The Africa Fintech Summit is returning for its 10th edition in Lusaka, Zambia. The event which is slated to take place from November 2-3, 2023, at the Ciela Resort & Spa, will host fintech stakeholders from across Africa and the globe for ecosystem-building conversations and engagements.
The African Fintech Summit happens twice a year and brings together innovators, regulators, investors, and others involved in Africa’s financial technology scene. The goal is to provide a space for bright minds in finance and technology to connect and exchange thoughts and ideas, and explore partnership opportunities.
The first-ever edition of the Africa Fintech Summit took place at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2018, and with 150 attendees, 36 speakers, and 14 international partners, the summit was off to a great start. The impact of AFTS’ inaugural edition was so notable that the meeting was voted the most engaging event of the World Bank Spring Series.
Since then, there have been eight other editions of the summit held across Washington D.C., Lagos (2018), Addis Ababa (2019), (a virtual event in 2020), Cairo (2021), and Cape Town (2022). So far, all nine editions have produced impressive results, including supporting over $100 million in capital raise efforts for African startups, market entry for multinational corporations seeking to enter the regional fintech market, the launch of strategic partnerships and new businesses, policy guideline creation and more.
Supported by these results, the African Fintech Summit will take place in Lusaka, Zambia, this November. The AFTS Advisory Board selected Zambia as the summit’s next host because the several signs suggest that the Southern African country is primed to become Africa’s next fintech hub. For instance, in recent months, several digital companies have entered the Zambian market including fintechs such as Cellulant and ZeePay and B2B e-commerce company Wasoko.
Also, local fintechs in Zambia have experienced more growth in recent times. To top it off, the Zambian government has been making serious moves to drive digital transformation in the country and create business-friendly regulations. These efforts have yielded results such as improved mobile money penetration and have positioned Zambia for fintech-driven economic growth.
Speaking about the upcoming summit, Hon. Felix C. Mutati, Minister of Technology & Science for Zambia, said, “this summit comes at an important moment in Zambia where the Ministry of Technology & Science continues to work diligently to implement our national digital transformation strategy. The summit’s focus on the advancement of financial inclusion and sustainable economic development via the fintech industry will play a key role in driving digital transformation not only here in Zambia, but across the African continent.”
With hundreds of attendees from 40+ countries projected to be in attendance, #AFTSLusaka2023 promises to feature Africa’s top fintech stakeholders leading various conversations. Amongst those expected to speak at the event are Chilufya Mutale, Co-founder and CEO, Premier Credit; John Bosco Sebabi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS); Roy Muyelu, Chairperson, Payments Association of Zambia; Andile Masuku, Head of Community, Founders Factory Africa; Dolapo Agbaje, Director, Apis Partners; Grace Anyetei, Regional Director of Operations, Africa, IDT Corporation/Boss Money; Eghosa Nehikhare, Co-founder and CEO, Multigate; Eloïne Barry, Founder and CEO, African Media Agency (AMA), and others.
As usual, AFTS has lined up a slew of value-laden sessions attendees can look forward to, including:
- A VIP Dinner for VIP delegates, speakers, sponsors, regulators and partners on the evening of November 1st
- 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
- 2023 AlphaExpo Micro-Accelerator and Pitch Competition
- Partner Workshops
- Lusaka Startup Ecosystem Tour
- Post-event Happy Hour, and more!
This year’s edition is sponsored by leading African fintech stakeholders such as Flutterwave, Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), Fonbnk, PremierCredit, Multigate, and others.
Speaking about the impact of the Africa Fintech Summit at the last edition, Chris Maurice, the founder and CEO of YellowCard, the largest crypto exchange in Africa, said, “I’m here because I’d never miss it. This is the best conference in the world, let me tell you. My favorite thing about the summit is that it gives us and other businesses an opportunity to explore parts of the continent that often get overlooked from a business perspective. I love the idea of being able to visit new parts of the continent from a business perspective, and to interact with regulators and officials from those parts. I think the conference is doing a lot to make fintech on the continent more Pan-African.”
AFTS calls all interested parties to join other innovators, startups, corporations, investors, and regulators as they share knowledge and zoom in on the opportunities and trends shaping fintech in Africa at #AFTSLusaka2023. The summit’s hybrid format ensures that attendees can participate in person or online. Tickets are still on sale on the event’s official website.
