Global Credit Mobility
Binta Financial is building a future where your credit history doesn’t stop at the border.
Millions of newcomers arrive in North America every year with solid credit histories—but no way to prove it. That usually means starting from scratch, which delays access to housing, employment, and loans.
The fintech startup’s global credit migration platform will enable users port verified credit data from countries like India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Mexico, and Brazil into North American, The UK and European systems.Think of it as a passport for your financial reputation, where your credit is translated, validated, and made usable instantly.
Binta also offers tools to build local credit from day one:
- A rent-reporting engine (in partnership with Equifax) that turns monthly rent payments into positive credit data.
- An AI-powered financial literacy companion that delivers customized and practical advice for users before and after arrival. This leverages historical and current data.
Binta’s platform forms a complete financial inclusion system, helping newcomers carry trust across borders, build credit from day one, and access life essentials faster.
Building the Global Infrastructure for Credit Mobility and Financial Inclusion
What they’ve done: Binta has already helped thousands of individuals build credit, onboarded housing partners, and secured collaborations with Equifax, international credit bureaus, and provincial housing providers. They’ve launched pilot projects in both Canada and Nigeria, and are also supporting national conversations on open banking and rent-based credit building.
Why NVBC: While Binta is solving a global problem, their journey starts in Canada. The NVBC Competition, presented by Innovate BC, offers the exposure, connections, and resources to scale faster, and to spotlight how BC-grown fintech can lead the way in borderless innovation. As the team puts it: “We’re building boldly, and NVBC is the perfect stage.”
Up Next: The Vancouver startup’s north star is clear: make credit mobility a universal norm. As global migration continues to rise, they’re focused on building the infrastructure that allows people to carry their verified credit histories across borders and access housing, financial services, and opportunity from day one, or even before arrival. To get there, they’re expanding partnerships with foreign credit bureaus, financial institutions, and immigration channels, while also scaling their credit building and financial literacy tools to help newcomers and Canadians build credit locally. For Binta, it all comes down to a simple belief: no one should have to start from zero just because they moved to another country.
Purpose over Path
Startups rarely follow a straight line. Binta’s journey has taught its team to stay flexible about the path, but firm on purpose. Markets shift, assumptions break, and feedback reshapes the product. But when you’re anchored by a clear North Star, you can adapt without losing your way.
For Binta, that guiding purpose is financial dignity for people historically excluded from traditional systems. Their approach has evolved, by enhancing the global credit migration with local credit building, but the mission has stayed constant.
Their advice to other founders? Stay flexible in how you get there, but unwavering in why you’re going. Be open to change, listen to feedback, and don’t be afraid to challenge your assumptions, just keep your purpose in sight.
Meet The Team
Paschal Okwundu, CEO and Founder
Paschal brings over a decade of experience across banking, private equity, management consulting, and entrepreneurship, with past roles at RBC, BMO, and two high-growth ventures. His time in management consulting sharpened his agility and systems thinking, essential for navigating fintech and regulatory complexity. He holds an MBA from UBC and an engineering degree from the University of Lagos. As Binta’s full-time CEO, Paschal is leading the charge to build a financially borderless world where no one starts from zero.
Brian Mukeswe, CTO and Co-Founder
Brian is the technical driving force at Binta, blending deep academic knowledge with top-tier industry experience. He holds a Master’s in Data Science, Technology, and Innovation from the University of Edinburgh and has over 7 years in software engineering, AI, and data science. Brian has led major data science projects at Mastercard and Meta in Silicon Valley, building scalable, secure systems for global products. His expertise bridges finance and advanced technology, making him the ideal leader for Binta’s credit infrastructure. With an entrepreneurial spirit and strong technical leadership, Brian ensures Binta’s platform is intelligent, resilient, and ready to scale worldwide.
Jerence Go is a seasoned finance leader with deep expertise in technology investment banking, private equity, and M&A. As Managing Partner at Cambridge Capital Consulting, he has advised on high-stakes deals across SaaS, healthcare, and biotech. A Cambridge MBA, Jerence brings strategic capital planning and deal execution strength to Binta Financial, ensuring the company’s credit infrastructure is built on sound financial foundations.
Company Cheatsheet:
City: Vancouver
Founded: July 2023
Sector: Fintech
