Who is eligible to apply for the Visa Africa Accelerator?

All Seed to Series A startups that are post MVP and operating in Africa are encouraged to apply for the program.

What is the selection process like?

All applicants will undergo two rounds of screening by our program team. In the first round, each application will be reviewed for program alignment, existing traction, founding team, and proposed synergies with Visa. Shortlisted startups will be invited to participate in a series of virtual interviews, and finalists will be notified ahead of the program kickoff.

Will this program be run in English?

Yes, this program will be run primarily in English; however, we can explore providing language support in case your startup may need the help of our in-market country teams. Please note the interview process will be conducted entirely in English.

Is this Accelerator program similar to the Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI)?

Unlike VEI which is a global startup competition, the Visa Africa Accelerator is a full 3-months program with more engagement and requirements. In this program, the selected startups will be required to meaningfully engage across the tailored mentorship, training, and exercise sessions over a period of 3-months.

What is the duration and format of the program?

The program will be delivered in a hybrid format and will last for 3-months in total. It will include an onboarding week, 10 virtual focus weeks, an investor week and an in-person Demo Day. Other in-person events maybe be organized during the duration of the program such as city meetups or other country or regional events.

Visa Accelerator

Visa Accelerator Program

Unlock your startup's potential and fast-track your success in the dynamic world of FinTech with the Visa Accelerator Program. This groundbreaking initiative connects Africa's brightest minds with experienced mentors, cutting-edge technology, and unparalleled investment opportunities.

Are you ready to disrupt the industry, revolutionize finance, and make an impact in the ecosystem?

Join us on this exciting 3-months journey to propel your startup towards unprecedented growth and recognition. It's time to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit and forge a path to success in the vibrant FinTech landscape.

Benefits

Who Should Apply

If your team has already designed a minimum viable product related to the proposed areas, designed a minimum viable product related to the proposed challenges, or has a market-ready solution, you are the right fit for the program.

Stage

Seed to Series A startups with at least an MVP

Solution

Building a solution addressing one of our themes

Traction

Market tested solution that has gained traction

Geography

Existing operations in Africa or demonstrated commitment to expand in Africa

Program Timeline

Opportunity Areas

We are looking for the best and brightest companies to address the following themes. If you believe your company is building solutions in one or more of these areas, you are welcome to apply and join the Visa Accelerator Program.

Are you ready to digitize cash intensive P2P, B2C, B2B, G2C payments to create new commerce opportunities?

Cross-border remittances and funds disbursements
Finance management platforms for B2B (e.g. payables, receivables, procurement, etc)
Social commerce and the creator economy
Government disbursements, collections, and payouts
Open banking and account-to-account solutions
Treasury-as-a-Service
Mobile money flows and interoperability

A woman making a payment with a smartwatch

Are you targeting to accelerate the growth of merchants and SMEs through digital payment solutions to foster financial inclusion?

Next-generation omni-channel online and face-to-face payments
Installments, POS financing, and BNPL
Financing, alternative lending and risk mitigation structures
Merchant value add solutions (e.g working capital optimization, supplier marketplace, inventory management, etc.)
Merchant loyalty and engagement

Are you building at the frontier of payment and FinTech? Are you integrating cutting edge technology to build the future of Finance?

Integration of AI / ML into payment solutions
Leveraging blockchain and decentralized technologies
Programmable money
Crypto risk, fraud, data and intelligence
Custodial and non-custodial infrastructure
CBDC and stablecoin solutions

Are you enhancing payment technology to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive financial system, reduce inequality and create positive impact for people, economies, and the environment?

Financial services for underserved communities or climate-vulnerable communities
Affordable and accessible financial solutions
Impact management and measurement
Carbon footprint and climate neutral solutions

Testimonials

Orda:

Desola Ososami

Head of Growth

The Visa Accelerator Program provided practical tips from each session that we were able to apply immediately.

The sessions with Visa gave us a better and more in depth understanding of payments infrastructure in Africa, while the sessions with Plug and Play mentors provided tips on GTM, LTV/CAC and revenue optimisation. In addition to this, a major added benefit was the opportunity to meet other FinTech founders which has opened the door for new partnerships for our business. We are looking forward to soaring in 2024 with all the tips and support we gained from the program last year.

Konnect:

Amin Ben Abderrahman

Founder and CEO

Participating in the Visa Accelerator Program has been nothing short of transformative for our PayTech startup operating in North Africa.

The program provided an invaluable platform for networking, mentorship, and collaboration, exposing us to industry-leading companies and connecting us with seasoned mentors. The exclusive access to Visa's infrastructure has proven instrumental in developing innovative solutions, propelling our vertical expansion as well as our commitment to revolutionizing the financial technology landscape in the region. This accelerator experience is a game-changer for our startup, pushing us to new heights and opening doors to a world of possibilities.

OnLife:

Siya Metane

Founder and CEO

The Visa Accelerator Program fast tracked my knowledge of the FinTech industry, gave me the conviction for the need of my product.

As an outlier in the FinTech environment with uncertainty I built a product from my biased and deep knowledge of the creative industry challenges. Visa Accelerator Program has been generous with providing us with incredible program managers from Plug and Play and mentors who have been constantly available to guide, encourage, educate, and drive.

Meet the Current Cohort

Meet Our Alumni

Events

People listening and watching the presentation on a tour of Visa’s Innovation Studio in Kenya

Cohort 1 on a tour of Visa’s Innovation Studio in Kenya, Nairobi
October 2023

Panel discussions on the Demo Day in Sankara Hotel, Kenya
February 2024

People listening and watching the presentation

AWS session during Cohort 2 onboarding week in Marrakech, Morrocco
May 2024

FAQ

: All Seed to Series A startups that are post MVP and operating in Africa are encouraged to apply for the program.
: All applicants will undergo two rounds of screening by our program team. In the first round, each application will be reviewed for program alignment, existing traction, founding team, and proposed synergies with Visa. Shortlisted startups will be invited to participate in a series of virtual interviews, and finalists will be notified ahead of the program kickoff.
: Yes, this program will be run primarily in English; however, we can explore providing language support in case your startup may need the help of our in-market country teams. Please note the interview process will be conducted entirely in English.
: Unlike VEI which is a global startup competition, the Visa Africa Accelerator is a full 3-months program with more engagement and requirements. In this program, the selected startups will be required to meaningfully engage across the tailored mentorship, training, and exercise sessions over a period of 3-months.
: The program will be delivered in a hybrid format and will last for 3-months in total. It will include an onboarding week, 10 virtual focus weeks, an investor week and an in-person Demo Day. Other in-person events maybe be organized during the duration of the program such as city meetups or other country or regional events.

: Since the program is non-residential and does not require your presence daily, we do not offer free coworking space.
: Start-ups successfully completing the program could be considered for an investment by either Visa or Plug and Play. Any investment considerations will be made at the end of the program (on or around Demo Day) and we expect that up to 50% of the cohort could receive an investment from either Visa or Plug and Play. In addition, the Demo Day will be attended by regional and global Venture Capital investors that could be interested in providing further funding as well.
: The program is completely free of charge for the participating companies and there is NO fee associated with taking part in the activities throughout the cohort.
: Everything you will be providing through our application form will be treated as confidential and will only be shared with the parties involved in the selection process.
: Visa will cover flights and accommodation for a single founder from each of the participating startups to be able to attend the Demo Day in person.
: Startups are not allowed to be enrolled in another accelerator during the program.
: For further details on the terms and conditions, please check here.
: Please contact us at: [email protected]

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