Visa has unveiled 18 high-growth fintech startups from 10 African countries at the fifth cohort Demo Day of its Africa Fintech Accelerator, marking a milestone as the programme surpasses 100 startups supported across the continent.
The showcase took place during GITEX Africa in Marrakech, bringing together founders, investors, and industry stakeholders to spotlight emerging solutions shaping Africa’s digital payments landscape.
Since its launch, the accelerator has backed 104 startups across five cohorts, representing a combined valuation of $1.4 billion. The programme is designed to help fintechs scale through mentorship, strategic support, and access to Visa’s global network, while opening pathways to commercial partnerships.
The latest cohort reflects the breadth of Africa’s fintech ecosystem, with startups operating across 28 markets and building solutions that span payments, credit, and broader financial services.
Beyond funding and mentorship, the accelerator is increasingly becoming a platform for ecosystem collaboration, with partnerships forming between alumni and industry players.
In Morocco, Zambia-based fintech Zazu (Cohort 4) is working with Chari (Cohort 1) to support the launch of a neobank offering for SMEs, leveraging Chari’s issuance capabilities developed with Visa’s support.
Meanwhile, Credable (Cohort 3), which provides digital credit and savings solutions across markets including Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, is partnering with Onafriq to expand access to credit. The collaboration aims to deliver scalable digital credit solutions powered by Visa’s Flexible Credential, targeting underserved markets.
Other alumni are exploring new frontiers. Kredete is scaling its stablecoin-linked card offering across multiple African markets and into the Gulf, while MoneyHash has entered a multi-year agreement to integrate Visa’s Cybersource, enabling broader payment acceptance across the Middle East and North Africa.
These partnerships point to a shift in how fintech growth is being driven — less by isolated innovation, and more through collaboration across the ecosystem.
Visa says the accelerator’s role is evolving beyond startup support into a broader ecosystem enabler, helping to connect fintechs with infrastructure providers, markets, and capital.
“What makes Africa’s fintech story so powerful is the growing spirit of partnership across founders, enablers, and industry leaders,” said Godfrey Sullivan, Senior Vice President and Head of Product and Solutions for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Visa.
“As the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator surpasses 100 startups supported, we are seeing firsthand how collaboration can help drive scale, expand financial access, and shape the future of digital commerce across the continent.”
Applications for the sixth cohort of the accelerator are now open, with fintech startups across Africa invited to apply by May 17, 2026.
