Andrew Milne, co-founder and co-CEO of the lending-as-a-service fintech Kuunda, has died at age 54. Kuunda confirmed his death in a LinkedIn statement, noting that he passed away on October 13, 2026. The company did not disclose a cause of death and requested privacy for his wife and children as tributes began to circulate across Africa's technology sector.
Company Confirmation
Kuunda confirmed Milne's death in a statement on LinkedIn, saying he passed away on October 13, 2026. The company did not disclose a cause of death. It described him as an energetic and resilient leader who was loved and deeply respected by those who worked with him and asked that the privacy of his wife and children be respected.
Final Days and Secondary Share Sale
Days before his death, Milne had been celebrating the completion of a secondary share sale at Kuunda. He was last active publicly on October 13, when he commented on LinkedIn about Condia's coverage of Kuunda's US$5 million secondary share sale. The transaction reflected continued investor interest in the company's lending infrastructure.
Early Career in Healthcare
Before entering fintech, Milne held senior roles in South Africa's health sector. He served as managing director of Virgin Life Care from 2004 to 2008, helping to drive health management services. He then led Hello Doctor as CEO from 2009 to 2015, and under his leadership the company expanded across 10 African countries.
Mobile Money and Fintech Leadership
Milne joined the mobile money company Zoona as chief operating officer in 2015, bringing operational experience to the digital payments sector. At Zoona, he focused on agent networks that extended financial services to underbanked communities. He held the role until 2017 and co-founded Kuunda in 2018, shifting his focus to lending-as-a-service infrastructure.
Building Kuunda and Measuring Impact
Under Milne's leadership, Kuunda grew into a significant player in digital credit infrastructure, working with businesses to provide credit products to underserved users. According to Kyane Kassiri, the company has facilitated more than 870 million loans and US$4.4 billion in credit. It has reached over 14 million people and businesses, reflecting its role in expanding financial access across the continent.
A Legacy in African Digital Services
Milne's career spanned digital healthcare, mobile money, and credit infrastructure, with a consistent focus on broadening access to essential services. He helped scale Hello Doctor across African markets and supported Zoona's agent networks before building Kuunda's B2B lending platform. His work touched millions of users and influenced how fintech companies approach credit delivery in emerging markets.
Mentorship and Industry Tributes
Kassiri, an early-stage investor in mobility unicorn Moove and Egyptian investing app Thndr, paid tribute to Milne on LinkedIn. He described Milne as one of Africa's true tech pioneers, a proud father, and a mentor to founders who supported entrepreneurs through Techstars and Startupbootcamp. Kassiri said Milne helped push forward digital healthcare and financial inclusion, calling his death a tremendous loss for the African tech ecosystem.
Milne's passing marks a profound loss for the African technology community, where he was known as both a builder and a mentor. His work across healthtech, mobile money, and fintech helped shape essential digital services for millions of people. Kuunda has asked that the privacy of his wife and children be respected, while collaborators, founders, and investors remember his contribution to the continent.