The African Export-Import Bank has unveiled its inaugural Accelerator Programme, bringing together eight high-potential startups to fast-track the development of Africa’s digital trade ecosystem and deepen intra-African commerce.
Held in Cairo from March 23–27, 2026, the programme marks a major step in translating the vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area into practical, tech-driven trade solutions.
A Competitive Cohort Building Africa’s Trade Infrastructure
Selected from over 1,600 applications, the first cohort includes startups operating across key trade-enabling sectors:
- Cross-border payments
- Digital logistics
- Agri-export platforms
- Supply chain finance
- AI-powered enterprise tools
- Diaspora investment platforms
Notable participants include:
- Fincart.io (Egypt)
- OnePort 365 (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya)
- Timon (15-country footprint)
- Zowasel (Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania)
- Gebeya (Ethiopia & pan-African)
- Fluna (10-country operations)
- Capsa Technologies (Nigeria)
- Daba Finance (Francophone Africa)
Collectively, these startups are already operating across 15+ African countries, targeting major trade corridors across West, East, North, and Southern Africa.
The Accelerator Programme goes beyond traditional startup support by combining funding with real market access:
- Up to $250,000 investment per startup (subject to due diligence)
- Direct access to Afreximbank’s pan-African network
- Regulatory and policy guidance across multiple jurisdictions
- Deal facilitation and partnership opportunities
This positions Afreximbank not just as a financier, but as a market enabler helping startups scale continent-wide.
Plugging Startups into Africa’s Trade Infrastructure
A key differentiator is integration into the Bank’s digital ecosystem, including:
- The Africa Trade Gateway (ATG)
- The Pan-African Payments and Settlement System
These platforms are designed to simplify cross-border transactions, reduce currency friction, and enable seamless trade across African markets—core to unlocking the full potential of the AfCFTA.
Leadership Vision: From Policy to Execution
According to Haytham Elmaayergi, the programme reflects a shift from theory to action:
“Trade happens through businesses… through entrepreneurs… through builders.”
Afreximbank President George Elombi also engaged directly with the cohort, reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of African trade champions.
Early Impact Signals from the Cohort
Even at this early stage, participating startups demonstrate strong traction:
- Fluna has facilitated $50+ million in trade
- Capsa has processed over NGN70 billion in supply chain finance
- Zowasel has connected 4,000+ cooperatives and agribusinesses
- Timon supports payments across 15 countries, targeting 40
These figures highlight the real, scalable impact of African innovation in solving trade bottlenecks.
Strategic Importance for Africa’s Growth
The Accelerator Programme is a critical building block in Africa’s broader economic transformation:
- Accelerates intra-African trade
- Supports market integration
- Strengthens digital infrastructure
- Enables startups to scale across borders, not just within countries
By backing digital trade solutions, Afreximbank is effectively laying the “digital rails” for how Africa will trade in the 21st century.
The Bigger Picture
With over $40 billion in assets and a long-standing mandate to promote African trade, African Export-Import Bank is increasingly positioning itself as a catalyst for innovation, not just finance.
This Accelerator Programme signals a clear shift:
- From funding trade
- To building the infrastructure that makes trade possible
As the African Continental Free Trade Area gains momentum, initiatives like this will be essential in turning continental ambition into real economic activity powered by African startups.