The program offers a concentrated 12-week period of personalized training and one-on-one mentorship for seed and Series A startups.

 

Participants gain exclusive access to resources, development opportunities, and potential funding.

This year’s cohort boasts a wider geographical reach, with startups from 28 African countries participating.

 

This signifies a significant increase from the inaugural program, which included representatives from 18 nations.

 

Another noteworthy aspect is the rise in female leadership within the chosen startups.  The percentage of female-led companies jumped from 43% in the first edition to a commendable 65% in the second.

The selected startups tackle a variety of challenges and opportunities in the African fintech landscape.

 

Their solutions span neo-banking, merchant payments, credit scoring, risk and identity management, embedded finance, social commerce, and escrow services, to name a few.

“Visa is committed to fostering innovation while promoting financial inclusion and accessibility across the ecosystem,” said Aida Diarra, Visa’s Vice President and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Launched in June 2023, the Visa Fintech Accelerator program aligns with Visa’s ongoing commitment to propel Africa’s digital economy. This commitment includes a $1 billion investment pledge by 2027 to revolutionize the continent’s payments landscape.

The virtual program culminates in a live Demo Day where startups showcase their innovations to key players in the ecosystem, potential investors, angel investors, and venture capitalists.

 

Below are the selected startups: