Intra-African Trade: Afreximbank Selects 8 Startups to Accelerate Trade Under the AfCFTA
Afreximbank has launched the first cohort of its Accelerator Program to support eight startups operating in supply chain, fintech and market access, with a clear objective: easing intra-African trade flows.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has unveiled the eight finalists of its Afreximbank Accelerator Program, a three-month initiative starting in March 2026 aimed at delivering operational solutions for intra-African trade and the continent’s industrialisation.
Startups at the Core of Intra-African Trade
Selected from more than 1,600 applications, the eight companies operate in segments directly linked to African logistics chains: agriculture, e-commerce, market access, financial technologies, supply chain optimisation and manufacturing.
Each finalist may qualify—subject to conditions—for equity investment of up to USD 250,000 through Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), alongside a structured mentoring programme and access to Afreximbank’s pan-African network.
The programme combines virtual learning modules, hands-on workshops and in-person sessions hosted in Abuja, Nairobi and at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, culminating in a demo day bringing together investors, policymakers and business operators.
A Logistics Environment Under Pressure
Across many African corridors, trade continues to face high transport costs, limited interoperability of payment systems, border delays and a lack of digital solutions linking producers, shippers and regional buyers. According to Afreximbank, these frictions still constrain the share of intra-African trade, despite the gradual rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The selected startups are directly targeting these bottlenecks: trade finance, flow traceability, B2B matchmaking, inventory optimisation and access to regional markets.
Expected Operational Impact
In the short term, the programme aims to deliver tangible field-level results:
- reduced transaction times through fintech tools and regional marketplaces,
- improved visibility of flows for exporting SMEs,
- increased commercial capacity via access to capital and logistics partners.
For shippers and operators, this could translate into shorter supply cycles, better volume planning and a gradual reduction in intermediary-related costs.
Why It Matters
- Acceleration of local solutions for intra-African trade and the AfCFTA.
- Direct support for innovation in Africa’s supply chain (finance, market access, digitalisation).
- Connection of startups to pan-African investor and logistics networks.
Regional Outlook
The initiative forms part of Afreximbank’s broader strategy to expand trade facilitation instruments across West–East–North Africa corridors. The hubs in Abuja, Nairobi and Cairo reflect this corridor-based approach, aligned with AfCFTA priorities: regulatory harmonisation, cross-border payments and market integration.
As these solutions scale, the digital platforms and financial tools developed by the startups could strengthen trade flows between port hubs, industrial zones and regional consumer markets.
By backing eight commerce-, fintech- and supply chain-focused startups, Afreximbank is seeking to convert targeted innovation into operational levers for intra-African trade, with an expected direct impact on flows, lead times and market access under the AfCFTA.
