In this episode of the Fintech Confidential Leaders One on One Series, host Tedd Huff sits down with Pascale Elie, Chairperson of Cellpay and a co-founder of HaitiPay, to explore her contributions to financial services across Haiti and the Caribbean. Pascale shares her background in mathematics and economics, which inspired her drive to solve practical problems for communities without traditional financial access. This interview is a rich discussion about the challenges, strategies, and creative approaches involved in improving financial access in regions where cash is still king.

The Impact of Necessity on Innovation

Pascale describes how the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti served as a wake-up call for financial inclusion. With limited access to banks and cash during the crisis, she recognized the need for alternative ways to connect people with financial services. As a response to the devistaion, HaitiPay emerged, becoming the country’s first privately regulated fintech company. Pascale discusses how she and her team created partnerships, developed trust, and worked tirelessly to meet regulatory needs in an environment that had no framework for such solutions.

From Local to Broader Contexts

Pascale began to look beyond Hati and has expanded her work through Cellpay, a platform designed to connect the diaspora with their local economies. By channeling funds for productive use, like small business investments, to provide financial accessibility in underserved areas. She emphasizes the importance of local partnerships and understanding unique community dynamics as key components of successful financial services.

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Balancing New Tools with Established Systems

Pascale and Tedd discuss the challenges of working with traditional banks, particularly in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean. They highlight the friction between emerging financial platforms and legacy institutions, sharing how building direct relationships with central banks to advocate for regulations tailored to new systems was the anecdote in Hati. Pascale recalls drafting a regulatory framework for Haiti’s central bank to ensure her company’s ability to operate independently.

Empowering Underserved Communities

These initiatives emphasize empowering communities through practical tools. One example is an application designed to replace cash-based savings clubs with a digital system. It enables communities to manage their savings and loans more securely while allowing members of the diaspora to contribute to these savings pools. Pascale notes that trust and transparency are critical for the adoption of such tools, as users want complete control and visibility over their transactions.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Tedd asks Pascale for a bit of advice for those interested in launching a fintech. Pascale quickly states having a clear vision with a strong purpose and fully understanding the problem you aim to address. They discuss the importance of persistence, collaboration, and building a team that shares the same vision. Drawing from her experiences, Pascale also underscores the necessity of navigating unregulated spaces carefully and advocating for changes that benefit both businesses and the communities they serve.

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View form the Crystal Ball

As Pascale looks in to the crystal ball she envisions a world where communities are more connected and technology becomes an enabler for financial inclusion, especially in underserved areas. She predicts advancements in artificial intelligence will enhance efficiency and accessibility but warns that ethical considerations should always guide such developments.

TDLR: 

In this episode of Fintech Confidential: Leaders One on One, host Tedd Huff speaks with Pascale Elie, Chairperson of Cellpay and co-founder of HaitiPay, about her work in improving financial services in Haiti and the Caribbean. Pascale shares how the 2010 earthquake highlighted the need for accessible financial tools, leading to the launch of HaitiPay, Haiti’s first privately regulated fintech company. She discusses the importance of building partnerships, fostering trust, and addressing regulatory gaps to provide effective solutions.

Expanding her efforts, Pascale established Cellpay to connect diaspora funds with local economies, supporting small business investments and community development. She explains how understanding local dynamics and forming strong partnerships are essential for delivering meaningful financial services.

The conversation also covers challenges in working with traditional banks and the process of collaborating with Haiti’s central bank to create regulations that allowed fintech companies to operate independently. Pascale emphasizes practical tools like digital systems for community savings clubs, which offer secure and transparent ways for members to manage their funds.

Pascale shares advice for fintech entrepreneurs, urging them to focus on clear goals, collaborate with the right people, and adapt to unregulated markets by advocating for necessary changes. She also highlights the potential of artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and expand access to financial services, stressing that ethical use of such tools is critical.

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We invite you to the FinTech Islands Conference, where Tedd and Pascale will share more insights alongside industry leaders. This event, taking place in Barbados from January 22-24, 2025, promises to explore how financial systems can continue evolving to address real-world needs.

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Key Highlights:

📌 How a Letter Changed Fintech in Haiti Forever

Pascale Elie shares how writing directly to Haiti’s central bank led to groundbreaking regulatory changes. By advocating for clear guidelines, she secured a framework that allowed her fintech company to operate independently, paving the way for financial services tailored to underserved communities.

📌 Why Trust Matters More Than Tech in Financial Services

Pascale emphasizes that trust is the foundation for successful financial platforms. She explains how clear communication, transparency, and reliability build user confidence, especially in regions where cash dominates transactions.

📌 The Bold Move That Made HaitiPay Stand Out

Launching a fintech company in Haiti wasn’t easy, but Pascale’s decision to operate without traditional banking partners set her apart. She reveals how her team’s focus on alternative systems helped address regulatory gaps and serve communities more effectively.

📌 The Surprising Role of the Diaspora in Local Economies

Pascale explains how funds sent by diaspora members can do more than cover basic needs—they can fuel local business growth. Her work with Cellpay has turned remittances into a source of long-term economic development.

📌 The Biggest Barrier to Financial Growth Nobody Talks About

Pascale identifies high transaction fees as a significant obstacle in Latin America and the Caribbean. She highlights how reducing these costs can expand financial access and improve economic mobility in underserved areas.

📌 What Cellpay Teaches Us About Serving Local Markets

Cellpay’s success lies in its understanding of local needs and culture. Pascale shares how engaging with community leaders and tailoring services has made a difference in building lasting financial solutions.

📌 The One Question Every Fintech Founder Must Answer

Pascale advises aspiring entrepreneurs to ask themselves, “Why am I doing this?” She explains how a clear purpose not only guides decisions but also attracts the right collaborators and builds stronger teams.

How Local Partnerships Became the Secret to Success

Pascale stresses that collaboration with established local players is key to expanding services. She describes how strategic partnerships have helped Cellpay enter new markets and build trust with users.

📌 How Artificial Intelligence Could Change Financial Access

Pascale discusses how AI tools can make financial services more efficient and accessible. She cautions, however, that ethical implementation is essential to ensure these technologies serve communities responsibly.

📌 What Fintech Can Learn From HaitiPay’s Early Struggles

Reflecting on the challenges of launching HaitiPay, Pascale shares lessons about persistence, teamwork, and adapting to unregulated markets. Her experience provides valuable insights for anyone aiming to start a financial service in a challenging environment.

Takeaways:

1️⃣ Build Trust by Prioritizing Transparency

Focus on providing users with clear, real-time updates on their transactions. Transparency builds confidence, especially in communities unfamiliar with financial platforms.

2️⃣ Offer Instant Payment Confirmations

Ensure your platform delivers immediate transaction results. Quick confirmations reassure users and encourage them to continue using the service.

3️⃣ Promote Financial Literacy Programs

Educate users on how to manage their money using modern financial tools. Empowering them with knowledge makes services more effective and widely adopted.

4️⃣ Create a Team Aligned with Your Vision

Recruit and retain individuals who share your mission and goals. A cohesive team brings dedication and drives success through shared objectives.

5️⃣ Digitize Savings Systems for Security and Growth

Develop tools to replace cash-based savings groups with secure alternatives. This approach strengthens financial safety and promotes community investments.

Links

Pascale Elie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascaleelie/ 

X: https://x.com/PascaleElie 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pascale.elie.rene 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pascaleelie/ 

CellPay:

Website: https://cellpay.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cellpaydotcom/ 

X: https://x.com/cellpaydotcom 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CellPaydotcom 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cellpaydotcom/ 

Fintech Confidential

YouTube: https://fintechconfidential.com/watch

Podcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listen

Notifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/access

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

X: https://X.com/FTconfidential

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidential

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidential

Time Stamps:

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About The Guest:

Pascale Elie, Founder & Chairperson | CellPay

Pascale Elie is a Haiti-native entrepreneur and co-founder of HaitiPay, Haiti’s first privately regulated fintech company. Initially launched as a mobile wallet operator, HaitiPay has grown to offer a broad range of payment solutions, including account transfers, cross-institution services, and international remittance deposits.

Pascale also co-founded and leads CellPay Corporation, a U.S.-based fintech focused on linking global remittances to local merchant networks in Latin America and the Caribbean. Using a community-driven approach, CellPay channels diaspora funds to boost local economies through earmarked transfers.

CellPay

CellPay Corporation is a U.S.-based fintech company that provides payment solutions aimed at linking global remittances to local merchant networks across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) markets. The company’s unique approach focuses on connecting diaspora funds to local economies, fostering growth through productive use of transferred money. CellPay’s mission is to boost local economies while ensuring fast, cost-efficient money transfers.

About the Host:

Tedd Huff: 

Tedd Huff is the Founder of Voalyre, a professional services advisory firm focused on global payments and DD3 Media.

Over the past 24 years, he has contributed to FinTech startups as an Advisory Board Member, Co-Founder, and Chief Experience Officer, providing strategic and tactical direction for Global Payments OpenEdge, Heartland Payments, Nuvei, and TSYS, among others, focusing on growth while delivering innovation, process improvements and user experience-driven value to simplify the complexity of payments.

DD3, Media: 

DD3 Media is a media creation, management, and production company delivering engaging content globally

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