Spark Accelerator Program Unveils Second Cohort
Spark Accelerator Program Unveils Second Cohort
Safaricom has announced 10 startups as finalists for the second cohort of the Spark Accelerator Program. They were selected from a pool of over 200 applicants across Africa.
The chosen startups Mediakits.Io, WePlay Arcade, GoPay, FlexPay, QuePay, Leta.AI, Oye, DigiTax, Incourage Insurance Agency Limited, and StockApp – will undergo a three-month program. The accelerator combines training, mentorship, funding, and go-to-market support. It runs across two tracks:
-
iHUB-led Track: Expert-led workshops, advisory sessions, and structured mentorship.
-
Corporate Engagement Track: Direct access to Safaricom and M-PESA Africa’s commercial and technical teams, along with distribution networks to fast-track integration and scale.
The startups represent key sectors such as Embedded Finance, Creative Economy, Future Fintech, and SME Productivity Tools. These align with Safaricom’s innovation and impact agenda.
Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, explained:
“As part of our commitment to transforming lives, we aim to nurture, grow, and scale viable tech startups that deliver societal impact. Our expanded support now includes product development, access to markets, and access to capital.”
The program will culminate in a high-impact Demo Day in February 2026. During the event, startups will pitch to investors, including top venture capital funds. Afterward, they will continue to receive nine to twelve months of post-acceleration support.
Spark Accelerator Cohort 2 Press Release
Spark Accelerator Program Unveils Second Cohort
Building Africa’s Next Innovation Leaders
The Spark Accelerator is powered by Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, and Sumitomo Corporation, and implemented by iHUB. Partners such as Vodacom, PwC, and AWS provide additional support. According to Ojoma Ochai, Managing Director of iHUB and Co-Creation Hub:
“Africa’s innovation ecosystems need financing models that go beyond traditional sources. Corporate accelerators provide startups with access to infrastructure, markets, and resources from established companies. This strengthens ventures and creates new pathways for growth and resilience.”
The first cohort highlighted the program’s impact. Twiva partnered with Safaricom Hook to onboard more than 11,000 influencers. Chpter expanded into South Africa and Nigeria.
HealthX Africa grew its subscribers by 40% in six months and launched on the M-PESA consumer miniApps. Chumz attracted 300,000 users by gamifying savings and expanded into Rwanda. BlackRhino’s collaboration with Safaricom won the Best Emerging Technology in Marketing award in 2024.
These success stories illustrate how Spark equips startups with technology, market access, and investor networks to scale sustainably. Safaricom continues to partner with Cohort One alumni on commercial opportunities.
The second cohort will benefit from Safaricom’s technology assets, including Daraja and M-PESA Africa Open APIs. They will also receive hands-on product development support to accelerate testing and scaling.
Through iHUB’s Pan-African network, the startups gain access to a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and ecosystem players, opening doors to cross-border opportunities.
In addition, AWS will provide cloud infrastructure and resources through AWS Activate Credits. This combination of corporate tools, community support, and technical resources will help the startups grow efficiently and build long-term resilience.
