For the first time, Seychelles is among the countries represented in the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator. The sixth cohort of Visa's flagship continental programme, announced in early October 2026, brings together 21 startups from 9 African countries — including Seychelles, Niger and Togo as first-time participants.
A programme now worth $1.4 billion in combined startup value
Since its launch, the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator has supported 104 startups across its first five cohorts. The combined valuation of companies that have gone through the programme exceeds $1.4 billion, making it one of the most impactful fintech acceleration programmes on the continent.
The sixth cohort's startups are developing solutions across payments, remittances, stablecoins, agentic commerce and sustainable finance. Based in Accra, the programme offers each cohort access to Visa's infrastructure, high-level mentorship and commercial partnership opportunities.
A strong signal for Seychelles' digital ambitions
For Seychelles, this first inclusion carries symbolic and strategic weight. The archipelago — whose economy relies primarily on tourism and fishing — has been working for years to diversify income streams through digital finance and the blue economy. A Seychellois startup entering this continental reference programme opens doors to new African markets and global investor networks.
Mauritius has long placed its bets on fintech to reinforce its financial hub status. Seychelles is now on a similar path, but with its own identity: rooted in the maritime economy and with an ambition in green finance.
Why it matters
Seychelles' inclusion in this programme reflects a broader trend: small Indian Ocean island states can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines of Africa's fintech revolution. Diaspora transfers, financial inclusion and digital tourism all represent real opportunities. This signal from Visa — the world's largest payment network — validates that the Seychellois ecosystem deserves serious attention.