African Export-Import Bank has selected African fintech firm Capsa Technology as one of eight finalists in its flagship accelerator programme, endorsing digital factoring as a strategic solution to the continent’s estimated $120 billion trade finance shortfall.
Capsa emerged from a global pool of more than 1,600 high-growth ventures, positioning the company among a select group viewed as capable of reshaping trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The endorsement from Afreximbank signals growing institutional confidence in alternative financing models as Africa seeks to unlock intra-continental trade. With traditional lenders often constrained by collateral requirements and SME credit complexities, a substantial portion of viable African businesses remain excluded from formal trade finance systems.
Capsa’s model centres on digital factoring, a mechanism that enables businesses to sell verified invoices to a marketplace of institutional and private investors. By converting receivables into immediate liquidity, the platform accelerates cash cycles and reduces dependency on conventional bank loans.
“This is more than recognition; it is strategic alignment,” said Mustapha Suberu, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Capsa.
He noted that deepening intra-African trade requires a robust liquidity bridge, arguing that delayed payments continue to suppress industrial growth across the continent.
Factoring, estimated to be a $3 trillion global industry, remains under-penetrated in Africa. Capsa says it has adapted the model to local market realities, transforming informal supply chain data into structured, investable assets.
The company reports executing over 10,000 transactions to date, demonstrating operational capacity to manage high-volume trade flows. Its vetting system aims to reduce investor risk while offering a relatively stable, yield-generating asset class.
Beyond liquidity provision, Capsa’s platform claims measurable development impact. Women-led enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses form a significant portion of its beneficiaries, with financing directed toward agriculture, healthcare, recycling and waste management, sectors aligned with environmental, social and governance (ESG) mandates.
As AfCFTA implementation gathers pace, demand for cross-border working capital is expected to rise sharply. Afreximbank’s accelerator programme is designed to identify scalable solutions capable of supporting this transition.
Industry analysts note that institutional backing at this level could strengthen investor confidence and accelerate partnerships across African markets. Access to Afreximbank’s continental trade network may also provide regulatory leverage and integration opportunities.
Read also: Afreximbank unveils $8bn programme as South Africa Joins
Segun Dada, Capsa’s chief commercial officer and co-founder, said the company’s objective extends beyond financing individual firms. “Through access to timely liquidity, we are disrupting the status quo and giving businesses the power to accelerate growth,” he said, adding that improving the velocity of money across supply chains could generate wider economic impact.
The selection underscores a broader shift in African trade finance toward technology-enabled, asset-backed solutions. With a persistent financing gap and increasing intra-African trade ambitions, digital factoring platforms such as Capsa may become central to the continent’s next phase of economic integration.
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