Gebeya, the leading provider of an ecosystem for Africa’s service economy, has been selected as a finalist in the inaugural Afreximbank Accelerator Programme, a flagship initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) designed to drive innovation in intra-African trade.
Afreximbank announced the top eight finalists selected for the first cohort of the three-month accelerator, which kicks off in March 2026. The programme is aimed at empowering high-potential startups in developing scalable solutions that advance intra-African trade, industrialisation, and economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Gebeya was chosen as a finalist from a highly competitive pool of over 1,600 applications drawn from across Africa, the diaspora, and the Caribbean (CARICOM). Selection followed a rigorous, multi-stage process including in-depth business assessments, interviews and pitch sessions, overseen by Afreximbank trade specialists alongside external experts from the venture capital and innovation ecosystem.
As a finalist, Gebeya is eligible, subject to selection criteria, to receive up to US$250,000 in equity investment, alongside expert mentorship and privileged access to Afreximbank’s pan-African trade ecosystem through the Bank’s impact investment arm, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA).
The selected startups collectively reflect Afreximbank’s mission to deliver measurable progress in intra-African and global African trade, with each start-up addressing structural barriers to trade while enabling African businesses to scale across borders.
Gebeya was selected for its work building AI Agents designed specifically for African businesses, providing a reliable, always-on digital assistant that embeds directly into daily operations. Gebeya designs intelligent systems that help entrepreneurs automate customer engagement, improve decision-making, reduce operational costs, and scale sustainably in complex, fast-growing markets.
By providing a constant operational backbone, Gebeya enables businesses — from solo creators to growing enterprises — to transition from informal or fragmented workflows into structured, efficient, and future-proof operations. In doing so, Gebeya supports productivity gains that are critical to strengthening Africa’s service economy and enabling businesses to participate more effectively in regional and cross-border trade.
Commenting on the selection, Amadou Daffe, Co-Founder and CEO of Gebeya, said: “Being selected as a finalist in the Afreximbank Accelerator Programme is a strong validation of what we are building at Gebeya. African businesses don’t lack talent or ambition: they lack the operational infrastructure needed to scale efficiently. Our AI Agents are designed to close that gap, giving entrepreneurs the tools to run better businesses, compete regionally, and plug into Africa’s growing trade ecosystem under the AfCFTA.”
Over the course of the programme, Gebeya and the other finalists will participate in virtual learning modules, hands-on workshops and in-person sessions hosted across regional hubs. The programme will culminate in a high-profile Demo Day, where startups will present their solutions to a global audience of investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.
Participation in the Afreximbank Accelerator Programme marks an important milestone for Gebeya as it scales its AI Agents across African markets. The programme will support the company’s next phase of growth, strengthening its product, deepening partnerships, and accelerating adoption among businesses operating across borders under the AfCFTA. Through access to Afreximbank’s trade ecosystem, Gebeya aims to expand its role as core operational infrastructure for Africa’s service and creative economy.
About Gebeya
Gebeya is an innovative platform technology company focused on empowering Africa’s service economy by providing AI-powered digital tools that streamline communication, collaboration, and trade. Gebeya helps businesses and professionals across the continent scale and succeed in the digital economy.
