Africa's fintech industry and major players
Look at the forces behind growth in fintech, where funding has gone and the product categories taking shape.
Upskilling · Cohort-based, 12 weeks
Learn to build products for African fintech
Fintech product work sits between customer needs, business models and the rules of each market. Over twelve weeks, this bootcamp helps aspiring and practising product managers understand those forces and make better product decisions.
You will learn through online workshops with product managers, case studies and work drawn from the kinds of deliverables VFA’s startup partners face. The aim is to connect sound product practice to the realities of African markets.
Develop an understanding of
Fintech regulation in major African markets
Understand what regulators are trying to protect, where new products create tension and why market rules matter to product teams.
Core fintech business models
Examine how fintech companies create and capture value, and why the business model belongs in a product manager’s decisions.
Fintech product strategies
Assess a product strategy and the assumptions that could cause it to fail.
Customer needs and market assessments
Use research and market assessment methods to understand the people a product must serve.
Product prioritisation
Weigh feedback against customer needs and business constraints when deciding what to build next.
Audience
Who is this for?
This bootcamp is for people moving into fintech product management and for product managers who want to understand the sector more deeply. Experience in banking, consulting or project work can be a useful starting point.
Product Managers
Mid-level product managers looking to dive into the fintech space and upskill in strategic product management
Business Unit Leaders
Mid to senior-level business unit leaders with experience working at a bank (retail/commercial) looking to switch to working in product management in a fintech startup
Consultants
Consultants with experience working on businesses in the financial services industry
Project Managers
Mid to senior-level project managers who have built capacity in more traditional organisations
Testimonials
What fellows are saying
“I discovered a new career direction, acquired practical skills, expanded my network, and gained a comprehensive understanding of product management within the African fintech ecosystem and the influence of legislation on innovation.”
Zo “I gained a deep appreciation for the potential impact of product functions in the fintech space. The program exposed me to cutting-edge technologies, innovative product strategies, and emerging trends in the industry.”
Marundu “My biggest takeaway from the bootcamp was the knowledge I gained in product management. I recognized the fragmentation in the African fintech market, with different countries having diverse policies, cultures, and business practices affecting cross-border payments. It also provided me with a supportive community of like-minded professionals who were all navigating career transitions.”
Nyambura