By Uchegbu Melvin

Digital payments platform, Visa, has disclosed that it invested in four start-ups that graduated from the inaugural cohort of its Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator programme.

The organisation stated that these investments were a reflection of Visa’s ongoing dedication to championing digital innovation in Africa, helping drive fintech growth across the continent while bolstering financial inclusion and access.

The firm, in a statement, said the four start-ups were Oze in Ghana, Workpay in Kenya, OkHi in Nigeria and ORDA.

The statement said: “Graduates of the second cohort of the programme will have the opportunity to present their innovative capabilities during a Demo Day set to take place on December 2nd in Cape Town, South Africa, to an audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, ecosystem enablers and business partners.

“The Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator programme is a three-month intensive programme that supports Seed to Series A start-ups by offering 1:1 mentorship, training, and exclusive opportunities for funding and partnership. Launched in 2023, it aligns with Visa’s pledge to invest $1 billion in the continent by 2027, helping to uplift and bolster its digital transformation.”

Quoting the Senior Vice President of Products, Partnerships and Digital Solutions for Visa CEMEA, Godfrey Sullivan, the statement said: “These investments mark a substantial step for Visa – we are once again standing behind our commitment to innovation in Africa, helping to shape the future of digital payments alongside some of the brightest fintech minds that the continent has to offer. Visa sees each investment as a unique opportunity to drive financial access and inclusion, and we are proud to support these start-ups as they realize their vision for a more connected Africa.”

On Chief Executive Officer at Oze, Meghan McCormick, the statement added: “This investment marks the latest pivotal moment in our journey, enabling us to scale our innovations to continue supporting MSMEs across Africa – something that both we and our shareholders are truly passionate about.”

On Co-Founder and CEO of Okhi, Timbo Drayson, it added:  “We are thrilled to welcome Visa onboard as we continue to disrupt the industry and redefine what’s possible through our identity verification solutions. The future is bright, and partnerships like this help us take a step forward toward achieving our vision.”

On Co-Founder of ORDA, Guy Futi, the statement said: “We are proud to have an established payments leader such as Visa be part of our growth journey. We see this investment as a mark of trust in our vision. We look forward to driving innovation together, one order at a time.”

Quoting Co-Founder and CEO of WorkPay, Paul Kimani, the statement reads: “We are happy to have Visa in our corner. As a trusted leader in digital payments, Visa’s support pushes us toward our goal of delivering innovative solutions and streamlining backend processes for all.”