Thika’s GoPay among 10 startups selected for Safaricom’s Spark Accelerator Programme

Safaricom, in partnership with M-PESA Africa, Sumitomo Corporation and iHub, has officially unveiled the second cohort of the Spark Accelerator Programme, shining a spotlight on ten daring startups, including Thika’s very own GoPay.

From more than 200 applicants, the chosen innovators will embark on a three-month journey of growth, mentorship, and market access, with a focus on embedded finance, future fintech, gaming and digital content, and SME productivity tools.

The selected startups are: Mediakits.Io, WePlay Arcade, GoPay, FlexPay, QuePay, Leta.AI, Oye, DigiTax, Incourage Insurance Agency Limited and StockApp.

For GoPay, founded in Thika, the achievement is a milestone in its mission to revolutionise public transport payments. The fintech platform offers cashless payment and booking services for matatu operators, bringing efficiency, transparency, and convenience to the sector, a solution that could transform mobility across Kenya and beyond.

Speaking at the launch, Safaricom reiterated its goal of empowering solutions that drive real societal impact. 

“Through Spark Accelerator, we want to back bold ideas that can scale into solutions for Africa’s most urgent needs,” the company stated.

Over the next three months, the ten startups will receive product and technology support, mentorship, access to markets, and investor connections. Their journey will culminate in February 2026 at a high-stakes Investor Demo Day, where they will pitch to top venture capitalists and potential partners. Post-acceleration, the startups will enjoy nine to twelve months of continued support.

The Spark Accelerator is powered by Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, and Sumitomo Corporation, implemented by iHub and supported by Vodacom, PwC and AWS. Together, these partners aim to nurture bold entrepreneurs and build the future of Africa’s digital economy.

For Thika’s GoPay, this marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, one that could see matatu travel go fully digital, setting a precedent for transport systems across the continent.