Sika Financial Group has secured a $2 million seed investment from Aruwa Capital Management through its $40 million Aruwa Capital Fund II. The funding will support the company’s efforts to expand its cross-border payments infrastructure and strengthen financial connectivity across emerging markets.
Founded in 2023 by Emmanuel Ashirifi, Sika Financial Group develops financial infrastructure solutions that facilitate international transactions between businesses, financial institutions, brokers, and payment service providers. The company focuses on addressing challenges associated with cross-border payments, currency conversion, settlement processes, and liquidity management.
The newly secured capital will be used to expand Sika’s regulatory footprint, enhance its clearing and settlement capabilities, broaden its currency corridors, and further develop its technology infrastructure. These investments are intended to improve the efficiency, accessibility, and reliability of cross-border financial transactions in regions where payment systems often remain fragmented.
Sika operates across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, providing settlement capabilities in more than 15 currencies. Through its platform, the company offers foreign exchange settlement services, liquidity aggregation, multilateral netting, delivery-versus-payment settlement, and market data solutions that help financial institutions manage international transactions more effectively.
One of the key challenges facing emerging markets is the limited availability of efficient cross-border financial infrastructure. Many transactions continue to rely on correspondent banking networks, complex bilateral relationships, and settlement processes that increase transaction costs, extend processing times, and restrict access to liquidity.
These challenges are particularly significant in Africa, where a large share of intra-African trade still depends on foreign currencies and financial centers located outside the continent. This dependency often increases transaction costs and creates inefficiencies for businesses seeking to trade across borders.
Sika aims to address these structural issues by providing infrastructure that improves capital efficiency, reduces settlement risk, and enables smoother multi-currency transactions. Its services help financial institutions and businesses move funds more efficiently while optimizing liquidity management across different markets.
The investment represents the fifth transaction completed by Aruwa Capital Fund II, following previous investments in Yikodeen, Toasties, Onchek, and Polysmart. Aruwa Capital Management launched the fund to support growth-stage companies in Nigeria and Ghana that demonstrate strong potential for expansion and market impact.
According to Emmanuel Ashirifi, the increasing volume of trade and investment among emerging economies requires modern financial infrastructure capable of supporting efficient capital flows. He noted that the new investment will enable Sika to extend its infrastructure solutions to a larger number of financial institutions operating across multiple regions.
The funding comes at a time when economic integration among emerging markets is accelerating. As trade relationships strengthen across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, demand for efficient payment systems, liquidity solutions, and settlement infrastructure is expected to increase significantly.
By expanding its multi-currency settlement network and strengthening its technology platform, Sika Financial Group aims to support greater financial connectivity among emerging economies. The company’s growth strategy focuses on reducing transaction friction, improving access to liquidity, and creating more efficient pathways for cross-border commerce and investment.
Overall, the $2 million seed investment provides Sika with additional resources to scale its operations and address persistent financial infrastructure gaps. Through enhanced settlement capabilities, expanded currency coverage, and improved payment technology, the company seeks to facilitate faster, more secure, and more cost-effective international transactions across emerging markets.
