The scheme supports “companies focusing on financial inclusion in Africa” and aims “to build bridges between Africa and Europe”, including with Luxembourg’s financial sector.
Entrepreneurs receive “intensive mentoring, coaching, peer to peer learning and dedicated workshops”, Lhoft said. Sessions range from business model development and “scaling strategy” to “advisory meetings with investors and pitch development.”
Lhoft is a public-private partnership that promotes Luxembourg’s fintech sector. “Catapult: Inclusion Africa” is sponsored by Luxembourg’s foreign affairs ministry and supported by several NGOs and investment firms.
The 14 startups are:
- Awabah, Nigeria, retirement savings
- Asilimia France, France, business banking app
- Chromepay, Israel, merchant payment systems
- Crop2Cash, Nigeria, agricultural finance
- Emata, Uganda, agricultural finance
- Igugu Global, Nigeria, sustainable infrastructure investing
- Juakali, France, data and process automation
- Kotani Pay, Kenya, blockchain-based payment systems
- Mipango, Tanzania, personal finance app
- Moja Bank, Ivory Coast, digital payment app
- Mosabi, Sierra Leone, financial education and digital marketplace
- Nokwary Technologies, Ghana, voice-based user interface systems
- RePay.Africa, Kenya, payment and transfer platform
- Vooli Insurtech, Kenya, insurance app and site
The programme opens with a pitching event, held Thursday 27 May at 5pm on Zoom, which is open to the public.