Visa Targets AI and Cross-Border Growth in Latest African Accelerator Cohort

2026-02-01 companies

San Francisco, Sunday, 1 February 2026.
Visa’s latest cohort expands innovation to Burkina Faso and Djibouti, prioritizing AI and stablecoin solutions among 18 startups to bridge African markets with the global economy.

Strategic Expansion into Frontier Markets

On January 30, 2026, Visa Inc. (V) officially announced the selection of 18 fintech startups for the fifth cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator, drawing talent from 28 markets across the continent [1][2]. This latest iteration marks a significant geographical widening of the program, introducing representation from Burkina Faso and Djibouti for the first time [1]. This expansion signals a strategic pivot by Visa to identify and nurture innovation beyond Africa’s traditional technology hubs, such as Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa [1][3]. By extending its reach into these frontier markets, Visa is positioning itself to capture early-stage growth in regions where digital financial infrastructure is rapidly developing but remains underserved [2].

Focus on AI and Stablecoin Infrastructure

The thematic focus of Cohort Five reflects the pressing technical demands of the African financial landscape. Visa has prioritized startups that are building money movement and cross-border payment solutions, many of which utilize stablecoin-enabled infrastructure to increase transaction speed and efficiency [1]. Simultaneously, the cohort highlights the growing necessity of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region’s fintech sector [2]. Several participating companies are deploying AI-driven solutions to address systemic challenges such as risk assessment, digital identity verification, fraud prevention, and credit scoring [2]. These technologies are viewed as critical for bridging the gap in markets where access to traditional financial data is historically limited, thereby enabling more accurate financial profiling and inclusion [1][3].

Spotlight on Emerging Innovators

Among the selected participants is Petl Pay, a platform designed to streamline payments for fractional and distributed teams [4]. Originating from the operational challenges faced by Rafiki Works, Petl Pay facilitates project-based invoicing and split payments using both regulated fiat and stablecoin rails, addressing the rigidity of traditional payroll tools [4]. Another notable entrant is Shiga Digital, a B2B fintech based in Abu Dhabi that focuses on African enterprises [5]. Shiga Digital provides on-chain banking solutions, allowing businesses to manage payments, swaps, and stablecoin conversions into local fiat currencies, effectively bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology [5]. The diverse cohort also includes startups such as Orca Fraud, EvMak Tanzania, and Solis Finance, showcasing the program’s broad sectoral approach [6].

Ecosystem Milestones and Regulatory Engagement

The launch of this cohort was formalized at an event in Zambia in late January 2026, hosted at the BongoHive Technology and Innovation Hub [6]. James Ashton-Smith, a key figure in the initiative, confirmed that with this latest intake, the accelerator has surpassed the milestone of 100 alumni and cohort members [6]. The launch event also served as a platform for regulatory engagement, featuring attendance from key ecosystem enablers including representatives from the Bank of Zambia and the Payments Association of Zambia [6]. This direct interaction with regulators and local hubs underscores Visa’s strategy to not only fund technology but to actively foster the regulatory and operational environments necessary for these fintechs to scale [1][6].

Sources

Fintech Africa