Visa, one of the world’s largest payment networks, has made a strategic investment in four African startups, including Ghana’s digital lending platform, Oze. This investment reflects Visa’s dedication to advancing digital innovation in Africa, aiming to foster fintech growth and enhance financial inclusion across the continent.
The selected startups—Oze, Workpay, OkHi, and ORD—are alumni of the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator, a program that connects Africa’s brightest fintech founders with experienced mentors, advanced technology, and significant investment opportunities. This accelerator is part of Visa’s broader commitment to invest $1 billion in Africa by 2027, with 45 startups already accelerated and 15 partnerships underway. The third cohort, currently in session, includes promising startups like Ghana’s WeWire, Algeria’s Moneco, and Kenya’s Umba.
Founded by Meghan McCormick and Dave Emnett in 2018, Oze aims to close Africa’s credit gap for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By digitizing SMEs’ financial data, Oze enables banks to better assess risk and offer credit to businesses that might otherwise lack funding access. Active in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Guinea, Lesotho, and Benin, Oze’s digital lending platform is positioned to drive sustainable growth for African businesses and empower them to reach their full potential.
