Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
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Sylvio Aurelien CONTAYON

Summary

Results-driven fintech and financial inclusion leader with over 10 years of experience across mobile money, green finance, blockchain, and digital payments. Proven expertise in building strategic partnerships, managing operations in Francophone Africa, and launching inclusive fintech solutions at scale. Bilingual communicator with strong leadership, project management, and regulatory coordination skills. Passionate about bridging financial ecosystems between Africa and the world.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Founder

SokoPay
10.2024 - Current
  • Built SokoPay from idea to launch, providing a multi-currency e-wallet (fiat & crypto), gift card store, and cross-border payment service.
  • Integrated mobile money, credit card, and crypto payment rails with API partners (CinetPay, Dynamic, Rewardable).
  • Secured strategic partnerships, designed go-to-market plan, and managed compliance & KYC framework.
  • Achieved +$1M volume in cross-border trades and deployed V2 MVP using FlutterFlow + Replit backend.

Regional Manager

Oval Labs Inc.
03.2024 - Current
  • Company Overview: Blockchain backed Infrastructure
  • Oversaw expansion and operations across Francophone West Africa: entity registration, banking, taxation, compliance.
  • Built and maintained client portfolios and partner pipelines. (+ $20M monthly volume)
  • Represented the company in regional strategic alliances and events.
  • Web3 Infrastructure

Country Manager – Ivory Coast

Yellow Card Financial
12.2021 - 03.2024
  • Launched and managed Ivory Coast operations for Africa's leading crypto exchange.
  • Supported regulatory alignment, licensing efforts, and local company setup.
  • Built key B2B relationships and implemented strategic market entry campaigns.
  • Contributed to cross-departmental execution of marketing, compliance, and growth initiatives.

Director of Green Finance

Green Invest Africa
03.2021 - 11.2021
  • Facilitated green SME access to climate financing from institutions (AfDB, GIZ, BOAD, UNDP).
  • Coordinated project execution and partner engagement across West Africa.
  • Delivered financial advisory and impact reporting for sustainable investments.
  • Enabled the firm to raise funding ($9M) from the African Guarantee Fund by designing a capacity-building fund to finance green SMEs.

Consolidation and Reporting Manager

La Poste de Côte d’Ivoire
06.2018 - 02.2021
  • Managed Western Union and financial product operations.
  • Led financial forecasting, compliance, and performance analysis.

Back Office Assistant – Mobile Money

Moov Côte d’Ivoire
01.2013 - 02.2016
  • Produced daily, monthly, and annual financial reports.
  • Contributed to training material development and forecasting.

Education

Master of Business Administration -

PIGIER CI
Côte d'Ivoire
01.2015

Bachelor's Degree - Marketing

PIGIER CI
Côte d'Ivoire
01.2013

High School Diploma (BAC) -

Cours Secondaire Méthodiste Plateau
Côte d'Ivoire
01.2010

Skills

  • Investment Readiness
  • Financial Inclusion
  • Fintech
  • Blockchain
  • Web3
  • Cross-border Payments
  • Mobile Money
  • Project Management
  • Operations Management
  • AML/KYC Policy
  • Licensing
  • UEMOA
  • MSB frameworks
  • Public Speaking
  • Strategic Partnerships
  • Financial analysis
  • Strategic planning
  • Risk assessment

References

  • Hassanatou Tall, Head of Francophone - Ejara +241 06 62 58 64 / hassanatou@ejara.io
  • Jason Marshall, COO Yellow Card Financial +1 469 664 1342 / jason@yellowcard.io
  • Franck Detoh, Senior Manager Solutions Delivery Visa, Sub-Saharan Africa +225 07 89 07 14 31 / fdetoh@visa.com

Timeline

Founder

SokoPay
10.2024 - Current

Regional Manager

Oval Labs Inc.
03.2024 - Current

Country Manager – Ivory Coast

Yellow Card Financial
12.2021 - 03.2024

Director of Green Finance

Green Invest Africa
03.2021 - 11.2021

Consolidation and Reporting Manager

La Poste de Côte d’Ivoire
06.2018 - 02.2021

Back Office Assistant – Mobile Money

Moov Côte d’Ivoire
01.2013 - 02.2016

Master of Business Administration -

PIGIER CI

Bachelor's Degree - Marketing

PIGIER CI

High School Diploma (BAC) -

Cours Secondaire Méthodiste Plateau

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Sylvio Aurelien CONTAYON