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In a country where inflation erodes savings daily and accessing stable currency is a constant struggle, Sats emerged with a bold mission: to give Nigerians control over their financial future. This case study reveals how strategic design thinking transformed an urgent concept into a fully operational financial platform in just 150 days—navigating cultural nuances, regulatory landscapes, and technical complexities along the way.
When Sats approached us, they had a powerful idea but faced daunting challenges: building trust in a skeptical market, crafting intuitive experiences for diverse users, and racing against Nigeria's rapidly devaluing currency. Through a design-first approach that prioritized trust, accessibility, and cultural relevance, we helped Sats create more than just another fintech product—we built a financial lifeline that resonated deeply with Nigerian users while convincing investors to commit $10M in seed funding.
What follows is the story of how thoughtful design decisions across brand, product, and communication channels turned an ambitious vision into a market-ready solution, demonstrating that in times of economic uncertainty, well-crafted design isn't just aesthetically valuable—it's financially essential.
In just five months, Sats went from an idea to a fully functional, investor-backed product—raising $10M in seed funding and positioning itself as a financial lifeline for Nigerians facing currency devaluation.
Raised $10M in seed funding, securing investor confidence and validating market demand
Redesigned product experience to maximize trust, usability, and accessibility
Achieved rapid adoption through a seamless, intuitive wallet interface
Established a credibility-driven brand presence across product, web, and social
Executed a frictionless async workflow across continents, enabling rapid iteration
Sats is a financial technology platform designed to provide Nigerians with a secure way to store, transact, and grow their wealth. It helps users bypass currency instability, enabling seamless peer-to-peer transactions and cross-border remittances. Its mission is clear—to empower Nigerians with financial stability and effortless global transactions, no matter the economic climate.
Retainer
We worked as an embedded design team, ensuring continuity and rapid iteration throughout the process.
Idea stage
We partnered with them from idea to product to securing seed funding.
The team was aware of the typical design process. They had functional and technical understanding, which allowed us to seamlessly collaborate with them across brand, content, product, and web.
The team had a clear understanding of how to work with an external team and when to engage them in their startup journey.
Second-time founders & operators from Big Tech companies like Apple and Google.
They understood what it takes to move a startup from 0 to 1—going from idea to product, and from product to financing.
Nigeria’s economy faces double-digit inflation, making the local currency unstable. Access to USD is limited, and traditional banking systems are riddled with inefficiencies. Sats wanted to build a stable, intuitive, and secure crypto wallet that allowed Nigerians to store wealth in USDC, earn 8% APY, and transact easily through a P2P system.
But execution wasn’t straightforward:
Unclear Product Positioning – The early product lacked clarity, leaning too much on engagement mechanics rather than trust and usability.
Crypto Market Skepticism – Building credibility in a space known for scams and volatility was crucial.
A Race Against Time – Sats needed to go from concept to market in just five months while simultaneously securing investment.
Async Execution Across Continents – Working across time zones, we had to ensure seamless collaboration using Notion for documentation, Miro for process mapping, and Figma for a two-way product feedback loop.
We designed a Nigerian-centric identity, using green and white to reinforce familiarity and trust. The branding integrated elements from Nigeria’s currency and cultural symbols, making it clear that this product was built for Nigerians, by Nigerians.
Launching a startup isn’t for the faint-hearted—it requires precision, speed, and relentless execution. Sats trusted us to take them from idea to launch in record time, and we delivered.
If you’re navigating high-stakes decisions, looking to secure funding, or need to build a product that earns user trust from day one, let’s talk.
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