Program launches at GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech; applications open April 9
MARRAKECH, Morocco, April 9, 2026 — Renew Capital today announced the launch of Renew Venture Lab: The EmFi Series, a program designed to identify the best African tech founders who will shape the future of finance on the continent. The program was announced at GITEX during an exclusive investor breakfast hosted by the Renew Capital and AfricaNext BPI teams.
Founders can apply online starting today at venturelab.renewcapital.com. Apply by April 30 for early consideration.
Why Renew Capital is Focusing On Embedded Finance
Across Africa, small and medium-sized businesses are systematically excluded from formal financial services, not because they are too risky, but because the data to assess them is underutilized. Africa represents a $330B untapped credit opportunity: SMEs make up 90% of all private sector businesses on the continent, yet the vast majority remain locked out of formal banking. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, fewer than one in five can access a loan from a traditional financial institution.
Renew Capital believes tech companies are not only helping small businesses with innovative solutions to run their business, but they are also creating a data footprint that can be used to help them access credit. AI is enabling companies to use data in new ways to understand their customers, and one of the strongest applications of this data in Africa is assessing creditworthiness. The EmFi Series is designed to help startups build or improve systems to offer credit to their customers.
“Africa’s most important financial story is not being written by banks,” said Matthew Davis, co-CEO of Renew Capital. “It’s being written by tech founders who know their small business customers better than traditional lenders. The EmFi Series exists to help those founders build new financial products for their customers, and to back the best of them with real capital.”
About the Program
The Renew Venture Lab: EmFi Series is a virtual, competitive program combining self-paced learning modules with live expert sessions featuring global practitioners who have built embedded finance products, credit models, and lending books at scale.
The program emphasizes discipline and habits, which Renew Capital considers a key differentiator between successful and average founders. The firm’s investment team remains actively involved throughout the program, with leadership participating in selecting top companies for potential investment.
The program is supported by government partners committed to Africa’s tech-driven future, including:
- Tamwilcom of Morocco
- Global Affairs Canada
- Norway’s NORAD
These partners continue to invest in innovation where others have pulled back.
How to Apply
Apply at venturelab.renewcapital.com by April 30 for early consideration.
About Renew Capital
Renew Capital is a pan-African investment firm backing bold founders using technology to pursue Africa’s biggest opportunities.
With over a decade of investing on the continent, the firm is among the most active venture capital investors supporting Africa’s growing private sector.
For more information, visit renewcapital.com.
