Catapult Inclusion Africa 2026: Grow Your Fintech Startup for Financial Inclusion

Are you a fintech founder in Africa working to bring financial services to underserved communities? The Catapult: Inclusion Africa 2026 program offers a chance to grow your startup with expert support and global connections. This ninth edition targets companies focused on financial inclusion and runs with backing from Luxembourg’s development agency.

Backed by partners like FIT and ADA, the program helps startups speed up their growth. It connects participants with key players in inclusive finance across Africa and beyond. Applications close soon, so check if your business fits.

Program Overview

Catapult: Inclusion Africa gathers fintech companies dedicated to financial inclusion. The goal is to help unbanked and underserved people in Africa access services like loans, payments, and insurance. Startups get tools and advice to boost their local impact.

The program lasts two weeks in two places. Organizers cover many costs to make it easy for founders to join. A founding member, often the CEO, must attend the full time.

This setup lets companies learn from top experts and build partnerships. Past editions have helped startups scale up their work in areas like mobile payments and microfinance.

Dates and Locations

The ninth edition splits into two parts:

• Week 1: Côte d’Ivoire, from June 29 to July 3, 2026. This hands-on week focuses on regional insights.
• Week 2: Luxembourg, from November 9 to 13, 2026. Here, participants meet global leaders in finance.

These dates give time between weeks for teams to apply what they learn back home. Travel and stays are set up to keep things smooth.

Key Benefits

Selected startups receive strong support. Here is what participants get:

• Travel Reimbursement: Up to €2,000 (including VAT) for one person’s economy class round-trip ticket to Côte d’Ivoire and the same for Luxembourg. A second team member can join but pays their own way.
• Accommodation and Meals: Stay in a hotel picked by organizers for the whole program. Breakfast and lunch are covered each day.

Beyond logistics, the program offers training, networking, and feedback from industry pros. Founders gain skills to improve their products and reach more users. Organizers track progress for three years to measure long-term results.

Eligibility Requirements

Not every company qualifies. Organizers look for businesses that match these points:

• Focus Area: Work in financial inclusion for underserved or unbanked Africans. This includes fields like AgriTech, AI and Big Data, banking, blockchain, credit services, cryptocurrencies, cybersecurity, digital services, financial management, FinTech enablers, fund tech, green finance, InsurTech, loans, life insurance, microfinance, mobile payments, money transfers, RegTech, savings, and wealth tech.
• Stage of Development: Have at least a minimum viable product (MVP). Most accepted companies are pre-seed to Series A.
• Documentation: Share details on your project, company health, founders, and key shareholders. This helps check for risks or compliance issues.
• Attendance: A founder (usually CEO) commits to both weeks.
• Monitoring: Agree to share performance data for three years after the program.
• Language: Fluent in French.

Teams must prove their work helps real people gain access to finance. Strong applications show clear impact plans.

How to Apply

Ready to apply? Head to the application page. Fill out all required info before the deadline.

For full details, visit the official program site.

The deadline is May 10, 2026. Start now to prepare your pitch and docs. This program can open doors for your fintech to grow across Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions