Mauritius-based FinTech startup Black Swan has been crowned the winner of the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025.
The pan-African pitch competition which is led by the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa) and powered by Absa Group spotlighted startups building next-generation financial solutions aimed at boosting inclusion and improving lending, payments and digital services across the continent.
Black Swan is building infrastructure that turns fragmented consumer and MSME data into real-time credit intelligence. The startup says its platform enables banks and lenders to run instant affordability assessments, making it possible to extend credit to borrowers typically excluded by traditional lending models.
“Africa’s financial system cannot see the true creditworthiness of millions of consumers and MSMEs because their data is fragmented and often informal,” Kazimoto said. “Our mission is to make Africa bankable.”
Kazimoto added that Africa is shifting from collateral-driven lending to data-driven credit.
The 2025 edition of MAC attracted hundreds of applications from Absa priority markets including Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Seychelles and Mauritius. Ten startups made it to the Cape Town finale, pitching before a panel of investors, Absa executives, and technology leaders.
According to MEST Africa’s Portfolio Advisor, Ashwin Ravichandran, this year’s applicants demonstrated stronger technical depth and a readiness to scale across borders.
“Founders are prioritizing compliance, interoperability, and cross-border readiness from day one. FinTech is now powering real sectors like agriculture, energy, and trade,” he noted.
What Black Swan Gets
As the overall winner, Black Swan receives:
- US $50,000 in equity investment
- Entry into the MEST portfolio
- A chance to pilot commercial solutions with Absa business units across Africa
Absa said Black Swan’s data-driven approach aligns with its ambition to deliver more integrated and accessible financial services across its markets.
Tawanda Chatikobo, Head of Digital for Absa Regional Operations, noted, “Black Swan secured the winning position because their solution meets a clear need and shows potential to complement the services we provide across our markets.”
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