Many African economies rely on agriculture as a major source of revenue, making the sector important to national development. However, this potential is limited by systemic challenges, including weak infrastructure, disrupted value chains, insecure land tenure, limited financial resources, and the marginalisation of women. 

Markets are also fragmented by different rules across more than 50 countries, making cross-border trade challenging. Many also struggle to understand new trade agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

For over three decades, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has addressed challenges like these. It has promoted intra-African trade and industrialisation, particularly through resilient value chains in agriculture, and its Flagship Accelerator Program. 

The Flagship Accelerator Program supports agribusinesses through funding, mentorship, supply chain innovation, financial tools, and market access. This positions agripreneurs as key beneficiaries, aligning directly with Afreximbank’s strategy to scale African trade and transform the agricultural economy.

The Afreximbank Accelerator Program

The Afreximbank Flagship Accelerator Program is an initiative designed to help African entrepreneurs create innovative solutions for trade across the continent and supports entrepreneurs from Africa and its diaspora. 

The program specifically targets visionary founders with scalable technologies that address critical challenges in cross-border payments, trade finance, and digital commerce platforms.

Speaking on the significance of this initiative, Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, emphasized: “Our continent’s growth will be defined by how well we equip entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and funding to scale their innovations across borders. The Afreximbank Accelerator is a strategic leap toward that future.”

While the Afreximbank Accelerator Program is open to all industries, it seeks solutions that address the following issues: 

• Trade Enablement: Technologies that make cross-border trade easier
• Financial Solutions: Innovations that close funding gaps or improve payments.
• Market Access Platforms: Digital tools that connect buyers and sellers across Africa.
• Supply Chain Innovation: Solutions that improve logistics and distribution.

The program focuses on startups already generating revenue and having a working product.

How Afreximbank’s Accelerator Supports Agripreneurs

The Afreximbank Accelerator Program provides a comprehensive set of tools to help African agripreneurs succeed by directly responding to the structural challenges that have historically constrained African agriculture:

1. Funding & Credit Access: A major benefit of the program is the opportunity for startups to get up to $250,000 in investment. The funding is managed  by Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development for Africa (FEDA). FEDA helps fill the funding gap for early-stage businesses, making them more appealing to other investors and reducing the perceived risk of investing in African markets.
2. Mentorship & Capacity Building: Mentorship has been proven to provide guidance and help, and so, beyond just financial support, the program provides startups with the needed guidance from a diverse range of experts, including successful entrepreneurs and Afreximbank leaders. This coaching helps agripreneurs refine their business plans, develop their skills, and enhance operational efficiency. 
3. Trade Facilitation: A part of the accelerator is helping businesses expand into new markets. Agripreneurs can utilise Afreximbank’s extensive network to grow their businesses across Africa. The bank is a major supporter of the AfCFTA and has launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to facilitate easier cross-border payments. Afreximbank has also established a $10 billion fund to enable countries to participate effectively in the AfCFTA. These tools help agripreneurs navigate complex trade rules and turn policies into real business growth.
4. Ecosystem Partnerships: Afreximbank’s support extends beyond the accelerator, with strategic partnerships that create a support system. For example, it partnered with the African Union Commission (AUC) for the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) initiative, investing $20.8 million to build regional agro-industrial centers. It also committed $2 billion to the Export Agriculture for Food Security (ExAFS) Initiative, which sets up Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs) to help farmers with collection, storage, and services.

The Afreximbank Flagship Accelerator Program is a vital step for advancing Africa’s agribusiness sector. By providing agripreneurs with access to funding, expert mentorship, and trade tools, it directly addresses the challenges that have long hindered the agricultural sector. 

The program’s focus on tech-enabled solutions is not just about helping startups; it’s about transforming the entire continent’s food systems and harnessing its agricultural potential.

If you are an agripreneur looking to elevate your business and contribute to the agricultural transformation in Africa, consider applying to the Afreximbank Flagship Accelerator Program today.