Fintech · SFX

Cross-border tuition payments and SFX Points

Multi-currency tuition flows over bank rails with compliance built in, plus a points economy that brings students back each term. Now processing US$10M+ in payments.

Product lead · Architect · Advisor

The problem

Paying tuition abroad is slow and expensive. Families juggle exchange rates, bank transfers that take days and institutions that need proof of payment before a student can enrol.

My role

I joined SFX as its early product partner in December 2023, designed the system architecture for its payment flows and built the product with the team. SFX now processes between US$10 million and US$15 million in payments.

How it works

Pay in your currency. A family pays in local currency; SFX quotes the exchange up front and lands the fee in the institution's currency.
Bank rails, orchestrated. Collection and payout run over banking partners in each corridor, with every payment tracked from initiation to the institution's confirmation.
Compliance in the flow. The compliance logic sits inside the payment journey, not after it, so a payment is cleared before it moves. SFX is registered as a Money Services Business with FinCEN.
SFX Points. A points economy with spend challenges, timed competitions, a leaderboard and cashback rewards students for paying through SFX and brings them back each term.

Why it matters

Cross-border payments are a trust business. Clear quotes, visible status and a reason to come back turn a one-off transfer into a relationship.

System

Payments, wallets, gifting and payouts

A payment service that keeps money, virtual gifts, subscriptions and payouts apart, and wires payment straight into who may watch.

PaymentsLedgersEntitlement

Cross-border tuition payments and SFX Points

The problem

My role

How it works

Why it matters

Related systems

Payments, wallets, gifting and payouts

The problem

My role

How it works

Why it matters