Catapult:
Inclusion Africa
7th Edition | NOV 2024 | Luxembourg
November 11th to 15th 2024
The LHoFT —
Luxembourg
House of Financial
Technology
Applications CLOSE
Financial Inclusion
Building upon the success of the CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa programs delivered since 2018 and sponsored by the Directorate for Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, the LHoFT is excited to announce the 7th edition of this unique bootcamp fully dedicated to African Fintech and Financial Inclusion. This dynamic one-week bootcamp, seeks to empower startups driving financial innovation while also making a meaningful environmental impact on inclusivity. Hosted within the LHoFT’s innovation hub in Luxembourg, the program will run from November 11th to November 15th, 2024. The program benefits from robust collaboration with exclusive partners in the Luxembourg Financial Inclusion services ecosystem, in particular, e-MFP.
Centred around three key pillars—impact, scaling, and funding—the program offers participants a unique opportunity to engage with leaders, investors, and founders in Luxembourg’s Financial Inclusion, Fintech and financial services ecosystem, gaining invaluable insights and knowledge. Additionally, participants will be integrated into the European Microfinance Week providing them significant visibility and connectivity. The final day will provide participants with the opportunity to pitch in front of an expert audience.
The Catapult: Inclusion Africa program accommodates 10 promising Fintech firms (travel and accommodation costs covered for one participant per Fintech), providing them with a dedicated platform for nurturing and accelerating their growth.
APPLY NOW if you are focused on delivering innovative solutions with tangible impact, spanning areas such as digital banking and payment solutions, money transfer, lending and financial management, online trading platforms, credit scoring, Insurtech, AgriTech, RegTech, financial literacy and education, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and more.
Program reminder
5 days, in person
What?
A 5-day intensive training and networking bootcamp delivered in English and fully funded by the Luxembourg Government. It is structured around 3 pillars: Impact, Scaling & Funding.
When?
The 7th edition of Catapult: Inclusion Africa commences on Monday, November 11th until November 15th 2024 in Luxembourg. The 10 selected Fintechs will participate and engage in the European Microfinance Week, a significant event in the Financial Inclusion sector and a unique meeting point for microfinance and financial inclusion professionals working worldwide.
Who?
10 selected Fintech companies operating in any country across the African continent, regardless of their headquarters. Applicants must be engaged in the field of financial inclusion, working to provide underserved and unbanked populations with access to financial products and services.
How?
Delivered in collaboration with key stakeholders from the microfinance, sustainable finance and traditional finance sectors, the bootcamp encompasses classroom tutorials, customer discovery sessions, challenges, pitching sessions, mentoring engagements and networking events, including the European Microfinance Week.
Why?
To connect financial inclusion Fintechs from Africa with key stakeholders—such as Microfinance Institutions, investors, and industry experts—and to help these firms to become more efficient and effective in reaching and serving underserved market segments with sustained impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Selected firms will have, at least, a demonstrable Minimum Viable Product (“MVP”) and will likely be in the pre-seed to seed stage of funding.
Companies must be active in the financial inclusion field, helping underserved and unbanked populations in Africa get access to financial products and services.
Companies will submit all necessary information to the LHoFT in order to assess the viability of the project, company, background of owners and key shareholders to limit the risks of non-compliance or doubtful application to the programme.
The selected firm must guarantee that a founding team member, typically the CEO, will attend the programme for the duration of the week.
Companies must agree and shall provide on-going performance metrics and business status for a period of three years post programme completion to the LHoFT for the purposes of programme evaluation.
We are particularly interested in hearing from firms in payments and related services.
Participants must be fluent in French (as the programme will be run in French).
Covered Costs
LHoFT will reimburse reasonable travel costs to reach Lomé in Togo, using Economy Class Airline Carrier, up to 2000€ (VAT included) for one person/company (or equivalent). One additional person/company can attend the bootcamp but at their own costs.
The participants will be hosted in the hotel selected by the LHoFT, located in Lomé in Togo and for the duration of the programme.
Breakfast and lunches will be provided.
Applications CLOSE
More infos about the program?
Participants, Sponsors, Mentors & Guests:
If you have any questions or would like to send us a comment, contact our Head of Acceleration Programs
