Applications are now open for the 4th Visa Africa Accelerator

Applications are now open for the 4th Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator

Visa has announced the launch of the fourth edition of its Africa Fintech Accelerator Program, inviting innovative startups across the continent to apply. The program aims to empower fintech ventures by providing mentorship, technological resources, and funding opportunities to scale their solutions.

Launched in 2023, the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator aligns with Visa’s commitment to invest $1 billion in financial inclusion in Africa by 2027. To date, the accelerator has supported 64 startups across three cohorts, resulting in 15 active partnerships. Notably, four startups from the inaugural cohort secured strategic funding from Visa.

Eligibility Criteria

The program targets startups that:

Stage: Seed to Series A with at least a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Solution Focus: Addressing key themes such as unlocking new payment flows, embedded finance, empowering merchants and SMEs, payment infrastructure enablers, the future of finance, and sustainable and inclusive finance
Traction: Market-tested solutions with demonstrated traction
Geography: Existing operations in Africa or a demonstrated commitment to expand within the continent

Program Benefits

Selected startups will participate in a three-month initiative designed to provide:

Mentorship: Guidance from industry experts to refine business strategies
Technological Resources: Access to Visa’s technology to enhance product offerings
Funding Opportunities: Potential for strategic investments to fuel growth

The accelerator program is scheduled to run from June 23 to October 3, 2025, offering a hybrid format that includes both virtual and in-person engagements.

Visa’s Africa Fintech Accelerator continues to play a significant role in fostering innovation and financial inclusion across the continent. Startups looking to scale their solutions in the fintech space are encouraged to apply before the March 15, 2025 deadline.

Interested startups can apply through the official Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator website.