Zepz
What it does
Zepz is a global remittance company headquartered in London, formed as the parent company of WorldRemit and Sendwave. Founded originally as WorldRemit in 2010 by Ismail Ahmed, the company rebranded its parent entity to Zepz in 2021. Through WorldRemit and Sendwave, Zepz is one of the largest digital remittance companies serving the Nigerian diaspora, enabling money transfers from the UK, US, Europe, and other markets into Nigerian bank accounts and mobile wallets. Sendwave, acquired in 2021, is particularly popular among African diaspora communities for its mobile-first money transfer experience. Zepz has raised over $1 billion in total funding and processes billions of dollars in annual remittance volume. The company underwent a leadership change in 2024 with Mark Lenhard taking over as CEO.
Known for
- Parent of WorldRemit and Sendwave — two of the most popular remittance apps for Nigeria
- WorldRemit enables bank transfers, mobile money, and cash pickup to Nigeria
- Sendwave popular for mobile-to-mobile transfers to Nigeria and other African countries
- Founded by Ismail Ahmed (Somali-British entrepreneur)
- $1B+ in total funding raised
- Significant Nigeria remittance corridor operations
Model & industry
Products & subsidiaries
Acquisitions
- Sendwave (2021). Acquired Sendwave for approximately $500 million to expand its African remittance corridors.