VISA 2025 Accelerator Program for African Startups for Course

Eligibility Criteria

If your team has already designed a minimum viable product related to the proposed areas, designed a minimum viable product related to the proposed challenges, or has a market-ready solution, you are the right fit for the program.

• Seed to Series A startups with at least an MVP;
• Building a solution addressing one of the themes;
• Market-tested solution that has gained traction;
• Existing operations in Africa or demonstrated commitment to expand in Africa.

Offered Benefits

• Knowledge and Expertise: Gain a competitive edge with a tailored program covering product design, marketing, finance, sales and more. Receive experts’ guidance and strategic insights to accelerate your startup’s growth and unlock its full potential.
• Mentorship: Gain access to 1:1 mentoring from experts and founders in the ecosystem from Africa and beyond. Learn from the experience of others to solve your challenges.
• Visa Specific Training: Benefit from exclusive Fintech and payment training modules designed by Visa. Enhance your understanding of the fintech landscape, payment ecosystem, and industry best practices. Startups will also get the chance to access Visa’s developer portal and experiment with Visa products and services.
• Funding: Secure the funding you need to bring your innovative ideas to life. Showcase your startup during the Demo Day and you could be considered for an investment opportunity by Visa, Plug and Play, and our wider Venture Capital community.
• Partnership Opportunities: Forge powerful partnerships that can drive your startup forward. The program aims to open doors to valuable collaboration opportunities with industry leaders, innovative companies, and strategic partners.
• Product Perks: Gain access to a wide selection of product perks and discounts from over 100 vendors for a combined offer value of over $200,000 such as AWS with product credits, mentorship and fintech-specific training modules.

Application Process

All applicants will undergo two rounds of screening by the program team. In the first round, each application will be reviewed for program alignment, existing traction, founding team, and proposed synergies with Visa. Shortlisted startups will be invited to participate in a series of virtual interviews, and finalists will be notified ahead of the program kickoff.