Afreximbank Invests in Digital Trade Infrastructure with New Startup Program

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has launched its inaugural Accelerator Programme, providing up to US$250,000 in investment and support services to eight promising startups building digital solutions for intra-African trade.

Selected from over 1,600 applicants across Africa and the diaspora, this first cohort represents some of the most innovative ventures addressing critical gaps in cross-border commerce. The start-ups operate in sectors like:

• Cross-border payments
• Digital logistics
• Agri-export platforms
• AI-powered enterprise solutions
• Supply chain finance
• Diaspora investment mobilization

The program participants include:

• Fincart.io (Egypt)
• OnePort 365 (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya)
• Timon (active in 15 countries, expanding to 40)
• Zowasel (Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania)
• Gebeya (Ethiopian and pan-African)
• Fluna (active in 10 countries)
• Capsa Technologies (Nigeria)
• Daba Finance (Francophone Africa)

The Cairo kick-off week featured engagements with Afreximbank leadership, industry experts, and culminated in a Social Mixer at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Key Program Benefits:

• Direct access to Afreximbank’s pan-African network
• Market access facilitation across key trade corridors
• Regulatory guidance through relationships with central banks
• Integration pathways into digital trade ecosystems like the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) and Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS)

Afreximbank views this program as a strategic enabler of cross-border trade, helping startups navigate complex regulatory landscapes while scaling their impact across multiple jurisdictions.

The initiative underscores Afreximbank’s commitment to fostering Africa’s digital innovation ecosystem and supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

These ventures have already demonstrated significant traction:

• Fluna has facilitated over US$50 million in trade across 10 countries
• Capsa has processed more than NGN70 billion in supply chain finance
• OnePort 365 connects key Nigeria-Ghana-Kenya corridors
• Timon supports payments in 15 countries with expansion plans
• Zowasel has connected over 4,000 verified cooperatives and agribusinesses

Collectively, these start-ups operate across more than 15 African countries, building the digital infrastructure that will underpin a new era of intra-African trade and economic integration.