Kokomlemle, Accra – March 2025: This year marks the 20^th anniversary of Hubtel, Ghana’s leading digital payments and commerce company. Since our inception in 2005 as SMSGH, we set out with one clear mission: to make it easier for companies to connect with their customers. 

Over the past 20 years, our story has been defined not only by bold decisions and breakthrough innovations but also by our willingness to learn from failure. Each setback has served as a stepping stone toward growth.  

In the early days, SMSGH enhanced business-to-customer communication through bulk SMS messaging, quickly gaining traction. But as technology evolved, so did we.

As our CEO, Alex Bram, often says, “Never be afraid to jump at the sun; you will never reach it, but your feet will leave the ground.” This mindset has guided the leadership and entire team through challenges and inspired us to turn failures into invaluable lessons. 
 
By 2015, we recognized that to stay ahead, we needed to rethink our future. That realization led us to the Stanford Seed Business Transformation Program, which helped us reimagine our direction, culminating in our rebranding to Hubtel in 2017.

But the transition wasn’t without its setbacks. Our first attempt at online payments, MPower, didn’t gain the traction we had hoped for. Similarly, the initial launch of the Hubtel app faced technical challenges and a lukewarm response. However, we remained committed to our vision, redesigning and refining the platform into a more robust platform. 

“Every setback was a stepping stone. It pushed us to reimagine our strategies and ultimately transform Hubtel into what it is today,” says our co-founder, Ernest Apenteng.

Today, with 726 employees across eight cities, Hubtel has become Ghana’s leading digital payment and commerce platform, serving multiple industries and redefining how businesses connect with communities. 

A Celebration of Impact and Giving Back 

To mark this milestone, Hubtel is hosting an exclusive in-person event that brings together partners, customers, and employees to celebrate this milestone, reflect on our achievements, and look ahead to an even more exciting future.

Beyond the celebration, we are reaffirming our commitment to the communities that have supported us over the years. Our CSR initiative will focus on reinvesting in community-driven projects that create lasting impact. 

This celebration is for every business, customer, and partner who has been part of our journey. As we step into the future, we are not merely chasing possibilities; we’re shaping the future of digital payments and e-commerce in Africa.  

With a solid foundation and an unwavering commitment to innovation, Hubtel remains dedicated to driving Africa forward by ensuring that everyone can find and pay for everyday essentials. 

Here’s to 20 years of connecting businesses to communities!