Our Mission
We believe everyone deserves access to fair credit. Alexander's journey from Somerset East to Silicon Valley taught him that technology alone isn't enough— you need to understand the human cost of financial exclusion.
Meet Alexander Schmitt
Mercator Fellow, serial entrepreneur, and the founder behind World Chain Nano-Credits. Alexander's unique journey from teaching in South African townships to building cutting-edge fintech solutions gives him unparalleled insight into both the human cost of financial exclusion and the technology needed to solve it.
The Origin of Our Mission
Before AI and blockchain, there was Somerset East, South Africa — 2010. This is where Alex first witnessed the human cost of financial exclusion.
Living in the township with a local family
Graduation ceremony at Johnson Nqonqoza School
Making friends with the neighborhood kids
"I lived in Somerset East township in a mud house with a local family — the only white person living there. Every morning I needed 10 extra minutes because people constantly stopped to talk. 'Hello my brother from another mother,' one teenager said."
The same financial exclusion Alex witnessed there — mothers choosing between food and school fees, families trapped by predatory lenders — exists in millions of communities worldwide. Fifteen years later, we're building the solution those families deserved.
The Breakthrough: Poor Economics
"I was reading Poor Economics and realized: blockchain already offers the technological solutions to break the poverty cycle. The problem isn't the technology — it's making it accessible for those who need it most."
Evidence-Based
Small, targeted interventions beat broad aid programs. We test with real users, real merchants, real transactions.
One Problem at a Time
Not solving all poverty — just one specific gap: access to tiny amounts of credit exactly when needed.
Trust the Community
Merchants know their customers better than any algorithm. Our model puts local trust at the center.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
NanoCredit directly advances three of the UN's global goals for 2030.
No Poverty
One emergency loan at predatory rates can trap a family for years. Nano-credits break that cycle — fair access to small amounts exactly when it matters most.
Decent Work & Economic Growth
Micro-merchants gain new customers they couldn't reach before. Borrowers build a credit history that opens doors to the formal economy.
Reduced Inequalities
1.4 billion adults worldwide have no access to formal credit. We build financial infrastructure for the people the traditional system was never designed to serve.
Leadership & Expertise
Founder & CEO
Alexander Schmitt
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Education: M.Sc. degrees from Shanghai Jiaotong University and KU Leuven
Fellowship: Mercator Fellow with focus on AI and blockchain applications
Mission: Built the world's first production-ready nano-credit platform after witnessing financial exclusion firsthand in South Africa
Expertise: Combines deep community understanding from teaching in South African townships with cutting-edge blockchain and AI technology to deliver financial inclusion at scale
Advisory Board
Benjamin Föckersperger
Serial Entrepreneur & Investor
Founder of Föckersperger Ventures, a Berlin-based incubator and accelerator fund. 15+ years building and scaling businesses including Coronatest.de (50+ locations, 300+ employees) and Jackpot.de. Deep expertise in fundraising, business development, and blockchain ventures.
Sabine Sparwasser
Strategic Diplomatic Advisor
40 years in the Foreign Service, former German Ambassador to Canada. As the new Dean of Mercator-Kolleg, she mentors Alexander during his fellowship year and supports our international expansion strategy.
