Catapult: Inclusion Africa 2023 – Togo Edition

The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (Lhoft) has launched the 6th edition of its “Catapult: Inclusion Africa” program, which aims to help startups “enhance financial inclusiveness” and scale their business.

Lhoft’s “Catapult: Inclusion Africa” program taps “the Luxembourg inclusive finance and fintech ecosystem to support the selected 10 companies in developing their business and achieving their inclusion goals,” Lhoft stated.

The program targets companies focusing on financial inclusion in Africa, aiming to build bridges between Africa and Europe and highlighting the alignment of their initiatives with the sustainability objectives of the Luxembourg financial centre.

Sessions will cover “business model mapping, scaling strategies, invest-ability, business plan presentation, legal strategy, pricing, marketing strategy,” among other topics.

This 6th edition will once again leverage Luxembourg ‘s Inclusive Finance and Fintech ecosystem to support selected firms in developing their businesses and achieving their inclusion goals. In addition, firms will participate in the African Micro Finance Week (SAM) thus gathering with the whole Micro Finance community while making meaningful connections with entrepreneurs, VCs, IMFs and many more.

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 program.
• Companies must agree and shall provide on-going performance metrics and business status for a period of three years post program completion to the LHoFT for the purposes of program evaluation.
• The selected firm must guarantee that a founding team member, typically the CEO, will attend the program for the duration of the week.
• We are particularly interested in hearing from firms in payments and related services.
• Participants must be fluent in French (as the program will be run in French).

All costs are covered

• 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 program.
• Breakfast and lunches will be provided.