Africa’s capital markets are undergoing one of their most significant transformations in decades.
As regulators embrace digital assets, tokenization gains institutional traction, and artificial intelligence begins reshaping wealth management, a new generation of African founders is building the infrastructure that could redefine how capital moves across the continent.
Among them is Jude Dike, Co-founder and CEO of GetEquity—a platform that has evolved from democratizing startup investing into enabling broader access to private market investments. Following its admission into Nigeria’s Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP), GetEquity is positioning itself to bridge traditional finance with blockchain-powered capital markets.
In this edition of CoinAfrica One-on-One, Dike reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, explains why tokenization is more than industry hype, discusses Nigeria’s evolving regulatory landscape, and shares his vision for how artificial intelligence could democratize investing across Africa.
Q&A
CoinAfrica: Jude, before we dive into GetEquity, tell us about your journey. Who is Jude Dike?
Jude Dike:
I’m first a software engineer and then a founder. Deep down, I always knew I wanted to build companies.
Back in university, a friend and I experimented with artificial intelligence long before today’s AI boom. We built an early customer-service assistant and even joined an accelerator programme. Unfortunately, we quickly realised we understood technology far better than business.
That experience pushed me into startups, where I spent years building products from the ground up. I worked on blockchain-based supply chain systems, consulted for startups and financial institutions, and became deeply involved in blockchain infrastructure before eventually launching GetEquity in 2021.
The original idea was simple: make startup investing accessible to everyday investors, using concepts inspired by crypto fundraising models like ICOs and community funding. Timing worked in our favour because venture capital was booming, and people everywhere wanted exposure to African startups.
But markets change.
When venture capital slowed globally, we had to rethink the business. Instead of focusing only on startup equity, we expanded into private credit and commercial papers—creating access to investment products that were traditionally reserved for institutions and high-net-worth individuals.
That pivot ultimately shaped the GetEquity people know today.
CoinAfrica: You started your career as an engineer. What problem convinced you that Africa’s investment ecosystem needed rebuilding?
Jude Dike:
Working inside startups gave me a front-row seat to fundraising.
One thing became obvious very quickly: raising capital is incredibly difficult, especially for early-stage founders.
Founders spend countless hours pitching investors instead of building products. Every meeting takes them away from actually growing the company.
We kept asking ourselves:
“Could technology make fundraising simpler?”
Our focus became helping founders bridge that difficult “zero-to-one” stage—raising their first meaningful capital before traditional venture capital becomes interested.
At the same time, we realised some investors wanted access to these opportunities but had no structured way to participate.
That became the foundation for GetEquity.
Over time, we also discovered another opportunity.
Many investment syndicates already existed; what they lacked wasn’t investors—it was infrastructure.
So we built technology that allows investment communities to manage fundraising, ownership, allocations, and exits far more efficiently.
That became another important pillar of our business.
CoinAfrica: GetEquity has evolved considerably since launch. What drove that transition?
Jude Dike:
The venture capital downturn forced every founder to reassess assumptions.
We realised something important.
People weren’t only looking for startup investments.
They were looking for investment opportunities they normally couldn’t access.
Private credit became the obvious next step.
Commercial papers, for example, traditionally require minimum investments running into millions of naira, effectively excluding retail investors.
We asked:
“What if multiple qualified investors could pool capital together?”
Using Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), investors contributing much smaller amounts could collectively participate in institutional-grade investment opportunities.
When we tested that model, demand exceeded every expectation.
Our first commercial paper offering was significantly oversubscribed.
By the end of 2024, we’d facilitated hundreds of millions of naira in commercial paper investments.
That validated the thesis that retail investors wanted access—not necessarily more products, but better access.
CoinAfrica: GetEquity recently entered Nigeria’s SEC Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP). Why is that milestone so important?
Jude Dike:
Because it allows us to think globally.
The local market has proven demand.
Now blockchain allows us to distribute those same investment opportunities internationally.
Tokenization isn’t simply about putting assets on-chain.
It’s about making regulated investment products accessible to anyone, anywhere.
For example, commercial papers, stocks or bonds can become digital representations backed by SEC-approved assets.
Someone outside Nigeria could convert USDC into tokenized naira (cNGN) and invest in Nigerian commercial papers without traditional geographical barriers.
That’s where blockchain becomes transformative.
It’s not replacing capital markets.
It’s expanding participation in capital markets.
CoinAfrica: Traditional investing in Africa has largely favoured institutions and high-net-worth individuals. How is GetEquity changing that?
Jude Dike:
Institutional investment opportunities have always existed.
The challenge is accessibility.
Asset managers naturally focus on institutions because acquiring one institutional client is far cheaper than acquiring thousands of retail investors.
GetEquity acts as the bridge.
Rather than changing investment products, we’re changing distribution.
Nigeria already has millions of people who qualify as sophisticated investors under SEC guidelines, including many in the diaspora.
Individually, they may not meet institutional investment minimums.
Collectively, they absolutely do.
Our role is creating the infrastructure that allows those investors to participate while maintaining regulatory protections and professional investment standards.
That’s ultimately how we democratize access without compromising investor protection.
CoinAfrica: Nigeria’s SEC has become increasingly proactive around digital assets, with GetEquity among the latest firms admitted into the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP). Do you see regulation as a constraint, or is it finally providing the certainty founders have been waiting for?
Jude Dike:
I genuinely believe it’s creating certainty.
One of the biggest concerns investors have is trust. Before committing capital to any platform, they want confidence that their money is protected and that the business has gone through rigorous regulatory scrutiny.
That’s exactly what a regulatory sandbox like ARIP provides.
It means companies have demonstrated governance, business continuity, liquidity provisions and operational standards that give both regulators and investors greater confidence.
Personally, I’ve worked with the SEC for several years, even before ARIP existed.
I have to say this current leadership deserves credit.
The Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, is one of the most forward-thinking regulators I’ve met. He’s deeply knowledgeable about digital assets and understands how innovation and regulation can coexist.
I honestly believe this version of the SEC is pro-fintech, pro-innovation, and pro-capital markets.
Their objective isn’t to slow innovation—it’s to bring more Nigerians into the capital markets while protecting investors.
That’s exactly the type of regulatory certainty founders have been asking for.
CoinAfrica: Some founders argue that the licensing process remains selective and slow. Is that a fair criticism?
Jude Dike:
To some extent, yes.
Everyone would like the process to move faster.
But it’s also important to understand the context.
Nigeria is effectively building a regulatory framework that many other African countries are watching closely.
Kenya, Ghana and several other regulators are studying what Nigeria is doing.
When you’re writing the roadmap for an entirely new asset class, you naturally have to be careful.
Another factor is that the SEC is prioritising locally incorporated companies because they’re easier to supervise and because strengthening domestic capital markets is part of its broader mandate.
Would founders like faster approvals?
Absolutely.
But I’d rather see a thoughtful regulatory framework than a rushed one that creates bigger problems later.
CoinAfrica: Tokenization has become one of the biggest narratives in global finance. Beyond the hype, where do you see the biggest opportunities for Africa?
Jude Dike:
I actually think we’re already seeing those opportunities emerge.
Globally, companies like Securitize have partnered with institutions such as BlackRock to tokenize Treasury products, private funds, and other financial instruments.
What tokenization really does is democratize access.
Historically, many of these investment products were available only to institutions or ultra-high-net-worth investors.
Blockchain changes distribution.
Imagine someone in South America, Asia, or Europe investing directly in Nigerian commercial papers or listed equities through tokenized assets.
Or think about the future Dangote Refinery IPO.
There’s global demand for participation.
Today, access is difficult.
Tokenization removes those geographical barriers.
For Africa, that’s incredibly powerful because our yields are often higher than those in developed markets.
Instead of limiting participation to local investors, blockchain enables Africa’s capital markets to become globally accessible.
That’s where I believe tokenization becomes transformational—not as speculation, but as financial infrastructure.
CoinAfrica: If you could change one mindset young Africans have about investing, what would it be?
Jude Dike:
People need to stop expecting investing to make them rich within a year.
Investing is a long-term discipline.
It’s a ten- or twenty-year journey.
The real magic isn’t timing the market.
It’s consistency.
Dollar-cost averaging, compound interest, and disciplined investing create extraordinary outcomes over time.
Someone investing relatively small amounts every month can build meaningful wealth simply by staying consistent over many years.
Compound interest remains one of the most powerful forces in finance.
More young Africans need to understand that wealth is usually built patiently—not overnight.
CoinAfrica: Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing financial services. How do you see AI influencing investing across Africa?
Jude Dike:
I think education is where AI creates the biggest impact first.
Many people still don’t fully understand investing.
AI can change that.
Imagine having a financial adviser available 24 hours a day that understands your goals, your risk appetite and your behaviour.
AI agents could automate research, execute dollar-cost averaging strategies, monitor markets, and help people make better financial decisions without requiring deep investment knowledge.
We’ve already seen what automation did for savings through platforms like PiggyVest.
I think AI can do something similar for investing.
It lowers barriers and helps ordinary people participate more confidently in wealth creation.
CoinAfrica: You’ve worked closely with both founders and investors. What’s the biggest misconception founders have about raising capital?
Jude Dike:
Many founders think that having a good idea is enough.
It isn’t.
Investors see dozens of pitch decks every week.
The question isn’t whether your idea is interesting.
The question is why your company deserves capital ahead of everyone else’s.
One of the first things investors look for is commitment.
They want to know:
“How much skin does this founder have in the game?”
If founders haven’t invested their own time, money, or resources into the business, it’s difficult to convince others to take that risk.
I always tell founders something simple:
As long as the founder hasn’t given up, the business isn’t dead.
Companies rarely fail because of one difficult period.
They fail when founders stop believing in what they’re building.
CoinAfrica: Global investors increasingly recognise Africa’s potential, yet capital deployment still lags. What needs to change?
Jude Dike:
Africa doesn’t necessarily need more capital.
It needs more successful exits.
Over the last decade, billions of dollars have been invested into African startups.
Investors now want to see returns.
Valuations on paper are encouraging.
But until investors receive actual cash returns through acquisitions, IPOs or secondary sales, it becomes harder to convince them to deploy even more capital.
More exits create confidence.
Confidence attracts more investment.
That’s how ecosystems mature.
CoinAfrica: If you were starting from scratch today with a small team, what problem would you build around?
Jude Dike:
I’d still build in financial technology.
There are countless opportunities.
One area I’d explore deeply is the intersection between AI and investing.
How do we help millions more Africans build wealth?
How do we personalise financial advice?
How do we remove complexity from investing?
Those questions still excite me.
I’m also fascinated by building AI systems that understand how individuals work and think.
I believe AI assistants will fundamentally reshape personal productivity and financial decision-making over the coming decade.
CoinAfrica: Looking ahead to 2035, what does success look like for Africa’s investment landscape?
Jude Dike:
I’m optimistic.
Many African economies are becoming more stable.
We’re beginning to see stronger macroeconomic fundamentals across countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.
If that trend continues, the next decade could be extraordinary.
It reminds me of the optimism that existed during the early 2000s, when entrepreneurship accelerated across the continent.
I believe Africa’s investment ecosystem will become significantly larger, more mature, and far more integrated with global capital markets.
The opportunity ahead is enormous.
CoinAfrica: Finally, what’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned the hard way?
Jude Dike:
One lesson is understanding that your expectations of people aren’t always their expectations of themselves.
As founders, we often see potential in others and assume they’ll pursue the same ambitions we have.
That’s not always true.
Some people simply want different things.
Leadership isn’t about forcing people into your vision.
It’s about understanding what motivates them and helping them grow in ways that align with their own aspirations.
That’s a lesson I learned through experience.
Editor’s Note
This interview has been edited for clarity, length, and readability while preserving the substance and intent of Jude Dike’s responses. The conversation explores themes around capital markets, regulation, tokenization, artificial intelligence, startup fundraising, and the future of investing across Africa.
Key Takeaways
1. Tokenization is about access—not hype
Jude believes blockchain’s greatest value lies in opening African capital markets to global investors by digitizing regulated financial products rather than creating entirely new asset classes.
2. Regulation is becoming an enabler
Rather than slowing innovation, Nigeria’s SEC is providing the regulatory certainty institutional and retail investors need before committing capital.
3. Africa needs more exits
The continent’s venture ecosystem won’t mature simply by attracting more funding. Investors need successful acquisitions, IPOs and liquidity events before significantly increasing capital deployment.
4. AI will democratize investing
Artificial intelligence won’t simply automate investing—it will educate users, understand investor behaviour and make professional-quality financial advice accessible to millions.
5. Wealth is built patiently
Dike believes disciplined investing, dollar-cost averaging and compound interest remain the most powerful tools for long-term financial freedom.
Memorable Quotes
“The blockchain is typically the only way to take things global.”
“This version of the SEC is very much pro-fintech, pro-innovation and pro-capital markets.”
“Africa doesn’t necessarily need more capital. We need more exits.”
“As long as the founder hasn’t given up, the business isn’t dead.”
“Compound interest is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever encountered in finance.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jude Dike?
Jude Dike is the Co-founder and CEO of GetEquity, a Nigerian investment platform focused on democratizing access to private market opportunities and tokenized financial assets. He is a software engineer turned entrepreneur with extensive experience building blockchain-enabled financial products.
What is GetEquity?
GetEquity is a digital investment platform that enables qualified investors to participate in startup investments, private credit, commercial papers, and other alternative investment opportunities traditionally reserved for institutional investors.
What is Nigeria’s ARIP Programme?
The Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP) is the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulatory sandbox designed to supervise and evaluate innovative digital asset businesses before issuing full operational licences.
Why is tokenization important?
According to Jude Dike, tokenization enables regulated financial assets such as stocks, commercial papers and bonds to become digitally accessible, allowing investors globally to participate in African capital markets.
How does Jude Dike think AI will transform investing?
He believes AI will initially drive financial education before evolving into intelligent financial advisers capable of helping users automate investing, understand risk and build wealth over time.
Conclusion
Africa’s financial markets are entering a new era—one shaped by regulatory reform, blockchain infrastructure and intelligent financial technologies.
For Jude Dike, the next chapter isn’t simply about digitizing investments; it’s about democratizing access to wealth creation itself.
Whether through tokenized capital markets, AI-powered investing or globally accessible financial infrastructure, his vision reflects a broader shift taking place across the continent: one where African innovation increasingly solves African problems while attracting global participation.
If that vision materializes, the coming decade could mark one of the most transformative periods in the history of Africa’s capital markets.
About CoinAfrica One-on-One
CoinAfrica One-on-One is an executive interview series featuring founders, regulators, policymakers, investors and ecosystem leaders shaping Africa’s digital economy.
From blockchain and fintech to AI, payments and capital markets, the series captures the people building the continent’s future.
Watch the full interview below:
