Interview with Andre Hugo, CEO and Co-Founder of Spot Mobile SA

SpotMoney’s journey with customer rewards has evolved into offering airtime as a reward through the Spot Platform. Can you share how this innovative approach has enhanced customer loyalty and set you apart in the South African market?

It’s no secret - the relationship between access to the internet and the positive influence it has on the economy is well-documented. Numerous studies and statistics have highlighted how populations connected to the internet can improve economic growth, productivity and development. According to data from the World Bank, a 10% increase in internet access can lead to a 1.38% increase in GDP growth in developing countries.

While some South Africans may take airtime for granted, for others, it’s the key to success – whether it’s sending a job application, advancing their education, or staying connected with loved ones. It’s becoming increasingly clear that closing the ‘digital divide’ for RSA means that we need to take active strides towards making connectivity inclusive for all, allowing room for more economic engagement. Now, more than ever, it’s time to champion access via airtime for a more inclusive economic landscape.

Spot is making Airtime free

At Spot Money, we’re committed to empowering our customers with access to essential financial tools and the internet. We give every Spot user R50 free airtime on a monthly basis, no strings attached, in addition users can earn a minimum of 3.5% airtime back every time they shop using their Spot Money Mastercard. Yes, it’s that simple: every time you spend, you earn airtime on Spot Mobile, connecting you while you go about your daily life.

Building your own MVNO in just three months is an impressive feat. How did this move enable you to better address the trust and engagement challenges that a Fintech faces?

Building an MVNO in just three months was a pivotal move for Spot Money, especially in addressing the trust and engagement challenges often faced by fintech companies. Early adoption in app and financial products is always tough, users need to feel confident before fully embracing a disruptive platform. By offering a Spot Mobile SIM with R50 free value, we’re able to build trust with users from day one. It’s a tangible and immediate benefit that shows users we’re invested in providing value beyond just the Spot Money app.

We’ve seen improved early life engagement from these users who then go on to make their first transaction, which often involves purchasing of a voucher, a peer to per payment or an online purchase. This is crucial, as many of our users are first-time online transactors. By offering this pathway, we’re effectively democratizing eCommerce and digital services, making them more accessible to a new cohort of South Africans.

Additionally , we’re committed to making airtime rewards a key differentiator for Spot Money, we are the first Fintech rewarding South Africa with Airtime. By offering this to our customers, we’re unlocking a game-changing benefit that allows users to transact, communicate, and be active participants in the South African economy. This commitment aligns with our broader goal of driving financial inclusion and creating a more inclusive digital landscape for all South Africans.

With the rise of digital-first strategies in both fintech and telecom, what role does SpotMoney’s eSIM offering play in aligning your banking and connectivity goals?

By integrating a Spot Mobile eSIM into the Spot Money app, we are essentially merging two essential services — telecom and banking — into one unified digital experience. This simplifies the customer journey, enhances personalization, and strengthens loyalty by providing tangible value through digital-first innovation. Spot Money’s ability to offer seamless connectivity and payments in one easy to use platform means customers are less likely to seek alternatives, building long-term engagement and satisfaction.

Whilst a number of people have existing SIMs with MNO’s in their phones, having an additional eSIM from Spot Mobile with free airtime on it provides a back-up when there are connectivity issues on the other network, allowing our customers to always be connected.

Your subscription packages range from small data and airtime bundles to large, unlimited plans. How does this diversified offering cater to the needs of different user segments, and what insights guided this tiered approach?

Spot Mobile's diversified subscription packages ranging from small data and airtime bundles to large, unlimited plans, catering to the needs of our different user segments. We have seen that by offering flexibility and choice users get to choose the plan based on their specific usage patterns, preferences, and budget. Our subscriptions are being used by students, Uber and Bolt drivers through to young tech savvy professionals and high net worth individuals.

This diversification of our Spot Mobile products aligns with the Spot Money philosophy that you are in control and therefore have the right to choose and engage on your terms. This approach ensures that all segments of our customer base, from occasional users to data-hungry consumers to the chatter box get the most value for their money.

SpotMoney connects banking and telecommunications under one platform. Looking ahead, how do you see this fintech and telecom integration evolving, and what new opportunities or challenges do you foresee?

Spot is focused on evolving into a more seamless, interconnected ecosystem, where financial services and telecom offerings are deeply integrated to provide a truly digital-first experience. As we grow and learn from our customers wants and needs, we see new products being enabled on the Spot platform linked to our Airtime Rewards strategy.

South Africa is at a pivotal moment in its payment evolution to enable financial inclusion, with the planned roll out of the Faster Payment Network (similar to UPI in India and PIX in Brazil) by the South African Reserve Bank, we see an opportunity to be part of this ecosystem enabling our Customers to pay using traditional channels and give them the ability to pay with Airtime. After all Airtime is already a currency, it’s just not effectively enabled from a customer experience perspective and or accepted at scale in retail.

For further information on Spot please visit the Spot website or follow Andre Hugo on Linkedin to find out more.