Liyi Victor is an entrepreneur, startup mentor, product leader, and fintech expert with over 15 years of experience spanning open banking, payments, API development, FX, e-commerce, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and SaaS industries. He is the founder and visionary behind Gladefinance, a product of Glade Inc., a Techstars-backed fintech startup that provides seamless financial services for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including banking, payment solutions, and expense management, designed to empower businesses and drive economic prosperity.
Throughout his career, Liyi has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive product strategy, foster business growth, manage cross-functional teams, and bring innovative products to market. His leadership has led to groundbreaking achievements, including the adoption of AI-driven solutions and the development of customer-centric products that combine innovation with exceptional user experiences.
At Glade Inc., Liyi spearheaded the creation of an all-in-one financial operating system called Gladefinance. This platform supports a range of essential services such as banking, multi-currency accounts, cross-border payments, payment gateways, APIs, point-of-sale (POS) systems, cards, and business tools. Under his leadership, the platform processed over $2 billion in transactions, onboarded more than 300,000 accounts and achieved a remarkable 25% month-over-month growth in transaction volumes. By integrating AI and ML-powered fraud detection systems and introducing automated compliance features, Liyi enhanced efficiency, customer trust, and regulatory adherence.
In addition to his work at Gladefinance, Liyi serves as a Fractional Product Leader for some of the largest fintech companies across the UK and Europe, helping them navigate complex product challenges and drive innovation. He is also a Startup Mentor at Innovest Afrika, where he empowers early-stage startups by guiding them through product development, market-entry, and scaling strategies. Beyond this, Liyi works as a Senior Product Adviser at Yottabit Consulting LLC, offering strategic insights on product innovation, execution, and market alignment to help businesses achieve sustainable growth and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Liyi’s inspiration for founding Gladefinance was rooted in his personal frustration with traditional banking systems, which he found to be slow, expensive, and opaque. By addressing these issues, he created a platform that simplifies financial management, promotes transparency, and supports the growth of SMEs.
Under his leadership, Gladefinance has participated in prestigious global accelerator programs, including Techstars, The Baobab Network, Seedstars, Expert Dojo, and the Fintech Foundation Incubator by Integrated Finance. In 2021, Liyi led Gladefinance to win the Migration Entrepreneurship Prize Award, co-organized by Seedstars and the Peace and Human Rights Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Africa's Most Innovative Fintech Brand of the Year in 2022.
Liyi is widely recognized as an industry expert, with a diverse portfolio of public appearances, publications, and thought leadership contributions. His insights have been featured in prominent media outlets such as BusinessDay (“Meet Liyi Victor, Innovator Simplifying Financial Solutions for Businesses”), TechPoint Africa (“Meet the Interswitch Mafia”), and Integrated Finance’s Founder Chatroom Blog (“Simplifying Financial Tools for Businesses in Emerging Markets”).
In addition to his media presence, Liyi has contributed two op-ed articles to TechPoint Africa, showcasing his expertise in open banking and cybersecurity. He has been a guest speaker on platforms such as the Africa Radio Tech Show and the Venture Valley Podcast, where he shared insights on the future of African banking, payments, and common pitfalls fintech entrepreneurs should avoid.
Liyi has also spoken at high-profile events, including TMCON 2024, Africa’s largest tech and media creators festival; Startup Summit Nigeria, where he participated in the “Digital Disruptions in Industries” panel; and the MoneyLIVE Summit 2025 in London, a premier global gathering of banking and payments industry leaders.
Liyi holds an MBA and a BSc in Computer Engineering, providing him with a solid foundation in strategy and leadership. Additionally, he has earned certifications in AI Product Management, Product Strategy, Agile Product Management, and AI/ML, reflecting his commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and best practices.
As a mentor, thought leader, and innovator, Liyi Victor continues to inspire and empower businesses and individuals, fostering technological advancement and economic development across different markets.