The Africa Fintech Summit AFTS has announced the winners of the 2026 New Venture Pitch Competition. Three startups were selected from a cohort of eleven that pitched to a global audience of investors, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders.
- El-Dezier Financial Services, Tanzania – First Place: Expands access to financial services with solutions that improve affordability and inclusion for underserved users.
- FreemoPay, Cameroon – Second Place: Modernizes digital payments and financial infrastructure, improving access, usability, and efficiency. Learn more: www.freemopay.com
- Bluum Finance, United States, Nigeria, and Kenya – Third Place: Democratizes access to capital markets and wealth management through scalable, API-driven investment infrastructure.
The 2026 edition marked a milestone for AFTS, with all startup pitches delivered virtually for the first time since COVID-19, expanding access to founders across Africa and the diaspora to pitch and showcase their innovation remotely while maintaining an in-person convening in Washington, DC. The cohort featured 11 startups from 9 countries. Learn more about all participating startups here.
Since 2017, alumni of the AFTS New Venture Competition and the Alpha Expo Pitch Competition have raised more than $600 million. The platform continues to connect early-stage founders with global capital and strategic partners.
Participants received over $275,000 in total awards and strategic partnerships, including $25,000 in AWS cloud credits for each startup.
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After the pitches, founders met investors in curated virtual breakout roundtables across pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages. These sessions created direct pathways for feedback, alignment, and capital access. The 2026 hybrid model expands access while preserving high-value, in-person engagement. Founders pitch globally. Investors convene on the ground. Outcomes follow.
About The Africa Fintech Summit AFTS
The Africa Fintech Summit AFTS is a global convening platform advancing Africa’s fintech and digital ecosystem. AFTS brings together investors, innovators, and regulators to foster collaboration, mobilize investment, and showcase African-led solutions. Supported by an advisory board of fintech pioneers and industry leaders, AFTS is where ideas are debated, partnerships formed, and the future of African financial and digital infrastructure is shaped.
For more information, visit www.africafintechsummit.com .Media Contact Mikiyas Tamerat, mikiyas@africafintechsummit.com
