing regulatory credibility for cross-border transfers.
Customer acquisition is driven by an Invite & Earn referral program offering up to 500GBB per successful referral, supplemented by an influencer ambassador program, organic social media, email newsletters, and a content blog. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, led by CEO Olufemi Anthony Olaogun, and currently operates with 11-50 employees. SendOva's website language signals an intent to expand beyond the UK-to-Nigeria corridor toward broader global remittance, but no additional live corridors are confirmed.
SendOva firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SendOva
- Legal name
- Balazoo Express Ltd
- Website
- https://sendova.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SendOva (trading as Balazoo Express Ltd) is a UK-based FCA-registered remittance fintech offering a mobile-first platform for zero-fee money transfers from the UK to Nigeria, monetized via FX spreads and primarily serving the Nigerian diaspora.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SendOva industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cross-Border Remittance
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer P2P International Remittances (FSAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Remittances & Retail FX (Consumer Cross-Border) (FSABAAAK), Card-Based Cross-Border Payments & FX Settlement (FSAMAIAD), Cross-Border & FX Payments Platforms (BPAMAFAK), Cross-Border Card-Based Transfers & Multi-Currency Cards (FSAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where SendOva is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SendOva business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Foreign Exchange Spread: SendOva generates revenue through the difference between the mid-market exchange rate and the rate offered to customers. While transfer fees are zero, the exchange rate margin (spread) provides the primary revenue stream. The company displays live rates (e.g., £1 = NGN1,872) and users receive exactly what is quoted with no hidden charges.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Transfer — Zero Fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SendOva product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SendOva is a mobile-first cross-border remittance platform that enables users in the United Kingdom to send money to Nigeria (and other destinations) with zero transfer fees, real-time competitive exchange rates, and instant delivery. The service is delivered via an iOS/Android app and web platform, supporting open banking and debit/credit card payment methods with built-in KYC/AML compliance under FCA Small Payment Institution authorization.
Product overview
SendOva is a single, unified consumer-facing remittance product delivered as a mobile app (iOS/Android) and web platform. The offering consists of the core SendOva money transfer application which provides zero-fee international money transfers from the UK, primarily to Nigeria, using open banking or debit/credit card payment methods. There are no separate modules, add-ons, or sub-brands — it is one integrated platform serving both personal (family support, emergencies, rent, bills) and professional (remote team payroll, business partner payments) use cases. A referral program (Invite & Earn) and influencer community program are secondary features tied to the same core product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SendOva Mobile Remittance App
Quantifiable outcome
- Transfers to Nigeria complete in under 30 seconds (testimonials confirm receipt before users close the app)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SendOva
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SendOva technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
SendOva partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
SendOva competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Taptap Send: Taptap Send is a venture-backed mobile remittance company offering zero-fee transfers to African corridors including Nigeria from the UK. Directly comparable to SendOva in corridor, mobile-only distribution, zero-fee model, and target diaspora customer.
- Remitly: Remitly is a US-listed digital remittance company focused on diaspora corridors, with the UK-to-Nigeria corridor as one of its largest. Directly comparable to SendOva in customer (diaspora), corridor (UK-Nigeria), and mobile-first value proposition, but at significantly larger scale and with a public-market marketing budget.
- WorldRemit: WorldRemit is an established digital remittance platform serving 130+ countries from the UK, including direct UK-to-Nigeria service with mobile wallet, bank deposit, and cash pickup. Comparable product, target market, and corridor focus as SendOva, with deeper brand recognition in Nigerian diaspora communities.
- Sendwave: Sendwave (owned by WorldRemit/Zepz) is a mobile remittance app purpose-built for African corridors including UK-to-Nigeria with zero fees on first transfers. Directly competes with SendOva in the same diaspora niche with similar mobile-first UX and zero-fee positioning.
- LemFi: LemFi is a venture-backed UK-headquartered remittance app targeting African diaspora with instant UK-to-Nigeria transfers and zero/low fees. Closely comparable to SendOva in corridor, customer persona, and mobile-first value proposition; LemFi is a more capitalized and slightly more advanced-stage competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Wise (TransferWise): Wise is the largest UK-headquartered cross-border payments company, offering multi-currency accounts and remittance across 70+ countries including UK-to-Nigeria. Comparable to SendOva in corridor product, but operates at vastly broader scale with banking-license infrastructure.
- Revolut: Revolut is a UK-headquartered neobank with multi-currency accounts, FX, and remittance features available to UK customers for transfers including to Nigeria. Comparable to SendOva in UK-based digital FX and transfer capability, but as a broad incumbent offering a far wider product portfolio.
- Monese: Monese is a UK-based mobile-first banking/financial services provider for migrants and diaspora, offering multi-currency accounts and money transfer. Comparable to SendOva in serving UK-based diaspora with mobile-first cross-border money movement, but with a broader account-based product set rather than single-corridor remittance.
Emerging players
- Chipper Cash: Chipper Cash is a venture-backed Africa-focused fintech offering cross-border payments and remittance into Nigeria from the UK and other markets. Comparable to SendOva on the Nigeria receive-end and mobile-first delivery, with a broader Africa-focused product set.
- Verto: Verto is a UK-headquartered B2B cross-border payments platform enabling businesses to send payments to 200+ markets including Nigeria. Comparable to SendOva on the cross-border UK→Nigeria rail, but targets SMB/business clients rather than individual consumers.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SendOva social profiles
Digital presenceSendOva financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SendOva leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SendOva funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SendOva M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SendOva
What does SendOva do?
SendOva is a mobile-first cross-border remittance platform that enables users in the United Kingdom to send money to Nigeria (and other destinations) with zero transfer fees, real-time competitive exchange rates, and instant delivery. The service is delivered via an iOS/Android app and web platform, supporting open banking and debit/credit card payment methods with built-in KYC/AML compliance under FCA Small Payment Institution authorization.
Is SendOva a public or private company?
SendOva is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SendOva founded?
SendOva was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SendOva based?
SendOva is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SendOva make money?
One revenue line is on record: foreign Exchange Spread.
Who are SendOva's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Taptap Send, Remitly, WorldRemit, Sendwave and LemFi. Broad incumbents are Wise (TransferWise), Revolut and Monese. Emerging players are Chipper Cash and Verto.
Does SendOva have an API?
No public API is recorded for SendOva.
What industry is SendOva in?
SendOva's product category is Cross-Border Remittance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAKAA, Consumer P2P International Remittances, with a secondary code of FSABAAAK, Remittances & Retail FX (Consumer Cross-Border).