As part of latest Catalyst Fund, 3 African startups selected for fintech accelerator cohort
BFA Worldwide’s Catalyst Fund is a global accelerator that promotes inclusive fintech entrepreneurs and accelerates the growth of developing market innovation ecosystems. Its Inclusive Fintech programme gives companies access to a worldwide network of investors and corporate partners, as well as catalytic grant funding and tailored venture building help from developing markets and fintech specialists.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), JPMorgan Chase & Co., and latest partner PayPal are all supporting the flagship Catalyst Fund inclusive fintech accelerator, which is financially sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Three African companies have been selected for the ninth Inclusive Fintech cohort: Crop2Cash in Nigeria, which unlocks affordable financing for smallholder farmers and provides digital finance solutions along the agriculture value chain; HealthDart in South Africa, which provides easy and affordable access to medication and primary health services; and Kazi in Kenya, which connects skilled and casual workers.
“We are extremely excited to welcome PayPal as the latest supporter of the Catalyst Fund, and to announce an additional focus on digital finance solutions for climate resilience,” said Maelis Carraro, managing director of Catalyst Fund.
“Climate change is already severely impacting low-income populations in emerging markets, who lack financial safety nets to cope with these additional shocks. Digital finance can be a game-changer in enabling climate resilience solutions to better reach vulnerable populations, as we’ve already seen the ways in which it can enhance the breadth, depth, and affordability of solutions across industries. We look forward to exploring this space and continuing to build the resilience of vulnerable populations across emerging markets via fintech innovation, with the invaluable support of PayPal, JPMorgan Chase, and FCDO.”
