The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched the inaugural cohort of its Afreximbank Accelerator Programme, bringing together eight high-potential startups from across Africa and the diaspora for an intensive kick-off week in Cairo, Egypt.
The week-long programme, running from March 23 to 27, began at Afreximbank’s headquarters and brings together startups building digital solutions aimed at transforming how goods, services and payments move across African borders.
The accelerator is designed to support startups developing the digital infrastructure needed to boost intra-African trade by helping them access funding, mentorship, market connections and regulatory guidance as they expand across the continent. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to unlock opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a single market for goods and services across Africa.
Selected from a competitive pool of more than 1 600 applications, the eight startups represent some of the most promising ventures building digital trade solutions on the continent.
Their innovations span cross-border payments, digital logistics, agri-export platforms, AI-powered enterprise services, supply chain finance and diaspora investment mobilisation.
The participating startups are Fincart.io of Egypt; OnePort 365, which operates in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya; Timon, a pan-African payments platform active in 15 countries; Zowasel, which operates in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania; Gebeya, an Ethiopian-founded pan-African talent platform; Fluna, active in 10 countries; Capsa Technologies of Nigeria; and Daba Finance, which operates across Francophone Africa.
Under the programme, qualifying startups will be eligible for investment of up to US$250 000, subject to standard investment criteria and due diligence.
The funding will be complemented by mentorship, market access opportunities and strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating their expansion across African markets.
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The Cairo kick-off week features engagements with Afreximbank’s leadership, industry experts, mentors and ecosystem partners.
It will culminate in a networking event at the Grand Egyptian Museum, symbolically linking Africa’s rich heritage with its rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem.
Speaking during the launch, Haytham Elmaayergi, executive vice-president Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, emphasised the role of entrepreneurs in transforming the continent’s trade landscape.
“Today, we move from promise to execution, because we understand a fundamental truth: trade does not happen within the pages of policy documents,” he said.
“Trade happens through businesses. It happens through entrepreneurs. It happens through builders.”
Elmaayergi said the accelerator reflects a broader ambition to create an Africa where startups can scale seamlessly across borders and where businesses trade easily across the continent.
“Afreximbank is proud to be a partner, an enabler and a committed stakeholder in the success of the next generation of African trade champions.”
During the programme, the startups also met Afreximbank president George Elombi and senior leadership for expert briefings on trade finance, regulatory frameworks and market expansion.
The accelerator offers startups direct access to Afreximbank’s pan-African network of governments, financial institutions, corporates and trade partners. It also provides regulatory and policy guidance and integration pathways into the bank’s digital trade ecosystem, including the Africa Trade Gateway and the Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS).
Afreximbank said the programme underscores its growing role as a catalyst for Africa’s trade and innovation ecosystem, helping startups navigate licensing, compliance and market entry across multiple jurisdictions.
Collectively, the eight startups already operate across more than 15 African countries, highlighting the scale and potential of African innovation.
Fluna has facilitated more than US$50 million in trade across 10 countries, while Capsa Technologies has processed over NGN70 billion in supply chain finance. OnePort 365 connects trade corridors between Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, Timon supports payments across 15 countries with plans to expand to 40, and Zowasel has connected more than 4 000 cooperatives and agribusinesses.
