Is there still a future for Fintechs in French-speaking West Africa?

Jamboo 👋🏾

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Latest News:

Gabonese start-up POZI has just raised €650,000 in seed funding, marking a major milestone as it is the first international VC investment in a Gabonese tech start-up. Backed by Saviu Ventures, EMSY Capital and Chazai Wamba, POZI is developing a smart fleet management platform that integrates predictive analytics and real-time tracking. Already adopted by more than 2,500 vehicles, the solution appeals for its data-driven approach to transport. Their goal is to expand into Côte d’Ivoire by 2025, then connect 35,000 vehicles in 10 countries by 2030.

The BCEAO has officially launched its Interoperable Instant Payment System Platform, known as P-SPI. This is a major step forward in the digital transformation of finance in the WAEMU. This infrastructure will now enable instant money transfers between banks, fintechs, microfinance institutions and mobile money operators. This launch lays the foundations for the e-CFA, the future regional digital currency, and paves the way for smoother and more inclusive financial integration across French-speaking Africa.

Google is offering 12 months of free access to its premium AI tools to university students in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Mozambique. This initiative aims to accelerate the skills development of African youth and empower them to build locally while competing internationally. The approach is part of a strategy to transform Africa from a mere market for AI into a hub for innovation and technological production.

Tech POV:

Let’s talk about the platform launched by the BCEAO and how it influences the future of fintech.

Until now, sending money from a bank to a mobile wallet was almost like technological diplomacy. Tomorrow, it will be as simple as sending a message on WhatsApp.

Years behind... but still a strategic step

Local fintechs didn’t wait for the BCEAO to make payments simple.

- Wave has democratised free transfers.

- Djamo has broken down banking barriers in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

- Julaya has streamlined B2B payments between businesses and informal workers.

- MFS Africa, CinetPay and others built bridges of interoperability even before the word was uttered in Dakar.

What the BCEAO is doing today is institutionalising this innovation. It is taking control of a grassroots movement to give it an official regional infrastructure. And even if this shift is coming late, it is coming at the right time: when fintechs have already validated demand and educated the market.

Interoperability

This new system breaks down the walls between players. Banks, wallets, microfinance: everything will be able to communicate. This is excellent news for the end user, but a double-edged sword for start-ups.

Until now, many of them have maintained their advantage through the closed nature of their systems: loyalty through constraint, exclusive partnerships, complex integrations that are difficult to replicate.

Tomorrow, this lever will disappear. This forces start-ups to rethink their differentiation.

If everything becomes interoperable, the real battle will no longer be fought over technology, but over experience, trust and added value. The winner will not be the one who connects best, but the one who best understands real uses.

For founders: what this shift implies

1- Think infrastructure + experience

The BCEAO lays the foundations. You build the interfaces. Innovation will no longer be in the transfer itself, but in what it enables: instant microcredit, alternative scoring, integrated payments in commerce, etc.

2- Play as a team, not alone

The era of closed ecosystems is over. Collaboration between banks, operators and start-ups will now be the norm. Those who succeed will be those who know how to co-create, not compete.

3- Anticipate the e-CFA

This platform is paving the way for the e-CFA, the regional digital currency. And that changes everything in terms of regulation, compliance and traceability. Start-ups that prepare for this now, particularly in terms of transaction transparency and data, will have a head start.

4- Keep up the pace

The BCEAO is changing, but it remains an institution. At your level, you can experiment quickly. Test, learn, adjust. Do what they cannot do: understand the field in real time.

Opportunities:

• UNICEF Climate Innovation ChallengeUNICEF, together with the India Health Fund and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, is launching a call for tech start-ups from emerging countries.The aim is to support solutions that protect children from climate risks and strengthen community resilience through AI, data or blockchain.The prize: 10+ hours of mentoring, technical support for fundraising and global visibility. Early-stage or growth-stage startups led by women and young people are encouraged to apply.Apply before the deadline: 21 October 2025 (23:59 CET)
• Start Your Biotech JourneyThe Activator is the largest open-access, equity-free accelerator dedicated to biotech start-ups. The programme supports founders from team formation to the final pitch, with the support of a network of over 2,000 industry experts and investors. More than 100 start-ups from the programme have already raised £30 million. If you have a biotech or deep tech project, this is a real opportunity to move forward quickly and open up to the global market.Applications are open until 20 October.

Fun Content:

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