Safaricom has announced the selection of 10 startups to join the second cohort of its Spark Accelerator Program, a three-month initiative designed to accelerate innovation, strengthen business models, and scale impact-driven solutions across Africa.
The program, implemented by iHub and supported by partners including M-PESA Africa, Sumitomo Corporation, AWS, PwC, and Vodacom, attracted more than 200 applications from early-stage companies across the continent.
The 10 startups chosen; Mediakits.io, WePlay Arcade, GoPay, FlexPay, QuePay, Leta.AI, Oye, DigiTax, Incourage Insurance Agency Limited, and StockApp will receive intensive training, mentorship, and funding support to prepare them for long-term growth.
The Spark Accelerator is part of Safaricom’s broader commitment to nurture, grow, and scale startups that are solving Africa’s pressing challenges. The program targets ventures in key sectors such as embedded finance, creative economy, future fintech, and SME productivity tools.
“As part of our commitment to transforming lives, we aim to nurture commercially viable tech start-ups that drive positive societal impact,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa. “We have broadened our scope of support to include technology and product development, access to markets, and access to capital.”
The program is structured around two main tracks:
iHub-led Track: A curriculum-driven model offering expert-led workshops, mentorship, and advisory sessions.
Corporate Engagement Track: Direct access to Safaricom and M-PESA Africa’s commercial teams, distribution networks, and technical experts to fast-track scale and integration.
The startups will spend three months refining their business models before presenting to venture capital firms and impact investors at a high-profile Demo Day in February 2026. The event is expected to attract leading investors from Africa, Europe, and Asia, giving founders a platform to secure seed and growth-stage funding.
Following the demo day, startups will also benefit from an additional nine to twelve months of post-acceleration support, positioning them for long-term success in highly competitive markets.
The initiative reflects a growing trend in Africa’s startup ecosystem, where telecom giants like Safaricom are stepping in to provide not just connectivity but also a growth platform for digital innovation. With the rise of fintech solutions, digital insurance platforms, and creative tech ventures, Africa’s startup scene is increasingly seen as a driver of economic transformation.
Each of the selected startups brings a unique proposition, reflecting the diversity of Africa’s innovation landscape. Mediakits.io is helping creators monetize and measure digital influence, while WePlay Arcade is developing interactive gaming solutions tailored to the continent’s growing youth market.
In fintech, GoPay, FlexPay, and QuePay are seeking to revolutionize digital payments and expand access to consumer credit. Leta.AI is leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize logistics, and both Oye and DigiTax are focused on strengthening compliance and financial transparency.
Meanwhile, Incourage Insurance Agency Limited is working to broaden access to micro-insurance services, and StockApp is opening up new opportunities for retail investors to participate in financial markets.
According to Safaricom, these ventures reflect the continent’s “next wave” of innovation, bridging gaps in financial inclusion, logistics, and digital entertainment.
By combining technical expertise with market access, Spark Accelerator aims to close this gap and create pathways for scalable solutions.
The initiative is supported by partners including AWS, PwC, Vodacom, and Sumitomo Corporation, which will provide cloud infrastructure, advisory services, and technical guidance to participating startups.
The program also aligns with Safaricom’s strategy to deepen the integration of M-PESA across Africa, using startups as catalysts for new products and services.
With mobile money already a cornerstone of Africa’s digital economy, the addition of fintech innovators is expected to accelerate the continent’s financial inclusion drive.
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