Afreximbank has selected eight startups for the inaugural cohort of its Afreximbank Accelerator Programme, a three-month initiative designed to scale companies that support intra-African trade and industrialisation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The programme, set to begin in March 2026, attracted over 1,600 applications from across Africa, the diaspora, and the Caribbean, reflecting growing interest in trade-focused innovation linked to AfCFTA implementation. The finalists were chosen following business assessments, interviews, and pitch sessions conducted by Afreximbank trade specialists and external experts from the venture capital and innovation ecosystem.
The selected startups operate in diverse sectors, including agriculture, e-commerce, market access, financial technology, supply chains, and manufacturing. They aim to address structural trade constraints across continental and diaspora markets while promoting export growth and value addition.
Participants in the accelerator will have access to equity financing of up to $250,000 through Afreximbank’s impact investment arm, the Fund for Export Development in Africa, subject to eligibility criteria. In addition, the startups will receive mentorship from investors and trade specialists and gain access to Afreximbank’s trade facilitation platforms, regulatory pathways, and networks of government, private-sector, and multilateral partners.
The programme combines virtual learning modules, workshops, and in-person sessions held in Abuja, Nairobi, and at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo. It will conclude with a demo day, where participating startups will present their solutions to investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.
