Applications open for Visa’s 4-day fintech bootcamp

Leading payment network Visa is teaming up with Hong Kong-based VC firm and innovation accelerator Nest to launch its inaugural Visa Bootcamp, iAfrican reported.

“At its core, Visa is a technology company and we are constantly evolving to provide immersive, collaborative and localized experiences for our clients and partners in this region. We think the partnership with NEST is an ideal one that brings our collaborative approach to life through the FinTech bootcamp”, Jabu Basopo, Visa’s General Manager for Southern and East Africa, said (as quoted by iAfrican).

The Visa Bootcamp is a 4-day programme in which up to seven startups and three developer teams will be selected to go to Nairobi, Kenya to accelerate their fintech business. The bootcamp is looking for fintech startups and developers to ideate, co-create and develop solutions around financial literacy and financial inclusion in Africa.

According to the official website, the programme content is best suited to firms developing solutions for financial literacy, KYC, personal financial management – loan calculator, finance and accounting tools, financial education, solutions for the underbanked, authentication, and mobile payments.

Nest’s team of strategic advisors, together with mentors from Visa, will train and share insights with the selected participants. The selected participants will also get an opportunity to work alongside financial services industry leaders as well as get access to Visa's APIs, tools and resources needed to scale their startup through Africa and beyond.

“We are very excited to be working with Visa to deliver this bootcamp in Nairobi", Aaron Fu, Managing Partner of Nest Africa said. "Through this partnership with Visa, we will be better equipped to offer stronger tangible tools to entrepreneurs, both from Africa and around the world, who want to make a difference to banking and payments for individuals and businesses across the continent. We will also be leveraging Nest’s global capabilities to elevate the profile of the participating startups by giving them further opportunities to grow and scale."

Applications are now open and will close on 10th February 2017. The bootcamp will begin on 24 March 2017 in Nairobi at Mettā's new space, culminating in a Demo Day on 27 March 2017.