Neil Welman

Neil Welman is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Lula, formerly known as Lulalend.14 He has extensive experience in the financial services industry, particularly in fintech.1 Welman co-founded Lula in 2014, a company based in Cape Town, South Africa, that provides fast and flexible funding solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).25

As CTO, Welman has been instrumental in developing Lula's technology-driven approach to lending. The company leverages proprietary credit-scoring algorithms and AI to evaluate applicants and provide funding quickly.2 Under Welman's technical leadership, Lula has expanded its services beyond lending to offer a comprehensive cash flow management and business banking platform for SMEs.2

Welman has shown a keen interest in learning from global fintech trends, particularly those in China, to improve Lula's offerings. He has written about his experiences studying Chinese fintech models and how they could be applied to the African context.3 His focus areas include scaling operations, utilizing data and AI for credit assessment, developing innovative lending products, and reaching underserved rural communities.3

Throughout his tenure at Lula, Welman has been involved in several key developments, including the launch of Lulapay, a payment tool for local SMEs6, and the company's rebranding from Lulalend to Lula, which signified a broader shift towards comprehensive SME banking solutions.2