KasiTech: Unlocking Fintech Innovation from the Heart of South Africa’s Townships

Innovation is often associated with sleek offices in Sandton or Stellenbosch. But what if the next big disruptor in financial services comes not from a boardroom, but from a container-turned-office in Khayelitsha or a spaza shop in Umlazi?

Young Female FinTech Founder

At FINASA, we believe that innovation has no postcode, and that’s exactly why we launched KasiTech.

What is KasiTech?

KasiTech is a FINASA-led initiative designed to empower fintech startups and entrepreneurs operating in South Africa’s townships and rural areas. These are the very places where financial exclusion is most acute, yet where entrepreneurial spirit and resilience are most alive.

Too often, township-based founders are overlooked by mainstream accelerators, investors, and policy platforms. KasiTech exists to change that by breaking down barriers and building bridges between these grassroots innovators and the broader fintech ecosystem.

Why It Matters

Over 30 million South Africans live in townships and rural communities. These are dynamic, informal economies where cash still dominates, digital access is patchy, and trust in traditional financial institutions is often low. And yet, this is precisely where innovation is needed the most.

Think about solutions for stokvel digitisation, mobile microloans, informal trader payments, or low-cost insurance built for community-driven networks - these are fintech ideas born out of lived experience, not market research.

What KasiTech Offers

Through KasiTech, FINASA provides:

• Mentorship & Networks: We connect founders with fintech leaders, legal experts, and potential investors who understand the journey.

• Technical Support: From regulatory advice to digital payment integrations, we offer the tools township startups need to scale.

• Training & Skills Development: We deliver hands-on workshops focused on business strategy, compliance, digital finance, and design thinking.

• Funding Pathways: KasiTech helps township entrepreneurs access seed funding, pitch competitions, and micro-grants.

• Visibility & Policy Advocacy: We elevate these voices into national dialogues, ensuring township-based startups have a say in shaping fintech policy.

Focus on Women and Youth

South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis is well known. But so is the creative energy of our young people. KasiTech is intentionally geared toward young and female founders, providing safe spaces, relevant role models, and confidence-building mentorship to help them rise and lead.

Real Change Requires Real Partners

We’re calling on government stakeholders, DFIs, corporates, incubators, and investors to come onboard. Whether you’re a telco building rural infrastructure, a bank looking to deepen inclusion, or a university exploring township entrepreneurship, we want to work with you.

This is not charity. It’s smart economics. The future of fintech lies in inclusion, and the most untapped growth markets are in the very communities that have been ignored for too long.

Join the Movement

KasiTech is more than a program. It’s a belief: that the next wave of African fintech innovation can, and should,

come from everywhere. Let’s unlock that future together.

👉 Are you a township fintech founder or a partner wanting to support this work? Reach out to us at info@finasa.org.za or visit www.finasa.org.za/kasitech