The curation of content and speakers was wholly managed by Nucleus Software and does not reflect the views of the organisers or its staff.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of Africa's economy - accounting for 90% of businesses and more than 80% of jobs. Yet, despite their outsized contribution, a staggering $330 billion credit gap persists across the continent (IFC, 2024). Approval timelines that stretch from weeks to months, lack of credit histories, and high operational costs keep SMEs locked out of the financial system.
The world has already witnessed how artificial intelligence is reshaping SME lending - compressing approval times from weeks to minutes, opening access through alternative data, and sharply reducing risk. The real question is no longer if AI will transform SME finance in Africa, but how quickly the ecosystem can leapfrog into this new reality.
In this interactive workshop, Anshul Khare, Director of Products and Business Solutions at Nucleus Software and Kavi Choitram, SVP SME Lending at Astra Tech, will unpack how AI-driven platforms like FinnOne Neo® are helping financial institutions across 50+ countries bridge the SME credit divide. Through real-world use cases and regional success stories, the session will explore:
- Faster SME Onboarding & Decisioning: How AI shrinks approval timelines from weeks to minutes.
- Credit Access for the "Invisible": Leveraging mobile money, utilities, and payments data to build credit histories where none exist.
- Smarter Collections: Using predictive analytics to reduce delinquencies and strengthen SME portfolios.
- Regulatory Agility: How configurable AI tools help lenders stay compliant across fragmented regimes.
The conversation will move beyond technology to highlight a collaborative vision for Africa's financial ecosystem - where banks, fintechs, DFIs, and regulators co-create AI-first lending pathways that empower women, rural entrepreneurs, and green SMEs to lead Africa's next growth wave. Join this workshop to see how AI can turn Africa's $330B credit gap into the continent's next big growth opportunity.
