Through this partnership, fintech startups and enterprises operating on enza’s platform will gain access to embedded Mastercard capabilities, allowing them to build tailored solutions for both individual consumers and business clients.

The collaboration is designed to streamline development processes and reduce barriers to market entry for fintech players.

A recent report by the European Investment Bank highlights the rapid evolution of Africa’s fintech sector, with the number of firms on the continent nearly tripling since 2020.

Many of these companies are embedding payment functionalities within broader platforms that address gaps in financial inclusion and seek alternatives to expensive, outdated systems.

With this initiative, Mastercard’s complete suite of payment tools becomes readily available to emerging fintechs across Africa, promoting faster go-to-market timelines and reduced technical complexity.

“Our mission is to empower fintech innovation by opening access to our trusted network. This partnership with enza supports that goal by allowing developers in Africa to more efficiently deploy secure, embedded payment features,” said Mete Guney, Executive Vice President of Market Development for Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Mastercard.

As part of the agreement, enza will manage the integration with Mastercard’s infrastructure while offering services such as consumer and merchant account hosting, system security, and platform reliability.

Fintech partners will have the option to create pre-paid and post-paid accounts and issue both physical and digital Mastercard-branded cards. Businesses, on the other hand, will benefit from seamless payment acceptance across physical stores, websites, and mobile apps.

“enza is committed to democratizing access to digital payments across Africa. By working closely with Mastercard, we’re delivering a powerful platform that helps fintechs avoid the cost and complexity of building infrastructure from scratch,” said Andrew Key, Executive Director at enza.

“Our goal is to help innovators scale faster and more securely.”

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, enza operates regional offices in Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa.