The future of Web3 in Africa isn’t being built in boardrooms—it’s being shaped by founders willing to challenge the norm, push boundaries, and create real value in a space often dismissed as speculative. One of those founders is Ahren Posthumus, the CEO of Momint, a platform making blockchain-powered investments in Real World Assets (RWAs) more accessible. From tokenized solar projects lighting up communities to alternative investments that bridge digital and physical assets, Momint isn’t just talking Web3—it’s doing it.
In this edition of the Onyx Africa Founder Series, we sat down with Ahren to unpack Momint’s journey, the challenges of building in Web3, and the vision for onboarding the next billion users onto the blockchain. The conversation touches on raising capital with just an idea, the role of RWAs in Africa’s adoption of Web3, and why simplifying blockchain is the real game-changer.
Let’s dive in…
Ahren, Thank you for taking a Momint to share your insights with us at Onyx Africa. As I’ve already pointed out when I reached out, I genuinely believe Momint is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of Web3 adoption in Africa, more specifically the “Real World Assets” narrative–an area that’s still largely misunderstood.
Momint has a bold vision of onboarding the next billion users to Web3, which is quite a remarkable goal. Could you share with us how this vision came about? What was the initial spark that led to the creation of Momint, and how have you managed to stay focused on such an ambitious mission?
It all started with a crazy idea – what if we could make blockchain as easy to use as Instagram? The spark came from realising how inaccessible Web3 was for most people. We’ve stayed focused by reminding ourselves daily that if your grandmother can’t use it, it’s not ready yet.
We have shifted focus to real world assets but the aim for simplicity stays true. And let me tell you, its easier said than done. I still think we have a lot to do to get there!
You guys managed to raise money “with just an idea” could you please take me through that? Entrepreneurs are often advised to build something lucrative prior to approaching investors. What exactly informed this contrarian approach to raising and what challenges did you face?
The reality is that we had built plenty – it just wasn’t what we were raising for. I’d had a past exit for an app that we built and scaled to over 8M users. So the proof was there. I would generally advise fundraising overall to be honest. If you can bootstrap and generate revenue – that’s definitely the best approach. At the time we just knew that this was a fast-moving space and we needed to capture market share early. I still think that is true.
With over 53 000 user wallets and a marketplace volume of nearly ZAR 35 million, what role do you believe real-world assets (RWAs) will play in accelerating the adoption of Web3 in Africa and beyond?
Well Blockchain projects often come under fire because of their lack of a real, tangible thing linked to it. I think there is a lot of truth to those criticisms. We printed out a big poster in the first month of starting Momint that said “We’re passionate about driving true value and utility in the NFT space” – and another cheeky one a few weeks later that said “The Web3 marketplace for when the bubble pops”. It was actually our website tagline for a short while. A few months later the bubble did pop.
Specifically in Africa – we are rightfully sceptical people, and if my money doesn’t give me something real and tangible, then I’m less inclined to adopt it. RWAs like asset backed tokens are dramatically changing people’s lives. The Digital Shares that our Solar investors have bought are powering the lives of tens of thousands of people right now AND generating reliable returns. That plays a significant role in adoption.
Building a vibrant community is crucial for any Web3 platform, and you’ve been able to do this exceptionally well. How did you manage to grow such an engaged community? Could you share with us what you see as the driving force behind this success, and where do you envision the future of Momint’s community going?
Our secret? We treat our community like we’re in on a secret that the rest of the world doesn’t know yet. That being said I don’t want to answer this pretending that we are gurus – our community is still relatively small. Hence the “secret”. I’ll dish out some hot tips when we have a community of millions.
Ethereum has become renowned for its “programmable money” features…
What was the reasoning behind choosing the blockchain that ist has to operate on? How does it provide in terms of scalability, security, and user experience compared to staying solely on Ethereum’s mainnet?
We chose to adopt the Lisk blockchain, which is part of the Optimism superchain, for a few key reasons. First, Lisk is like the cool, efficient cousin in the Ethereum family – it inherits Ethereum’s robust security but cranks up the speed and affordability.
Being RWA-focused, Lisk aligns perfectly with our mission to bridge the gap between digital and physical assets.
As for scalability, Lisk on the Optimism superchain is a major benefit. Fast transactions, low fees, and the ability to handle complex RWA operations – what more could I ask for? By choosing Lisk, we’re futureproofing Momint.
On Momint, users can invest in a wide range of alternative assets, from solar energy to fine art and even whiskey. Your platform offers unique opportunities for individuals looking for exposure in amazing initiatives that speak to them (often referred to as impact investors), and it also serves the eclectic cats looking to diversify their portfolios.
Now, for a fun one: With all these amazing investment options on your platform, which one would you say is your personal favourite? If your portfolio had to pick a favourite child, what would it be—and why?
If I had to pick a favourite child, it would probably be our solar energy projects. It’s like printing money from the sun. Plus, in a place like South Africa, it’s nice to actually keep the lights on for a change. We are expanding to other parts of the world very soon though!
The thing about “building a unicorn” is, you’re either working on an idea that will eventually change everything or you’re chasing a dream that isn’t worth pursuing…😅
I’m paraphrasing here but Tim Draper said you guys are basically guaranteed unicorn status one of these days. Could you shed light on that sentiment? How did it feel to be recognized as such, and what does the road ahead look like for Momint in terms of scaling up? Is your goal primarily to onboard Africa onto Web3, or are you thinking even bigger?
Being called a future unicorn by Tim Draper felt like getting a high-five from Elon Musk – what I mean by that is: It’s exciting, but we’re not letting it go to our heads. Our goal isn’t just to onboard Africa – we’re thinking global-wide, maybe further, Speaking of the gent Elon – Mars needs Web3 too, right?
In terms of the road ahead – we have a lot of work to do. As I mentioned before, we need to simplify things even further. We need to onboard more institutional money to the platform as a means to the end of giving more accessibility to the every-day user. It brings more liquidity and variety to the platform and gives us the fuel we need to do more.
Web3/Blockchain/Crypto have often been hailed as an opportunity for the underdog—a way for people from marginalised backgrounds to participate in wealth creation and technological innovation.
What are Momint’s plans for engaging the most destitute and marginalised communities across Africa? How can we ensure that these individuals/populations also get a seat at the table and are part of this digital revolution?
We’re working on projects that bring Web3 to where it’s needed most. I think the project where we built solar on a Safehouse for women and children survivors of gender-based violence demonstrates that well. And when we build solar on a school – many of the parents bought Digital Shares in it. Minting these Digital shares on chain for us is something we can do now within minutes.
I believe the fact that you can fund building something real, that generates real value so easily and with the latest and greatest in tech is incredibly powerful. And it leverages technologies that have been built by many more people than just us, and billions of lines of code.
So for us, It’s not just about giving people a seat at the table – we want to help them build their own tables.
Finally, as someone at the forefront of Web3 innovation in Africa, what’s your outlook on the broader ecosystem in the continent? How do you see things evolving for blockchain technology in Africa, and what role do you see Momint playing in shaping that future?
Africa isn’t just adopting blockchain – it’s reinventing it. I really hope to continue to be the quirky tour guide through the dense forest that is blockchain projects. We’re here to make sure nobody gets eaten by a bear (market).
Lastly, are you hiring any Momint evangelists, superfans, or foot soldiers? 👀
Are we hiring evangelists? Well, the first thing I need to disclaimer here is that working in a startup is HARD. The rewards are usually just the sense of accomplishment you get from overcoming challenges and team kudos. Being in a startup is for the love of the challenge. Not for money.
It looks sexy from the outside but it’s rough in the ring. If you know anyone who can preach the gospel of Web3 while writing code, navigating regulation, solving user issues and creating insanely good-looking designs – all at the same time, then yes – send them our way. We will definitely put them to the test.
Thanks again, Ahren, for your time and amazing insights. We’re excited to learn more about Momint’s journey and the impact you’re creating in the African Web3 space. Hope you enjoyed answering these questions just as much as we enjoyed crafting them…
If there’s one key takeaway from this conversation, it’s that Web3’s impact in Africa won’t come from hype—it’ll come from utility, accessibility, and real-world value. Momint is proving that blockchain isn’t just for traders and degens; it’s for investors backing tangible assets, communities funding infrastructure, and everyday users finding new ways to participate in wealth creation.
As Ahren put it, “Africa isn’t just adopting blockchain—it’s reinventing it.” And if Momint’s journey so far is anything to go by, the best is still to come.