Wednesday, November 20African Digital Business Magazine

Tag: fintech Africa

Fintech

Fintechs need to overcome regulatory barriers that limit access to financial services for underserved communities

Nikki Kettles, Executive: Licences and Payments Regulation at Mukuru Genuine financial inclusion is vital if we are to bring millions of unbanked and underserved communities in Africa into the mainstream economy. This doesn’t just benefit the communities, it has a knock-on effect for economies, regions and the continent. Financial services are tightly regulated and this presents a challenge for fintechs — how do you innovate while working effectively within differing regulatory frameworks on the continent? While these frameworks may differ substantially, there are common barriers fintechs need to overcome. Before we get there, it is important to start at the beginning. Not many people understand what financial inclusion actually means. There is a misconception that financial inclusion me...
Fintech, Ghana News

9 Ventures Announced for the Africa Money and DeFi Summit Investment Showcase

The Africa Money and DeFi Summit has announced nine ventures selected to showcase their cutting-edge Web3, Blockchain, Fintech, and Decentralised Finance (DeFi) businesses to investors and industry leaders, live on stage, in Accra, Ghana on October 3rd and 4th. With a focus on forging connections and bridging the gap between African ventures, corporates and global investors, the West Africa edition drew applications from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, and Côte d'Ivoire. The ventures are: Hurupay (Ghana) is a stablecoin payment platform that enables African businesses to accept stablecoin payments from customers as a more stable and reliable payment method, eliminating concerns related to currency depreciation or high transaction costs. Save App (Kenya) is...
Fintech

Harnessing the power of data to drive financial and economic inclusion

By Sandy Rheeder, CIO at Mukuru The modern world has moved towards digitisation, yet a significant gap remains in terms of financial and economic inclusion, particularly in Africa. Despite this, there is a substantial opportunity to harness the power of data to bridge this gap and further the cause of economic and financial inclusion. The FinMark Trust 2022 report reveals that despite strides in digital financial services, many workers are still paid in cash, community merchants rarely accept digital payments, and access to banking or ATM facilities is often limited and costly. These factors are a stark reminder of the disconnect that remains between the formal economy and large sections of the population. This disconnect is amplified by several barriers to formalisation. For instance, ...
Over 200 Leading African and Global Organizations Set to Convene at Africa Fintech Summit Lusaka, Zambia, this November
Events, Fintech, Zambia News

Over 200 Leading African and Global Organizations Set to Convene at Africa Fintech Summit Lusaka, Zambia, this November

The stage is set for the largest gathering of fintech stakeholders from around Africa and the globe as the Africa Fintech Summit prepares for its 10th edition. The summit, renowned for fostering meaningful conversations, partnerships and other ecosystem-enabling engagements, is scheduled to take place from November 2-3, 2023, at Ciela Resort and Spa in Lusaka, Zambia. The Africa Fintech Summit has become a platform where innovators, entrepreneurs, regulators, investors, and other influential players convene to chart the course for Africa’s fintech landscape. With the fintech sector on the continent witnessing exponential growth and transformation, this year's summit aims to accelerate the pace of innovation, foster partnerships, and address critical challenges faced by the industry. AFTS...
Amazon Web Services (AWS) opens applications for its inaugural FinTech Africa Accelerator
Fintech

Amazon Web Services (AWS) opens applications for its inaugural FinTech Africa Accelerator

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing division for the world’s largest e-commerce retailer, Amazon, continues to strengthen its footprint in Africa with a call-for-applications from early-stage startups to join their inaugural edition of the AWS FinTech Africa Accelerator.  This program is hosted by AWS’ globally-recognized Startup Loft Accelerator, but unlike other cohorts, this edition will focus on fintech and fintech-adjacent startups operating in Africa. In 2022, fintech startups in Africa raised over $2B USD in venture funding, sustaining Africa’s fintech industry as the top recipient of venture funding on the continent for the past several years (according to Briter Bridges).  The US-headquartered cloud service provider (CSP) has had a long-history of operations in Africa...