Visa Launches Application Process for Fifth Round of Africa's Fintech Accelerator Initiative
The Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator, launched in June 2023, has been a valuable resource for early-stage fintech startups across Africa. This 12-week hybrid program is designed to support seed to Series A startups with a minimum viable product (MVP) or market-ready solution and some market traction.
Requirements
To be eligible, startups must operate in or plan to expand into African markets, have a functional MVP or market-ready product, show product-market fit and early traction, align with Visa’s fintech focus areas, demonstrate readiness to scale, and have a strong founding team.
Benefits
The program offers a range of benefits to its participants. These include 1:1 mentorship sessions with experienced founders and industry experts, access to Visa’s developer portal, tools, and solution expertise to build and scale fintech products, comprehensive training on product design, marketing, finance, sales, and other aspects critical to startup growth, pitch and funding opportunities at Demo Day with regional and global investors, product perks and incentives from over 100 technology vendors valued at over US $200,000, and networking and partnership opportunities with industry leaders and key ecosystem players.
Success Stories
Since its inception, the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator has supported 64 startups across Africa, helping them grow revenue collectively by over $3 million during the program and raising more than $55 million post-accelerator.
Application Process
Applications for the fifth cohort are open until August 15, 2025. The application process consists of two rounds: an initial screening and virtual interviews for shortlisted applicants. Selected applicants will be invited to join the full program following the virtual interviews.
The program runs over 12 weeks in a hybrid format, with an onboarding week, 10 virtual focus weeks, investor week, and an in-person Demo Day.
For more information or to apply, visit the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator website. The Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator continues to be a key player in shaping Africa’s fintech ecosystem, and successfully completed startups may be considered for funding by Visa or Plug and Play.
1) The Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator, a valuable resource for African fintech startups, provides 1:1 mentorship sessions with experienced founders and industry experts, offering guidance in areas like technology, business, and finance.
2) Startups accepted into the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program gain access to Visa’s developer portal, tools, and expertise, enabling them to build and scale their fintech products effectively.
