Ham Serunjogi’s journey from Uganda to becoming the co founder and CEO of one of Africa’s leading fintech companies is a story of ambition, resilience, and a commitment to solving problems that affect millions of people. Originally from Uganda, Serunjogi moved to the United States to attend Grinnell College in Iowa, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2016. His international education became an important part of his journey as he developed an interest in entrepreneurship, technology, and the economic challenges facing his home continent.

Before building his own company, Serunjogi gained professional experience at Meta. After graduating from Grinnell, he moved to Dublin, Ireland, where he worked in Meta’s office managing relationships with some of the company’s major UK advertisers. His experience working across international markets gave him exposure to the technology industry and the way digital platforms could connect people and businesses across borders.

The idea for Serunjogi’s most important venture was connected to a problem he had witnessed personally. Growing up in Uganda, he saw the difficulties his father encountered when trying to move money through Africa’s banking system. According to Forbes, one particularly memorable incident occurred when Serunjogi was participating in swimming training in South Africa and his father had difficulty completing a bank transfer. He ultimately had to travel to South Africa carrying cash to pay his son’s swimming coach.

While studying at Grinnell, Serunjogi met Maijid Moujaled, a Ghanaian student who would become his business partner. The two shared an interest in using technology and entrepreneurship to address challenges affecting Africa. During a road trip in 2016, they discussed the idea that eventually became Chipper Cash.

In 2018, Serunjogi and Moujaled co founded Chipper Cash, a financial technology company focused initially on making cross border payments across Africa easier and more accessible. The company's platform has since expanded beyond peer to peer transfers to include additional financial products and services for individuals, businesses, and merchants. Chipper describes its broader mission as providing accessible financial services for people living in Africa and beyond while connecting Africa to global opportunities.

Building the company was not without challenges. As young African founders operating in the United States, Serunjogi and Moujaled encountered skepticism from some investors who questioned whether an African focused fintech company could become a major commercial business. Forbes reported that one potential investor suggested that the founders seek donations or grants rather than traditional venture capital. Serunjogi continued pursuing the business model, and Chipper eventually attracted significant investment from major investors.

Under Serunjogi’s leadership, Chipper Cash grew into a significant African fintech company. The company has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital and reached a valuation above $2 billion. Chipper has also expanded its operations beyond Africa, including the United Kingdom and United States, reflecting its broader ambition to connect African consumers and businesses with opportunities across borders.

Serunjogi’s work has also extended beyond entrepreneurship. In 2023, he was appointed as one of the inaugural members of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. The council was established to strengthen dialogue between the United States government and the African diaspora. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Grinnell College.

His achievements have received significant recognition. In 2022, Serunjogi was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in the finance category for 2023. Grinnell College also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Social Studies degree in 2023 in recognition of his entrepreneurial achievements and efforts to improve cross border financial access in Africa.

Today, Ham Serunjogi represents a powerful example of immigrant entrepreneurship. His journey took him from Uganda to the United States and later to Ireland before leading him back toward a mission centered on Africa. Through Chipper Cash, he has worked to address a real problem he witnessed growing up and turn it into a technology platform serving millions of people.

His story demonstrates that immigrant entrepreneurs can carry experiences from one part of the world into another and transform those experiences into solutions with international impact. For Serunjogi, technology became the tool, entrepreneurship became the vehicle, and improving financial connectivity across Africa became the mission.