Projects
Projects
PandaPanda Mobile App
PandaPanda Mobile App
PandaPanda Mobile App
PandaPanda is a mobile-first investment platform designed to help Kenyans build generational wealth by providing commission-free access to the US stock market. The project focuses on removing traditional barriers to entry, such as high fees and complex banking procedures, allowing users to invest in global brands like Apple and Google directly from their phones. It's a commission-free trading, MPESA integration, fractional shares, and fully digital onboarding.
PandaPanda is a mobile-first investment platform designed to help Kenyans build generational wealth by providing commission-free access to the US stock market. The project focuses on removing traditional barriers to entry, such as high fees and complex banking procedures, allowing users to invest in global brands like Apple and Google directly from their phones. It's a commission-free trading, MPESA integration, fractional shares, and fully digital onboarding.
Category
Category
Stocks
Stocks
Fintech
Fintech
Role
Role
Senior Product Designer
Senior Product Designer
Company
Company
PandaPanda
PandaPanda
Duration
Duration
Two months
Problem
Problem
Problem
For many Kenyans, global investing felt out of reach due to high commission fees, the requirement for large starting capital, and the friction of international bank wires. There was a clear need for a transparent, localized solution that made "owning a slice" of the future accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget.
For many Kenyans, global investing felt out of reach due to high commission fees, the requirement for large starting capital, and the friction of international bank wires. There was a clear need for a transparent, localized solution that made "owning a slice" of the future accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget.
Solution
Solution
Solution
The solution is a mobile-first platform, PandaPanda, designed specifically for the Kenyan market to provide commission-free access to over 2,000 global stocks and ETFs. By integrating local payment methods like MPESA and Cashia, I eliminated the friction of international bank wires, allowing users to fund their accounts instantly and securely. To make investing truly accessible to everyone, the platform supports fractional shares, enabling users to "buy a slice" of high-priced stocks like Apple, Disney, or Google with a minimum investment of just KES 500 ($1).
The solution is a mobile-first platform, PandaPanda, designed specifically for the Kenyan market to provide commission-free access to over 2,000 global stocks and ETFs. By integrating local payment methods like MPESA and Cashia, I eliminated the friction of international bank wires, allowing users to fund their accounts instantly and securely. To make investing truly accessible to everyone, the platform supports fractional shares, enabling users to "buy a slice" of high-priced stocks like Apple, Disney, or Google with a minimum investment of just KES 500 ($1).
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
Here are the challenges I encountered.
Trust & Compliance: Designing a frictionless, fully digital KYC (Know Your Customer) process that meets regulatory standards without discouraging users.
Currency Friction: Creating a seamless experience for converting KES to USD via MPESA while maintaining transparency regarding small FX fees.
Education: Balancing a simple UI with the necessary "Risk Disclosures" to ensure users understand the market's fluctuating nature.
Here are the challenges I encountered.
Trust & Compliance: Designing a frictionless, fully digital KYC (Know Your Customer) process that meets regulatory standards without discouraging users.
Currency Friction: Creating a seamless experience for converting KES to USD via MPESA while maintaining transparency regarding small FX fees.
Education: Balancing a simple UI with the necessary "Risk Disclosures" to ensure users understand the market's fluctuating nature.
Result
Result
Result
The final design resulted in a platform trusted by over 2,000 early adopters. Users can now automate their wealth-building through recurring buys, purchase fractional shares of expensive stocks, and receive support with a 30-second average response time. We successfully transformed a complex financial process into a simple, "low-maintenance" habit.
The final design resulted in a platform trusted by over 2,000 early adopters. Users can now automate their wealth-building through recurring buys, purchase fractional shares of expensive stocks, and receive support with a 30-second average response time. We successfully transformed a complex financial process into a simple, "low-maintenance" habit.
Research
Research
Research
To understand the mechanics of stock investment apps, I used the Bamboo mobile app as a key inspiration. This helped me identify industry standards for portfolio tracking and trade execution. I then localized these insights for the Kenyan market by prioritizing MPESA and Cashia as primary funding sources and lowering the minimum investment barrier to just KES 500 ($1).
To understand the mechanics of stock investment apps, I used the Bamboo mobile app as a key inspiration. This helped me identify industry standards for portfolio tracking and trade execution. I then localized these insights for the Kenyan market by prioritizing MPESA and Cashia as primary funding sources and lowering the minimum investment barrier to just KES 500 ($1).
Core Features
Core Features
Core Features
Here are some features:
Here are some features:
Onboarding
Onboarding
Onboarding
Getting started with PandaPanda is designed to be seamless, taking less than 3 minutes from start to finish.
To begin your journey, simply select your country code and enter your phone number and email address. For a fast and secure experience, once you've entered your phone number, you can request your six-digit OTP verification code directly through WhatsApp. This digital-first approach ensures you are verified and ready to explore the global market in record time.
Getting started with PandaPanda is designed to be seamless, taking less than 3 minutes from start to finish.
To begin your journey, simply select your country code and enter your phone number and email address. For a fast and secure experience, once you've entered your phone number, you can request your six-digit OTP verification code directly through WhatsApp. This digital-first approach ensures you are verified and ready to explore the global market in record time.
KYC Verification
KYC Verification
KYC Verification
Before you can dive into the US stock market and start building generational wealth, you’ll need to complete a one-time KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. It’s a standard, secure process required to keep your account safe and fully compliant with our regulated partners.
To breeze through the process, just have the following documents ready to upload:
Proof of Identity: A valid National ID, Passport, or Driver’s License.
Proof of Address & Tax: A bank statement, utility bill, and your KRA PIN.
Before you can dive into the US stock market and start building generational wealth, you’ll need to complete a one-time KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. It’s a standard, secure process required to keep your account safe and fully compliant with our regulated partners.
To breeze through the process, just have the following documents ready to upload:
Proof of Identity: A valid National ID, Passport, or Driver’s License.
Proof of Address & Tax: A bank statement, utility bill, and your KRA PIN.
Add Money
Add Money
Add Money
Funding PandaPanda wallet is simple. To get started, you can top up your account instantly and securely using just your mobile number via M-Pesa or Cashia. Whether you are starting with as little as KES 500 or building a larger portfolio, your funds are automatically converted into USD, allowing you to "buy a slice" of the world's most iconic companies immediately. It is fast, local, and designed to get your capital working for you in minutes.
Funding PandaPanda wallet is simple. To get started, you can top up your account instantly and securely using just your mobile number via M-Pesa or Cashia. Whether you are starting with as little as KES 500 or building a larger portfolio, your funds are automatically converted into USD, allowing you to "buy a slice" of the world's most iconic companies immediately. It is fast, local, and designed to get your capital working for you in minutes.
Buy Stocks
Buy Stocks
Buy Stocks
To ensure you make confident decisions, there is a clear description of each stock alongside essential financial metrics—including share price, market cap, revenue, revenue growth, gross profit, and net profit—providing professional-grade data at your fingertips. Once you've analyzed the stats, you can instantly "own a slice" of your favorite brands through fractional shares with a minimum investment of just $1 (approximately KES 130), all within a 100% commission-free environment.
To ensure you make confident decisions, there is a clear description of each stock alongside essential financial metrics—including share price, market cap, revenue, revenue growth, gross profit, and net profit—providing professional-grade data at your fingertips. Once you've analyzed the stats, you can instantly "own a slice" of your favorite brands through fractional shares with a minimum investment of just $1 (approximately KES 130), all within a 100% commission-free environment.
Set Price Alert
Set Price Alert
Set Price Alert
Instead of watching charts all day, you can set a specific target price for your favorite global brands or ETFs.
The moment the stock hits your desired range, we’ll send an instant notification to your phone so you can "own a slice" at the price that fits your strategy. It’s the ultimate tool to help you invest with confidence and stay on top of the US market without the stress.
Instead of watching charts all day, you can set a specific target price for your favorite global brands or ETFs.
The moment the stock hits your desired range, we’ll send an instant notification to your phone so you can "own a slice" at the price that fits your strategy. It’s the ultimate tool to help you invest with confidence and stay on top of the US market without the stress.
Create Collection
Create Collection
Create Collection
Stay organized and focused with the Creating Collections feature, designed to help you group multiple stocks into custom lists. You can easily monitor their individual performance, real-time prices, and latest news all in one place to stay ahead of the market. Best of all, there is no limit to the number of collections you can create, giving you the freedom to track as many different investment strategies as you wish.
Stay organized and focused with the Creating Collections feature, designed to help you group multiple stocks into custom lists. You can easily monitor their individual performance, real-time prices, and latest news all in one place to stay ahead of the market. Best of all, there is no limit to the number of collections you can create, giving you the freedom to track as many different investment strategies as you wish.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway
PandaPanda is more than just a trading app; it is a tool for financial empowerment. By stripping away commissions and technical jargon, it's a space where global wealth is no longer a luxury for the few, but a reachable goal for every Kenyan with a smartphone. Now, anyone can stop watching from the sidelines and start owning a piece of the global economy.
PandaPanda is more than just a trading app; it is a tool for financial empowerment. By stripping away commissions and technical jargon, it's a space where global wealth is no longer a luxury for the few, but a reachable goal for every Kenyan with a smartphone. Now, anyone can stop watching from the sidelines and start owning a piece of the global economy.
