Julian Kanjere is a Lecturer in the MPhil in Financial Technology program at the University of Cape Town Financial Innovation Hub (FinHub), where he plays a vital role in driving the Hub’s academic and research agenda. He teaches the Financial Software Engineering course, equipping students with essential technical skills at the intersection of software development and financial technology.

Julian is currently pursuing a PhD focused on decentralised systemic stress testing in interbank networks. His research explores privacy-preserving approaches to modeling financial systemic risk using network analysis and blockchain technology. The study incorporates advanced cryptographic techniques, such as secret sharing and zero-knowledge proofs, alongside blockchain networks as commitment devices and reputational incentives.

Beyond academia, Julian is a successful fintech entrepreneur, having founded two spin-off startups:

• Mandla Money: A blockchain-powered SMS wallet that enables users in low-tech environments to send and receive digital assets using mobile phones. It has gained recognition for its potential to promote financial inclusion and was selected for the Ripple Accelerator in Singapore.
• FoodPrint: A blockchain-based platform providing supply chain transparency in agriculture, allowing stakeholders to trace food origins and ensure sustainability and trust in the agricultural value chain.

Julian also actively represents FinHub at global fintech and blockchain events, including the Apex XRPL Developer Summit and UBRI Connect, where he shares insights from his research and entrepreneurial ventures.

Through his teaching, research, and industry engagement, Julian Kanjere continues to contribute significantly to Africa’s fintech ecosystem, supporting FinHub’s mission to promote financial inclusion, innovation, and economic growth across the continent.