Thursday 16 and Friday 17 October 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya

The Innovators' Village on 16 and 17 October is the key event for innovation at SAM. It will not only showcase innovative financial inclusion solutions to meet the challenges facing vulnerable populations in Africa, but will also enable meetings and create opportunities and synergies between participants in the ecosystem.

Applications

Applications for exhibiting at the Innovators' Village are open until 31 May 2025 23:59 Central European Time (GMT +2).

Apply to exhibit at the Innovators' Village

WATCH A VIDEO ON THE INNOVATORS' VILLAGE

The Innovators' Village features a mix of participants:

Exhibiting organisations meet potential customers, partners and investors
Visiting professionals can identify innovative solutions that meet their needs and find potential partners
Investors and funders taking part in the Investor Fair can identify innovative solutions that need technical and financial support with a view to generating social and environmental impact.

The format

The Innovators' Village will be inaugurated on the evening of Wednesday 15 October, kicking off with the opening ceremony, and will continue on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October in a dedicated area at the SAM venue. A closing ceremony with special awards will mark the end of the 2025 edition of the Innovators' Village on Friday afternoon.

The Village includes:

An exhibition space: each innovator will have a dedicated stand to present their solution and their organisation, engage in discussions with Village visitors and set up meetings with potential partners and investors
Pitch session and demonstrations: presentation of innovative solutions to Village visitors, partners and investors in a dedicated area
Thematic discussions: discussions with professionals visiting the Village on the challenges of inclusive finance and possible solutions
Networking sessions: targeted meetings with potential partners, matchmaking with investors, etc. Innovators will have access to the Investor Fair to develop useful contacts
Award ceremonies: recognition of the most creative and outstanding solutions. Special awards and prizes will be presented by the Village's partners at the Gala evening and at the Village closing ceremony.

These partners include:
- LHoFT (Luxembourg House of Financial Technology) with the "Catapult Award" for the best Fintech in its "Catapult Inclusion Africa" acceleration programme
- MSC (MicroSave Consulting)

Who can exhibit at the Innovators' Village?

Further information

Why is exhibiting at the Innovators' Village an unmissable opportunity?

Exhibiting at the Innovators' Village provides a unique strategic opportunity for organisations committed to innovation for the benefit of microfinance, financial inclusion in Africa and vulnerable populations.

By taking part in the Village, you can enjoy the following benefits:

Access to all other SAM activities (conference, Gala evening, training and workshops, Investor Fair)
Targeted B2B meetings with internationally renowned investors, technical partners (development organisations) and microfinance institutions
Connections with innovators from other regions or sectors, fostering opportunities for partnerships and synergies
Opportunities to inspire, by explaining how your solutions facilitate financial, economic and social inclusion
Increased visibility thanks to communications and publications on ADA and partner websites and networks
Access to prizes for excellence awarded by SAM partners.