Arab Finance: Global digital payments company Visa has launched applications for the sixth cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator, with fintech startups across the continent invited to apply by May 17th, 2026, as per an emailed press release.
The call for applications comes as the company reported that the accelerator has supported 104 startups since its launch, spanning five cohorts and representing a combined valuation of $1.4 billion.
Visa made the announcement during the Cohort 5 Demo Day at GITEX Africa in Marrakech, where 18 startups from 10 African countries presented their businesses after completing the program’s three-month acceleration cycle. The participating companies operate across 28 markets and develop products serving a range of commerce and financial services needs.
The accelerator provides startups with mentorship, strategic support, commercial engagement opportunities, and access to Visa’s network, helping founders develop their products and expand their businesses.
Several companies from previous cohorts have also entered partnerships through connections established within the program. In Morocco, Zazu, a participant in Cohort 4, is collaborating with Cohort 1 startup Chari on the launch of a neobank offering targeting small and medium-sized enterprises, using issuance capabilities that were enabled through Visa's support.
Elsewhere, Cohort 3 participant Credable, which provides fintech infrastructure and digital credit solutions in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, and Zambia, is working with African payments infrastructure company Onafriq to develop digital credit products powered by Visa Flexible Credential. The initiative aims to increase access to card-based credit solutions across emerging markets.
Kredete, another Cohort 3 company focused on stablecoin-linked card payments, is extending its presence beyond Africa after rolling out its card offering in multiple markets. The company currently operates in Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, and Nigeria, and plans to expand into the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
Meanwhile, MoneyHash, also from Cohort 3, has entered a multi-year agreement to integrate Visa’s Cybersource platform into its infrastructure, enabling payment acceptance services for merchants and users across the Middle East and North Africa region.
