The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has today announced the top 8 finalists of the inaugural Afreximbank Accelerator Programme, a three-month initiative designed to accelerate high-impact startups that are driving intra-African trade and industrialisation.
Selected from a record-breaking pool of more than 1,600 applications, the cohort represents the continent’s most promising founders working on solutions spanning e-commerce, supply chain logistics, financial technologies, payments, agritech, and market access. The rigorous selection process combined business assessments, expert interviews, and pitch sessions adjudicated by Afreximbank’s trade specialists and global innovation experts.
Afreximbank’s flagship programme reflects its mandate to drive measurable progress in intra-African trade and broaden Africa’s footprint in global commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Finalists will receive tailored support including equity investment eligibility of up to US$250,000, expert mentorship, and priority entry to Afreximbank’s pan-African trade networks — all aimed at unlocking growth and helping startups scale beyond borders.
Meet the Top 8 Finalists: Africa’s Trade Tech Innovators
1. Fincart.io
A unified operating system for e-commerce SMEs in emerging markets, streamlining order management, shipping, cash reconciliation, and embedded working capital for direct-to-consumer brands.
2. OnePort 365
A digital freight management platform offering end-to-end visibility and integration across air, ocean and trucking logistics — addressing the continent’s persistent shipping inefficiencies.
3. Timon
A cross-border payments and travel wallet aimed at removing payment friction for African businesses and travellers by enabling local-currency collections and payouts across multiple markets.
4. Zowasel
An agritech and finance marketplace connecting cooperatives, merchants, and agribusinesses with regional and international buyers via data insights and alternative finance solutions.
5. Gebeya
A tech-driven AI agent platform powering operational efficiency for service and creative economy businesses across Africa.
6. Fluna
A B2B digital trade infrastructure marketplace bridging African producers with verified buyers and embedding financing into trade flows to close market gaps.
7. Capsa Technology
An alternative finance marketplace transforming working capital access across African markets, enabling invoice factoring and rapid liquidity conversion for SMEs.
8. Daba Finance
A unified investment and capital mobilisation platform that connects local, diaspora, and global capital into African markets through compliant multi-currency products.
Programme Support to Propel Growth
Over the next three months, the finalists will participate in hands-on workshops, virtual training modules, and in-person sessions hosted at regional hubs including Abuja, Nairobi, and Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo. The programme will culminate in a high-profile Demo Day, where startups will pitch to global investors, policymakers, and strategic partners, competing for industry attention and further investment.
Finalists are eligible for equity financing of up to US$250,000 through Afreximbank’s impact equity arm, Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), subject to meeting investment criteria. In addition, they will benefit from mentorship by leading investors, trade specialists and industry leaders committed to accelerating continental economic integration under AfCFTA.
A Strategic Boost for Intra-African Trade
Mr. Haytham Elmaayergi, Executive Vice President of Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, underscored how innovation is central to advancing intra-African commerce and the broader AfCFTA vision, saying the selected startups represent “the future of African enterprise” and will play a vital role in unlocking trade across Africa, the diaspora, and CARICOM regions.
The Afreximbank Accelerator Programme stands as a strategic platform for homegrown solutions that address critical trade bottlenecks and unlock Africa’s economic potential — bringing African innovators closer to scalable markets and deeper integration across the continent.
