Pitch Friday 2.0- Business Deal Room: Unlocking Partnerships for Growth

Imagine having just five minutes, 300 seconds to convince an investor or a business leader that your startup could change Africa. Five minutes to tell your story, prove your traction, and seal the kind of partnership that could redefine your company’s future.

That’s the kind of high-stakes energy that filled the room at Pitch Friday 2.0: The Business Deal Room, hosted by Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event, held under the theme “Fintech Frontiers: Unlocking Partnerships for Growth,” formed part of the timbuktoo Fintech Accelerator Program, a Pan-African initiative supporting startups building fintech solutions that solve some of Africa’s most pressing challenges.

But this wasn’t your typical pitch event.

Rather than the usual stage-to-crowd pitch format, Pitch Friday 2.0 recreated the intimacy of a deal room, where every conversation mattered. Startups sat across the table from investors, corporates, and industry players in rapid-fire sessions designed to spark genuine connections and unlock real business opportunities.

Over 14 high-impact startups took the spotlight, from Trade Lenda, Pakam, Primed Ehealth, Kitovu technologies, Heabron, Blockroll, Prodevs, Socool technologies, Consavatory Limited, Airsmat, Yoyei, mPharma, Gas247ng, Traddify each showcasing how their solutions are reshaping sectors from agriculture and healthcare to logistics and sustainability.

They met directly with representatives from top investors and corporate players including GreenHouse Capital, OnAfriq, AfricInvest, Access Bank, Trium Investments, Seedstars, British Council, FDN Advisory, Aluko & Oyebode, Hydrogen Pay, Max.ng, Kuda, FDN Advisory, Norskenn 22, Airtel and Flutterwave. The mix spanned industries across finance, regulation, health, and transport, proving one thing: technology isn’t just about fintech anymore; it’s the infrastructure for Africa’s growth.

The matchmaking didn’t happen by accident. Before the event, the AFF team carefully mapped startups to investors and businesses whose goals aligned, ensuring every conversation had purpose and potential.

As the discussions unfolded, one key message resonated. Dee Abudu of OnAfriq shared feedback that hit home for many founders: “Always know what you want when you step into a room like this. Be clear about the type of funding you need, how much you need, and why. Confidence in your solution is non-negotiable.”

For many startups, those five minutes turned into thirty-minute deep dives and follow-up calls, the beginning of partnerships that could power their next growth phase.

As the sun set, the formal pitching gave way to a cocktail mixer, where conversations that began at the tables flowed naturally into new connections and collaborative ideas. The room buzzed with founders exchanging business cards, investors leaning in, and everyone realizing just how small and connected Africa’s innovation ecosystem can be when the right people meet.

Pitch Friday has grown into more than just a platform, it’s now a movement within the AFF ecosystem. Each edition provides a stage for promising startups that might not yet be on investors’ radars but are building solutions too impactful to ignore.

As Africa Fintech Foundry continues to bridge the gap between innovators and institutions, Pitch Friday 2.0 reaffirms one truth: the future of Africa’s growth lies in collaboration.

Keep an eye out for the next edition, and maybe next time, it’ll be your startup in the deal room.