The partnership was announced at a recent event held in Lagos, co-hosted by both organizations.

“Securing funding is a major hurdle for many African tech entrepreneurs,” said Dickson Nsofor, CEO of Kora.

“Through this partnership with Panache Ventures, we aim to bridge that gap by offering mentorship, funding guidance, and fostering collaborations that will empower groundbreaking startups to reshape Africa’s technological landscape.”

Founded in 2017, Kora simplifies cross-border transactions within Africa. Their payment gateway allows businesses in countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria to accept payments in local currencies, regardless of the customer’s location.

Kora’s solutions extend beyond basic payments, catering to industries like gaming, hospitality, and e-commerce.

Notably, their USD card-acquiring feature, launched in March 2023, enables merchants to accept payments in US dollars.

Kora’s international presence is further solidified by their UK office, established in partnership with the West Midlands Growth Company in 2022.

Prashant Matta, General Partner at Panache Ventures and lead investor for Kora, also spoke at the event.

He highlighted the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit within Africa’s tech sector and emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to empower innovative startups across the continent.