Nairobi · East Africa Edition · 19–20 November 2026

Three Tracks. One City. Every Debate Running at Once

The Circuit continues into East Africa's capital markets hub — fintech financing, SME credit, climate-tech and regional integration, argued across a Main Hall theatre and two live breakout wings, simultaneously.

19–20 November 2026
JW Marriott Hotel, Nairobi
Invitation-Only
Days
Hours
Mins
Secs
Are African Startups Over-Funded at Seed and Under-Funded at Scale-Up? Financing African SMEs Beyond Traditional Bank Lending Can Regional Integration Turn SMEs into Cross-Border Growth Companies? Turning Climate Resilience into a Growth Capital Opportunity From Payments to Credit: Financing the Next Layer of African Fintech Are African Startups Over-Funded at Seed and Under-Funded at Scale-Up? Financing African SMEs Beyond Traditional Bank Lending Can Regional Integration Turn SMEs into Cross-Border Growth Companies? Turning Climate Resilience into a Growth Capital Opportunity From Payments to Credit: Financing the Next Layer of African Fintech
5Main Hall Panels
10Roundtables
3Concurrent Tracks
250Seats Per Room
What This Edition Is Built to Deliver

East Africa's Capital Debate, Run in Parallel

Fintech to Credit Infrastructure

Where African fintechs go once payments alone stop being the business — the regulatory, data and lending infrastructure that comes next.

SME & Climate Capital

Alternative financing models for African SMEs and climate-adaptation technology, debated against the conventional bank-lending baseline.

A Live Dealroom

Day Two closes with a structured matchmaking session connecting fintech, SME and growth-capital opportunities directly with capital in the room.

The Nairobi Edition builds directly on the Circuit's Mauritius flagship. Full delegate and speaker confirmations go out directly to registered attendees closer to the date.

Debates & Theses

Three panels run as open debate. Two run as a thesis — a single provocative claim, argued out loud. Ten roundtables run underneath, closed door.

As with Mauritius, we publish the questions the room is built to fight over — not the roster answering them. Confirmations go out directly to registered delegates.

The Programme

Two Days, Three Rooms, Nairobi

Fintech, SME Finance & Climate Innovation

Time
Main Hall · Theatre
Breakout Wing A
Breakout Wing B
08:30–09:30Opening

Registration, Welcome & Keynote 1

Doors open, opening remarks, and the first keynote of the edition.

Closed for setup
Closed for setup
09:40–09:55Partner Address

Partner Address (TBC)

Technical Track 1

Concurrent module, limited seating.

Technical Track 2

Concurrent module, limited seating.

10:00–11:1575 min
Debate

From Payments to Credit Infrastructure: Financing the Next Layer of African Fintech

How African fintechs move from payments rails into credit — the infrastructure, data and regulatory foundations needed to underwrite lending at scale.

Fintech Licensing, Payments & Data Regulation

Fintech Lawyer / Regulator

SME Credit Infrastructure & Alternative Lending Models

DFI / Fintech Lender
11:15–11:45Break
Networking Coffee
Networking Coffee
Networking Coffee
12:00–13:1575 min
Debate

Financing African SMEs Beyond Traditional Bank Lending: Revenue, Credit, Platforms and Data

Weighing revenue-based and platform-data-driven credit against conventional bank lending.

DFI-Backed SME Finance Platforms

DFI / Impact Investment Fund

Climate-Tech & Adaptation Pipeline Review

DFI / Impact Fund / Fintech
13:15–14:15Break
Networking Lunch
Networking Lunch
Networking Lunch
14:30–15:4575 min
Debate

Climate-Tech and Adaptation Finance: Turning Resilience into a Growth Capital Opportunity

Positioning climate adaptation and resilience technology as a distinct, investable growth-capital category across African markets.

Revenue-Based Finance & Non-Dilutive Growth Capital

RBF / DFI / Merchant Bank

Trade Finance & East African Corridors

DFI / Institutional Org
16:15–17:00Closing

Day One Wrap-Up & Networking Reception Opening

Closed
Closed

Institutional Capital, Inclusion & Regional Integration

Time
Main Hall · Theatre
Breakout Wing A
Breakout Wing B
08:30–09:30Opening

Registration, Day 2 Briefing & Keynote 2

Closed for setup
Closed for setup
09:40–09:55Partner Update

Partner Update (TBC)

Technical Track 7

Concurrent module, limited seating.

Technical Track 8

Concurrent module, limited seating.

10:00–11:1575 min
Thesis

Are African Startups Over-Funded at Seed Stage and Under-Funded at Scale-Up Stage?

A thesis-format discussion on the shape of African venture capital across the funding lifecycle, and where the real capital gap sits.

Digital ID, KYC & Data Rails for Financial Inclusion

Fintech / Regtech Firm

Women-Led SMEs & Inclusive Finance

DFI / Impact Fund / Bank
11:15–11:45Break
Networking Coffee
Networking Coffee
Networking Coffee
12:00–13:1575 min
Thesis

East African Corridors: Can Regional Integration Turn SMEs into Cross-Border Growth Companies?

Closing thesis panel on regional integration as a growth lever — what it takes for East African SMEs to scale across borders.

Corporate Venture Capital & Strategic Partnerships

Fund of Funds / Corporate VC
Dealroom

RT10 — Fintech, SME & Growth Capital Matchmaking

Foundation / Dealroom Sponsor
13:15–14:15Break
Networking Lunch
Networking Lunch
Networking Lunch
14:15–15:1560 min
Closed
Closed
Dealroom

Matched Introductions Continue

15:15–16:15Closing

Closing Remarks & Capital Pathways Report Preview

Followed by the closing networking reception.

Closed
Closed
Day Two Feature

The Dealroom

A structured matchmaking session running alongside the closing thesis panel — connecting fintech, SME and growth-capital opportunities directly with capital allocators in the room, then continuing through the afternoon for matched introductions.

Partners & Institutions
The African Circuit — trusted by leading institutions including Suntera, African Development Bank Group, ALSF, Bioculture, CAIA Association, CareEdge Ratings Africa, Datura, DTOS, ESS, PwC, Sango, TLG Capital, Trimetys, and 47 Ventures
Registration

Secure Your Seat in Nairobi

Attendance is invitation-only. Register your interest to receive the full programme and delegate pass as the schedule finalises.

Register Interest →