iKhokha grew from a frustrating card-machine experience into one of South Africa’s best-known fintech businesses before being acquired by Nedbank. Matt Putman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of iKhokha, explains how the business began after he experienced the challenges small companies faced with traditional card payments while running a Durban nightclub. He discusses iKhokha’s early decision to build its own payment hardware, why the company eventually changed direction, and how focusing on software and customer experience helped unlock greater growth. Putman also unpacks Nedbank’s acquisition of iKhokha, including what the bank gained from the deal and why preserving iKhokha’s entrepreneurial culture remains important. The conversation also covers the next phase of growth, including SME funding, combining banking and payments into a single platform, and expanding into other African markets. Putman closes with lessons from entrepreneurship, including resilience, steady improvement, and the importance of hiring people who strengthen the business.