As the global conversation around financial inclusion gathers pace, a new generation of African entrepreneurs is redefining how innovation can serve the continent’s most underserved communities. The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT) has unveiled the latest cohort of fintech trailblazers for its flagship acceleration program, Catapult: Inclusion Africa 2025, set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from October 13 to 17, 2025, during African Inclusive Finance Week (SAM).
Organized in partnership with Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, alongside ADA asbl, the initiative reflects a growing recognition that Africa’s fintech ecosystem is not only thriving but also reshaping the contours of global financial access and equality.
Empowering Africa’s Next Fintech Visionaries
The selected startups hailing from Benin, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nigeria represent the heartbeat of Africa’s innovation economy. Their ideas are grounded in solving real problems: rural connectivity, savings access, farmer financing, student retention and digital trade.
Each of these ventures embodies a common ambition to turn technology into a tool of empowerment rather than exclusion.
From Benin, Dots for Inc. is bridging the digital divide through solar-powered internet access, mobile payments, and gig work opportunities.
“My journey as an entrepreneur is driven by a conviction to ensure rural communities are not left behind but are empowered to connect, earn, and thrive,” says Carlos Oba, the company’s CEO and CIO. His vision encapsulates a powerful truth: in Africa, connectivity is not a luxury it’s an engine of development.
In Ethiopia, eQUB is modernizing the traditional savings culture through a secure, automated and transparent platform that promotes trust and access to credit.
“My motivation lies in adding value to my generation,” reflects Alexander Hizikias, Co-Founder and CEO. His approach blends cultural familiarity with digital sophistication a hallmark of the continent’s most promising fintech movements.
In Uganda, Birdpreneur is reimagining agricultural finance with an AI-powered underwriting algorithm that accurately assesses lending risks for smallholder farmers.
“What hurts farmers, hurts us too,” says Founder and CEO Waiswa Ronald Mirondo, whose empathetic business philosophy mirrors a growing wave of socially conscious entrepreneurship across Africa’s rural economies.
Meanwhile, Nigeria makes a strong showing with two standout ventures. PressPayNg utilizes data-driven tools to assess creditworthiness, disburse educational funds and support academic retention through institutional partnerships.
“Financial barriers consistently shut out young people from education, leaving talent untapped and dreams unfulfilled. This gap inspired me to become an entrepreneur,” shares Abiola Metilelu, Co-Founder and CEO, whose words capture both frustration and hope.
Finally, XChangeBOX, another Nigerian innovator and an MTN ‘25 Fellow focuses on agri-financing and market access for traders and women in agribusiness.
“We are thrilled to be at the LHoFT program in Kenya to deepen our impact, forge partnerships, and extend our platform to Kenya’s vibrant agricultural community,” says Abiola Jimoh, Co-Founder and CEO. His startup provides alternative finance and supply chain solutions, addressing poverty, employment, and food security from the ground up.
Nairobi: The Beating Heart of Africa’s Fintech Momentum
That Nairobi was chosen as the host city is no coincidence. The Kenyan capital home to M-Pesa’s mobile money revolution stands as a symbol of Africa’s digital transformation. By hosting Catapult: Inclusion Africa 2025 here, LHoFT signals a strong belief in Africa’s capacity not only to innovate but also to lead.
The program aims to foster exchange between African and European ecosystems, enabling startups to refine their business models, attract investors and scale regionally. More than an acceleration platform, it is a bridge between global finance and grassroots innovation.
Unlike traditional incubators focused purely on fundraising, LHoFT’s model emphasizes purpose-driven innovation. The participating startups are selected not just for their scalability but for their commitment to social impact, financial literacy and inclusive growth. The initiative aligns with global efforts to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those on poverty reduction, quality education and gender equality.
The Future of Financial Inclusion Is African
As fintech becomes one of Africa’s most transformative forces, initiatives like Catapult: Inclusion Africa underline an undeniable reality that Africa’s future innovators are no longer waiting for opportunity but they are creating it.
These entrepreneurs from rural Benin to bustling Lagos share a unified mission to prove that innovation, when rooted in purpose, can shift entire economies and open doors for millions. They are the changemakers shaping the next decade of Africa’s financial story.
As the world turns its eyes to Nairobi this October, it won’t just be witnessing a fintech event. It will be witnessing the rise of a new generation of African leaders practical dreamers who are not just talking about inclusion, but building it.
