Visa has kicked off the sixth cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator in Accra, Ghana, bringing together 21 fintech startups from nine African countries. Between them, the companies operate across 24 markets on the continent.
According to FollowICT’s weekly African startup roundup, this cohort includes startups from Niger, Togo and Seychelles for the first time. That points to a fintech scene that is spreading well beyond the usual hubs of Lagos, Nairobi, Cairo and Cape Town.
What the startups are building
The selected companies work on payments, remittances, stablecoins, agentic commerce and sustainable finance. Several of these are areas where African users still face high fees, slow settlement or limited access to formal financial services.
- Payments and remittances: cheaper and faster ways to move money within and across borders.
- Stablecoins: digital-dollar rails that some startups use for cross-border settlement.
- Agentic commerce: AI-assisted buying and payment flows.
- Sustainable finance: products tied to climate and impact goals.
Why it matters for Africa
Cross-border payments are still one of the biggest hurdles to trade between African countries. Accelerators that bring founders from several markets into one room can help startups find partners, understand regulation in other countries, and expand faster than they could alone.
The launch connected founders with major players in Ghana’s financial ecosystem, including Onafriq, EY Ghana, Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), GCB Bank, Societe Generale Ghana and MEST Africa.
What happens next
The programme mixes training, mentorship and introductions to investors and industry experts through virtual and in-person sessions, ending with a final showcase. Ortechy will follow which of these startups go on to raise funding or expand into new markets.
Prince Anichi
Founder and Lead Technology Editor at Ortechy. Covering digital economy shifts, tech ecosystems across Africa, cybersecurity intelligence, and emerging software platforms.
