Driven by Purpose. Powered by First Principles.
Ugochukwu Aronu is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, software engineer, and blockchain innovator, renowned for founding multiple award-winning startups that are shaping Africa’s digital future. From creating the first e-commerce platform of its kind in Southeastern Nigeria at the time to launching Africa’s first decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol—Xend Finance—his mission is to solve real-world economic challenges through technology.
Born in Enugu Nigeria and trained as an Electronic Engineer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ugochukwu took an unconventional route into tech
entrepreneurship. His journey began in 2015 with the founding of UGARSOFT, a software development company providing technology solutions to schools, enterprises, hospitals, and financial institutions.
From UGARSOFT, he developed Ogwugo, an e-commerce and instant delivery platform. Ogwugo was awarded the prestigious Ford Foundation Award in 2020, receiving a $20,000 grant in Aba that facilitated its expansion into Enugu. The platform continues to operate successfully today.
In 2018, Ugochukwu launched Wicrypt, a decentralized internet sharing and monetization network that allows users to earn money by sharing their Wi-Fi. Wicrypt raised $1.5 million from global investors and has grown into a global business with over 1,800 devices deployed across 35+ countries. In 2023, Wicrypt won the “Into the New Worlds” award at the LEAP tech event, securing a $150,000 grant as the top innovation worldwide from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Wicrypt also develops its own operating system for routers and internet devices.
Following that, in 2019, he founded Xend Finance, a DeFi platform that helps individuals and cooperatives hedge against currency devaluation by saving and earning in stable cryptocurrencies. Backed by Binance Labs, Google Launchpad, Hashkey, NGC Capital, and other global investors, Xend Finance has raised over $2.1 million in funding. It stands as Africa’s first DeFi credit union and a leader in blockchain-based financial services on the continent.
Xend also built the first public EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain from Nigeria, focused on Real World Assets (RWA), Decentralized Finance (DeFi), and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN).
Ugochukwu also runs a research lab focused on foundational technologies in energy, communication, and robotics. This lab is driven by a deep belief in understanding systems from first principles to create long-term advancements in
science and technology. The lab’s goal is not commercial profit but the pursuit of knowledge and breakthrough innovations.
In the gaming sector, Ugochukwu established Quiva Games, a video game development studio currently developing its flagship title, Edge of Infinity, in
production for over four years. He also launched Hammer Games, a distribution platform to bring indie and AAA games to broader audiences.
While Ugochukwu is a visionary at the helm of these ventures, he acknowledges the vital role his dedicated teams have played across all companies—bringing passion, brilliance, and resilience to every milestone achieved. He has been recognized by TechCrunch, CoinDesk, and TechPoint Africa, and
has spoken at high-profile conferences such as Binance Blockchain Week, Africa Tech Summit, and Web3 Lagos Conference.
Key Highlights:
- Founder & CEO, Xend Finance
- Founder, Wicrypt
- Founder, Ogwugo
- Founder, UGARSOFT
- Founder, Quiva Games & Hammer Games
- Alumni, Google Launchpad & Binance Labs
- Featured in: TechCrunch, CoinDesk, TechPoint Africa
Whether it’s building decentralized systems, creating new gaming experiences, or exploring how robotics and communication systems can be reimagined,
Ugochukwu Aronu is charting a bold path for Africa’s tech future.
