Visa Invests In North African Fintechs Konnect And PayTic
The digital payments provider also announced a partnership with Morocco-based B2B platform Chari to advance the digitization of SMEs.
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has invested in two fintech companies, the Tunisia-based Konnect, which simplifies digital payments by allowing users to send payment links through SMS, email, or messaging platforms like WhatsApp and the Morocco-headquartered PayTic, which enhances operational efficiency and strengthens risk management across digital payment systems. These fintechs participated in its 12-week Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program, an initiative designed to help startups grow through expert training, mentorship, and networking support.
Visa also unveiled a strategic partnership with Chari, a Morocco-based B2B platform offering embedded fintech solutions tailored for small, neighborhood retailers. This collaboration aims to advance the digitization of SMEs in Morocco and North Africa.
The announcement comes on the heels of GITEX Africa 2025, held from April 14-16, in Marrakech, Morocco, where Visa was the financial innovation partner. On April 15, Visa wrapped up the third cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator Program with a showcase on the GITEX 10X Stage, where 19 fintech startups from across the continent presented their solutions to an audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, and strategic partners.
A scene from GITEX Africa 2025.
In a statement, Leila Serhan, senior vice president and group country manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP) region at Visa, said, “These innovative fintechs are a beacon of creativity and dedication, revolutionizing commerce and finance. Visa is proud to support their journey, providing essential resources, mentorship, and opportunities to drive digital transformation across Africa."
Amin Ben Abderrahman, CEO of Konnect, added, “We at Konnect are thrilled with Visa’s continued trust in our vision of driving seamless and instant payments across Africa, empowering businesses and individuals to transact with ease and confidence. As a global leader, Visa reinforces our commitment to shaping the future of payments.”
Additionally, Imad Boumahdi, CEO of PayTic, said, “With Visa’s backing, we are uniquely positioned to push the boundaries of possibility in fintech, helping bolster the compliance of digital payments and streamline operations for our clients. We look forward to leveraging Visa’s deep expertise, knowledge, and resources to drive growth and impact.”
Ismael Belkhayat, co-founder and CEO of Chari, commented, "Partnering with Visa will significantly enhance our financial services for merchants. By bringing Visa's leading acceptance and payment capabilities to the thousands of merchants across North Africa, we are poised to drive digital transformation and growth in the region."
PayTic and Konnect are the latest to join Visa’s growing portfolio of investments in its first accelerator program cohort. Other portfolio investments include Oze from Ghana, which offers embedded financial solutions for SMEs; Workpay from Kenya, a cloud-based payroll and human resources platform; OkHi from Nigeria, which provides a smart addressing system for seamless digital address verification; and ORDA, a cloud restaurant management software digitizing operations for over 1,500 restaurants across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
The third cohort of the accelerator program showcased a group of pan-African startups from 21 countries, with 85 percent of the leadership being female. This marks a notable increase from less than 50 percent in the program’s first edition and 65 percent in the second.
The Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator is a three-month program aimed at supporting Seed to Series A startups through personalized mentorship, training, and unique funding and partnership opportunities. This initiative aligns with Visa's pledge to invest US$1 billion in Africa by 2027. Since its inception in 2023, the program has accelerated more than 60 startups, with the fourth cohort scheduled to be announced on June 2, 2025.
Pictures in the lead image from left to right: Leila Serhan, senior vice president and group country manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP) region at Visa and Ismael Belkhayat, co-founder and CEO of Chari. Courtesy of Visa.
