The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched the inaugural cohort of its “Afreximbank Accelerator Programme,” with eight startups.
- •The startups operate across key sectors including cross-border payments, digital logistics, agri-export platforms, AI-powered enterprise solutions, supply chain finance and diaspora investment mobilisation.
- •They include Fincart.io of Egypt; OnePort 365, which operates in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya; Timon, a pan-African entity active in 15 countries; Zowasel, also active in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania; Gebeya, which is both Ethiopian and pan-African; Fluna, also a pan-African startup active in 10 countries; Capsa Technologies of Nigeria; and Daba Finance whose operations cover Francophone Africa.
- •Qualifying startups will be supported with investment of up to US$250,000, subject to standard investment criteria and due diligence, complemented by mentorship, market access, and strategic partnerships designed to accelerate their expansion across Africa.
“Trade happens through businesses. It happens through entrepreneurs. It happens through builders. What excites me the most about this cohort is not only who you are, but what you represent. You are building the digital rails that will define how Africa trades in the 21st century,” Haytham Elmaayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, said during the kickoff meeting in Cairo.
The Accelerator Programme combine:
- •Direct access to Afreximbank’s pan-African network of governments, financial institutions, corporates, and trade partners.
- •Market access and deal facilitation opportunities across key African trade corridors.
- •Regulatory and policy guidance, leveraging the Bank’s relationships with central banks and regulators.
- •Integration pathways into the Bank’s digital trade ecosystem, including the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) and the Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS).
