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- Dec 3, 2013
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Pan-African reinsurer ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company) and development agency FSD Africa have partnered to accelerate the growth of African insurance technology (insurtech) startups through the 2026 BimaLab Africa Insurtech Accelerator, an initiative aimed at expanding access to inclusive and sustainable insurance solutions across the continent.
The partnership, announced in Nairobi on July 14, marks the first major workstream under a broader collaboration that will also focus on investment mobilisation, microinsurance, environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, climate resilience, sustainable insurance and renewable energy risk solutions.
The six-month accelerator programme will support up to 10 insurtech and technology-enabled ventures with tested products or early market traction. The selected startups will focus on five key sectors: climate and agriculture, health, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), gender and digital platforms.
Participants will receive technical support to strengthen their business models, refine insurance products, navigate regulatory requirements and prepare for investment and commercial partnerships.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, ZEP-RE Group Chief Inclusive Solutions, Linet Odera, said the partnership seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and commercial scale.
“This partnership is about helping insurance innovation move from pilot to scaling up. By bringing reinsurance expertise, risk knowledge and market experience into the process, ZEP-RE can help scale solutions that expand protection, strengthen resilience and respond to the needs of African markets,” she said.
FSD Africa Principal for Sustainable Insurance, Elias Omondi, said Africa's insurance protection gap remains one of the continent's biggest development challenges, noting that less than one percent of disaster losses are currently insured.
He said the collaboration would provide innovators with access to reinsurance capacity, regional markets and a pathway to scale solutions that protect farmers, women, SMEs and low-income households.
Kenya's Commissioner of Insurance and Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Chief Executive Officer, Godfrey Kiptum, said innovation should be accompanied by strong consumer protection and regulatory engagement.
“Platforms such as BimaLab help innovators engage regulators early, test practical insurance solutions and reach underserved markets while protecting consumers,” Kiptum said.
Since its launch in 2020, BimaLab Africa has supported more than 135 startups across 28 African countries, helping develop over 150 insurance solutions that now serve more than six million customers. The programme has also contributed to the establishment of regulatory sandboxes in eight markets and mobilised more than $30 million in early-stage investment into Africa's insurtech ecosystem.
Under the new partnership, ZEP-RE will provide reinsurance expertise, technical mentorship, access to regional market networks and support through the ZEP-RE Academy, while FSD Africa will oversee programme design, startup recruitment, regulatory engagement and investor matchmaking.
The accelerator is also expected to prepare promising ventures for future financing opportunities through the Inclusive Insurtech Investment Fund (3iF), jointly anchored by FSD Africa Investments and ZEP-RE. Applications for the 2026 cohort have officially opened to eligible startups across the 28 African countries where BimaLab operates.
The partnership, announced in Nairobi on July 14, marks the first major workstream under a broader collaboration that will also focus on investment mobilisation, microinsurance, environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, climate resilience, sustainable insurance and renewable energy risk solutions.
The six-month accelerator programme will support up to 10 insurtech and technology-enabled ventures with tested products or early market traction. The selected startups will focus on five key sectors: climate and agriculture, health, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), gender and digital platforms.
Participants will receive technical support to strengthen their business models, refine insurance products, navigate regulatory requirements and prepare for investment and commercial partnerships.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, ZEP-RE Group Chief Inclusive Solutions, Linet Odera, said the partnership seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and commercial scale.
“This partnership is about helping insurance innovation move from pilot to scaling up. By bringing reinsurance expertise, risk knowledge and market experience into the process, ZEP-RE can help scale solutions that expand protection, strengthen resilience and respond to the needs of African markets,” she said.
FSD Africa Principal for Sustainable Insurance, Elias Omondi, said Africa's insurance protection gap remains one of the continent's biggest development challenges, noting that less than one percent of disaster losses are currently insured.
He said the collaboration would provide innovators with access to reinsurance capacity, regional markets and a pathway to scale solutions that protect farmers, women, SMEs and low-income households.
Kenya's Commissioner of Insurance and Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Chief Executive Officer, Godfrey Kiptum, said innovation should be accompanied by strong consumer protection and regulatory engagement.
“Platforms such as BimaLab help innovators engage regulators early, test practical insurance solutions and reach underserved markets while protecting consumers,” Kiptum said.
Since its launch in 2020, BimaLab Africa has supported more than 135 startups across 28 African countries, helping develop over 150 insurance solutions that now serve more than six million customers. The programme has also contributed to the establishment of regulatory sandboxes in eight markets and mobilised more than $30 million in early-stage investment into Africa's insurtech ecosystem.
Under the new partnership, ZEP-RE will provide reinsurance expertise, technical mentorship, access to regional market networks and support through the ZEP-RE Academy, while FSD Africa will oversee programme design, startup recruitment, regulatory engagement and investor matchmaking.
The accelerator is also expected to prepare promising ventures for future financing opportunities through the Inclusive Insurtech Investment Fund (3iF), jointly anchored by FSD Africa Investments and ZEP-RE. Applications for the 2026 cohort have officially opened to eligible startups across the 28 African countries where BimaLab operates.
