Little Wheel is a financial‑technology startup focused on providing daily savings solutions for the informal sector. It was founded in Nigeria with plans to scale across Africa. The informal economy is enormous but often excluded from formal financial services. Many micro‑businesses and individuals rely on community savings schemes such as Ajo/Esusu or cooperatives, exposing them to fraud and inefficiency

Role: Product Designer (UI/UX)

Deliverables: Mobile App Design, Design System, Prototyping

Tools: Figma

Client: LittleWheel

In the informal sector, the hurdle isn't just technology; it’s trust.

The Problem: Traditional Ajo/Esusu systems are prone to "disappearing" with people's money. However, formal banks are too intimidating or distant for a market woman or a bike rider.

The UX Barrier: High illiteracy rates, low-end smartphones, and inconsistent internet access mean a "standard" banking UI will fail.

The Goal: Create a secure, agent-led digital ecosystem that feels as familiar and trustworthy as a physical community contribution.

We didn't just build one app; we built a bridge between the digital and physical worlds.

The Agent App: Designed for high-speed, offline-first transactions so agents can collect savings in busy markets without lag.

The Admin Dashboard: Focused on transparency and fraud detection to ensure every kobo is accounted for.

The Brand/Website: Built to establish legitimacy for partners and stakeholders.

Key Design Feature: (e.g., Visual receipts or SMS notifications to provide instant psychological "proof" of savings to the user.)

User Reach: Successfully onboarded 3,000+ active savers (traders, vendors, and transport workers).

Efficiency: Reduced the time it takes to record a contribution from minutes to seconds.

Impact: Provided a digital paper trail for people who were previously "invisible" to the financial system, potentially opening doors for future micro-loans.