Fintech in Africa has witnessed significant growth and dynamism in recent years, driven by a combination of favorable demographic, economic and technological factors. Between 2017, the number of fintech startups active in the continent increased by 125.2% to reach 678 ventures, according to the latest edition of Disrupt Africa’s Finnovating for Africa report.

At the same time, venture capital (VC) financing in Sub-Saharan Africa is soaring, growing by a staggering 894% year-over-year to US$1.6 billion in 2021, research by Magnitt, a platform for VC data in the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Turkey, show.

Experts and industry observers predict further growth moving forward. A 2023 report by the Boston Consulting Group and QED Investors projects that fintech revenue in Africa could grow 13-fold between 2021 and 2030, and reach US$65 billion. The figure would make Africa the world’s fastest-growing region.

As the African fintech sector continues to mature, networking, knowledge sharing and collaboration are becoming more crucial than ever. To this end, a plethora of events and conferences are being scheduled across the continent to allow industry stakeholders to connect and learn more about the industry’s hottest trends, biggest opportunities and most pressing challenges.

The following are nine must-attend fintech events taking place in Africa in the coming months. Each of these events promises rich insights, fruitful partnerships, and a glimpse into the future of the African financial landscape.

Africa Tech Festival

November 13 – 16, 2023

Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa

The Africa Tech Festival is returning this year from November 13 and 16, as a celebration of Africa’s burgeoning tech ecosystem. Anticipated to be a vibrant event, the festival is expected to attract over 15,000 participants, ranging from industry innovators to entrepreneurs, and will spotlight tech as a powerful force for positive change in the continent.

Africa Tech Festival 2023 will comprise three anchor events:

• AfricaCom, which will focus on telecoms, connectivity, and digital infrastructure;
• AfricaTech, which will delve into innovative and disruptive technologies and offer tracks on pioneer tech, data centres and cloud, cybersecurity, fintech, AI and big data, and the future of work; and
• AfricaIgnite, which will be tailored towards empowering entrepreneurs, discussing topics from the initial journey of a startup to securing funding.

Africa Tech Festival 2023 will feature 400+ speakers from the tech industry, 1,100+ innovative businesses, and 300+ exhibitors who will showcase the latest in tech.

Fintech Festival Tanzania 2023

November 08 – 09, 2023

Julius Nyerere International Convention Center, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The Fintech Festival Tanzania 2023, scheduled for November 08 and 09, promises to be a transformative experience for the global fintech community. Scheduled for two days in the city of Dar es Salaam, the event is set to welcome a myriad of professionals from startups, tech enterprises, financial institutions, investors, research entities, and innovation experts, to connect, meaningful business relationships and further strengthen the ecosystem.

The festival will feature more than 70 sessions, 160+ speakers, and over 22 hours of content. Participants will get to hear from the ministers and policy markers; learn from regulators and CEO of top financial institutions in Tanzania and East Africa; uncover secrets from successful startup fintech firms; and much more.

The event is set to welcome over 3,000 international participants, with the predominant majority being industry stalwarts, such as C-suite professionals, department heads, influencers, and pivotal decision-makers.

Event highlights include:

• Government Fintech Forum: A conclave centered on policy leadership;
• CxO21: A dive into the nuances of digital banking innovation;
• Risk 4.0: A comprehensive security-centric forum;
• Fintech for Good: Pondering over fintech’s role in sustainable innovation;
• Token: An exploration of blockchain’s intricacies;
• The Fintech East Africa Awards: A grand ceremony to laud outstanding talents in the fintech sector;
• Fintech Online Market: A deep dive into the realms of commerce and payments;
• Innovation Challenge demo day;
• The Plug and Play demo day;
• Web3;
• Insurtech; and
• Microfinance in Saccos.

Register here.

Africa Fintech Summit

November 02 – 03, 2023

Ciela Resort and Spa, Lusaka, Zambia

The Africa Fintech Summit is returning for its 10^th edition in Lusaka, Zambia. The event, which is scheduled to take place on November 02 and 03, 2023, at the Ciela Resort and Spa, will host fintech stakeholders from across Africa and the globe for ecosystem-building conversations and engagements.

The summit’s mission is to forge ties between innovators, regulators, investors, and a plethora of other stakeholders pivotal to Africa’s fintech domain, serving as a platform for intellectual exchange, ideation, and scouting partnership avenues.

Event highlights include:

• A VIP dinner for delegates, speakers, sponsors, regulators and partners on the evening of November 01;
• 10+ live panels discussions and roundtables exploring the leading trends and ideas impacting fintech in Africa and beyond;
• High-level networking opportunities;
• Africa’s largest fintech exhibition;
• Expert keynote addresses and fireside chats;
• The 2023 AlphaExpo Micro-Accelerator and Pitch Competition;
• Partner workshops;
• The Lusaka Startup Ecosystem Tour;
• A post-event happy hour, and more.

Register here.

MWC Kigali 2023

October 17 – 19, 2023

Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda

The next edition of MWC Kigali is coming back this year from October 17 to 19. Organized by the GSMA Mobile for Development team, MWC Kigali 2023 will span three days and delve into pressing themes such as “Powering Digital”, “Accelerate Africa”, and fintech. These thematic focal points aim to explore the transformative potential of digital technologies in shaping the continent’s future and addressing its challenges.

MWC Kigali 2023’s Fintech Summit, taking place across the three days, will examine the evolution of the fintech industry in Africa, and explore the emerging technologies and trends that will shape the future of the digital economy and fintech in the region and beyond.

This year, the GSMA Mobile for Development team will once again be hosting a dedicated Development Theatre, providing a unique platform for insightful keynotes and panels, and discussions. These conversations will encompass a wide range of subjects including digital inclusion, gender equity, innovation-driven impact, climate considerations, and humanitarian interventions.

Additionally, attendees can look forward to the Mobile Money Leadership Forum, an event that promises to offer insights into the evolving landscape of mobile financial solutions.

MoonShot by TechCabal

October 11 – 12, 2023

Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria

Moonshot is the new flagship conference of TechCabal, a digital media company focusing on the African tech landscape. The event is set to convene the most audacious players including the founders, business leaders, startups and enterprise companies to network, collaborate, share insights and celebrate innovation on the continent.

Moonshot will feature five content tracks around eight major themes, namely the future of commerce, bigtech and enterprise, emerging tech, the Startup Festival and the Creative Economy.

The event will also include a startup pitch competition where entrepreneurs will get the opportunity to showcase their ideas and get the financing they need to scale; cutting-edge discussions; tech festivals; exhibitions; investor-pitch showcases; and product showcases.

Register here.

Africa Money and DeFi Summit West Africa

October 03 – 04, 2023

Accra, Ghana

Set to be held on October 03 and 04, 2023, in Accra, Ghana, the Africa Money and DeFi Summit West Africa is gearing up for another iteration after its successful sold-out edition last year. This year’s summit will seek to foster collaboration and discussions between influential leaders from Africa’s fintech and cryptocurrency sectors with their international counterparts.

The leading African fintech and crypto ecosystem event promises to provide unrivaled insight, networking, and business opportunities for anyone interested connecting to the African fintech and crypto ecosystem. The two-day summit is set to feature 500+ delegates who will explore hot topics and the latest trends, including decentralized finance (DeFi), payments, crypto, Web3, digital lending, foreign exchange (FX), digital identity, cybersecurity, insurtech, mobile money, digital credit and financial inclusion.

Technext Coinference 2023

October 02, 2023

Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

Technext Coinference 2023 (TNC 3.0), scheduled for October 02, in Lagos, Nigeria, aims to foster conversations centered on blockchain technology and its potential within the African context.

The primary objective of the 2023 edition is to facilitate dialogue among key stakeholders in Africa’s blockchain tech ecosystem, and explore the manifold possibilities of blockchain in the region. In addition, there will be an emphasis on how Africans can capitalize on opportunities within this ecosystem to achieve personal development and generate wealth.

The theme of TNC 3.0, “Blockchain In Africa: New Frontiers, New Opportunities”, underscores the ambition of the conference to delve deep into topics such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, and the metaverse, particularly concerning their relevance and potential impact on Africa.

The event’s format has been carefully curated to maximize engagement and knowledge dissemination. There will be two keynote addresses, offering in-depth insights into pivotal areas; four breakout sessions; and a plenary session to encapsulate broader perspectives.

TNC 3.0 is expected to draw a significant crowd, with projections of 3,000 attendees in-person and an additional 2,000 participants joining virtually.

Seamless Africa 2023

September 19 – 20, 2023

Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Seamless Africa 2023, slated for September 19 and 20 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a premier event in the domains of payment, fintech, retail, and e-commerce, promising to be a nexus of innovation and forward-thinking.

The conference intends to assemble the brightest talents from the e-commerce, retail, payments and fintech sectors, and aims to facilitate the intersection of ideas from innovators, disruptors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders both from Africa and globally.

Underlining the conference is its commitment to forging meaningful relationships and promoting new ideas. With an array of networking opportunities, forums, and showcases of state-of-the-art products, Seamless Africa 2023 will ensure that attendees not only gain insights but also access decision-makers in conducive environments ripe for business opportunities.

This year’s content themes will cover a wide spectrum of the financial and e-commerce world, including mobile and contactless payments, banking strategies, customer experience, challenges like cyber risk, e-commerce trends, digital marketplaces, data analytics, and evolving financial inclusion strategies.

Register here.

Live Panel: SME Lending in Africa – Leveraging Data + AI for Smarter Decisions

August 31, 2023, 14:00 – 15:00 (GMT+2)

Webinar

Small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) play a pivotal role in Africa’s economic landscape, generating roughly 80% of the job opportunities. However, there’s a noted gap in their access to essential financing. Over half, at 51%, need more funds than they currently have access to.

While traditional banks and financial institutions often face challenges in offering loans to these SMEs, the fintech sector are rising to the challenge and stepping up to bridge this gap. These modern lending entities offer streamlined application processes, quick approvals, and enhanced fund accessibility, making them a preferred choice for SMEs seeking credit.

On August 31, 2023, a live panel webinar titled “SME Lending in Africa – Leveraging Data + AI for Smarter Decisions” will be hosted by Provenir, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered credit risk decisioning platform, to explore how organizations can refine SME lending strategies and expedite approval processes.

The webinar promises an engaging discussion with industry specialists, focusing on harnessing the power of data and AI to improve credit accessibility for SMEs. The discussion will emphasize creating efficient application processes, accelerating market entry through informed decisions, and adapting decision-making technology to evolving market trends.

The event will also delve into the importance of utilizing advanced predictive analytics, like AI, to maintain a balance of risk. Another significant topic will be the integration of real-time, historical, and alternative data sources to offer a more rounded understanding of an SME’s creditworthiness.

Register here.