2025 Canada-Africa Fintech Summit: Full Schedule

8:00am EDT

DAY 1: Participants Arrivals: Hotel Check-in and Registration

Tuesday August 5, 2025 8:00am - 5:30pm EDT

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

Tuesday August 5, 2025 8:00am - 5:30pm EDT
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel 123 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2M9, Canada

AUG 5: CHECK-IN & WELCOME COCKTAILS

5:30pm EDT

Welcome Cocktail Reception

Tuesday August 5, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm EDT

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

Tuesday August 5, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm EDT
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel 123 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2M9, Canada

AUG 5: CHECK-IN & WELCOME COCKTAILS

8:00am EDT

DAY 2: Registration & Arrival Networking (THEMES: Fintech Innovation, Canada-Africa Strategy, Economic Growth, Partnerships)

Wednesday August 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

CAFS Registration

Wednesday August 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
CAFS Registration

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

9:00am EDT

Host Welcome & Opening Remarks

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

9:10am EDT

OPENING KEYNOTE: Canada x Africa: Building Fintech's Bridge - From Vision to Velocity

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

9:40am EDT

Lightening Talk: Passport to Prosperity: Connecting Fintechs Across Africa and Canada

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:40am - 9:50am EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:40am - 9:50am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

9:50am EDT

Lightening Talk: Net-Zero or Net-Lie? The Truth About Carbon Offsets

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:50am - 10:00am EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 9:50am - 10:00am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

10:00am EDT

Lightening Talk: Built for the Hustle: How African Fintech Is Out-Innovating the World

Wednesday August 6, 2025 10:00am - 10:10am EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 10:00am - 10:10am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

10:10am EDT

Panel: Innovating at the Edge: Fintech Founders Driving Africa–Canada Growth

Wednesday August 6, 2025 10:10am - 10:55am EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 10:10am - 10:55am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

10:55am EDT

Coffee Break + Networking

Wednesday August 6, 2025 10:55am - 11:25am EDT

Networking Area

Wednesday August 6, 2025 10:55am - 11:25am EDT
Networking Area

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

11:25am EDT

Panel/Fireside: The Builders’ Brief: What Founders Need From Policy

Wednesday August 6, 2025 11:25am - 11:50am EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 11:25am - 11:50am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

11:50am EDT

Flagship Success presentation + fireside

Wednesday August 6, 2025 11:50am - 12:15pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 11:50am - 12:15pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

12:15pm EDT

Launch announcement(s)

Wednesday August 6, 2025 12:15pm - 12:30pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 12:15pm - 12:30pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

12:30pm EDT

Networking lunch

Wednesday August 6, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Networking Area

Wednesday August 6, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Networking Area

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

1:30pm EDT

Flagship Panel: From Strategy to Scale: Building the Canada–Africa Fintech Economy

Wednesday August 6, 2025 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

2:15pm EDT

Interactive: Expert-led Roundtables

Wednesday August 6, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

3:15pm EDT

Panel: APIs, Trust, and Growth: Making Bank–Fintech Collaboration Work

Wednesday August 6, 2025 3:15pm - 3:45pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 3:15pm - 3:45pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

3:45pm EDT

Networking Coffee Break

Wednesday August 6, 2025 3:45pm - 4:15pm EDT

Networking Area

Wednesday August 6, 2025 3:45pm - 4:15pm EDT
Networking Area

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

4:15pm EDT

Panel: Fintech AI: What’s Next Is Already Happening

Wednesday August 6, 2025 4:15pm - 4:40pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 4:15pm - 4:40pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

4:40pm EDT

Facilitated Networking: Bring Value, Build Trust

Wednesday August 6, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

5:00pm EDT

Closing KEYNOTE: The Bridge We’re Building: Canada, Africa, and the Fintech Future

Wednesday August 6, 2025 5:00pm - 5:20pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 5:00pm - 5:20pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

5:20pm EDT

Day 2 Wrap-up

Wednesday August 6, 2025 5:20pm - 5:30pm EDT

Main Stage

Wednesday August 6, 2025 5:20pm - 5:30pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 6: INNOVATE-INSPIRE-CONNECT

5:30pm EDT

8:00am EDT

DAY 3: Registration & Arrival Networking (THEMES: Capital, infrastructure, Policy alignment, Mobilize)

Thursday August 7, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

CAFS Registration

Thursday August 7, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
CAFS Registration

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

9:00am EDT

Host Welcome & Opening Remarks

Thursday August 7, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

9:10am EDT

Opening KEYNOTE: From Policy to Progress: Unlocking Africa's Fintech Future

Thursday August 7, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

9:35am EDT

Flagship Panel: Betting on Builders: Why African Fintech is a Global Opportunity

Thursday August 7, 2025 9:35am - 10:20am EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 9:35am - 10:20am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

10:20am EDT

Lightening Talk: Infrastructure Is Innovation: Why Rails Matter More Than Apps

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:20am - 10:30am EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:20am - 10:30am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

10:30am EDT

Lightening Talk: What I Learned from Investing in 40 African Startups

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:30am - 10:40am EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:30am - 10:40am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

10:40am EDT

Lightening Talk: Africa Doesn’t Have a Talent Problem — It Has an Access Problem

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:40am - 10:50am EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:40am - 10:50am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

10:55am EDT

Networking Coffee Break

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:55am - 11:25am EDT

Networking Area

Thursday August 7, 2025 10:55am - 11:25am EDT
Networking Area

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

11:25am EDT

Panel: Human Capital: Building a Fintech Workforce for Scale

Thursday August 7, 2025 11:25am - 11:50am EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 11:25am - 11:50am EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

11:50am EDT

Rockstar Success Story + fireside

Thursday August 7, 2025 11:50am - 12:15pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 11:50am - 12:15pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

12:15pm EDT

Lightening Talk: The Future Is Ours to Build: Lessons From the Frontlines of Fintech Innovation

Thursday August 7, 2025 12:15pm - 12:30pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 12:15pm - 12:30pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

12:30pm EDT

Networking Lunch

Thursday August 7, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Networking Area

Thursday August 7, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Networking Area

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

12:30pm EDT

PITCHING Qualifiers

Thursday August 7, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Breakout Room

Thursday August 7, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Breakout Room

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE, Pitching Challenge

1:30pm EDT

Panel: Scaling Fintech Models, Smart Capital, and Policy That Opens Markets

Thursday August 7, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

2:00pm EDT

PITCHING Finals + Judging + Winner

Thursday August 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

2:30pm EDT

Panel: Digital Assets, Tokens, Real Impact: What’s Actually Working

Thursday August 7, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

3:30pm EDT

Networking Coffee Break

Thursday August 7, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Networking Area

Thursday August 7, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Networking Area

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

4:00pm EDT

Panel: CAFS Action Committee TBD

Thursday August 7, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

4:45pm EDT

Interactive: Culture/entertainment

Thursday August 7, 2025 4:45pm - 5:00pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 4:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

5:00pm EDT

Closing KEYNOTE: We Are the Builders, and We’re Not Waiting

Thursday August 7, 2025 5:00pm - 5:20pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 5:00pm - 5:20pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

5:20pm EDT

Day 3 Wrap Up

Thursday August 7, 2025 5:20pm - 5:30pm EDT

Main Stage

Thursday August 7, 2025 5:20pm - 5:30pm EDT
Main Stage

AUG 7: ACTIVATE-ENGAGE

5:30pm EDT

12:00pm EDT

DAY 4: Registration & Arrival Networking (THEMES: Innovation Hub Tour + Fintech Company + Boat Cruise)

Friday August 8, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

AUG 8: FINTECH INNOVATION TOUR + BOAT CRUISE (VIP Pass Holders)

1:00pm EDT

Fintech Innovation Tour

Friday August 8, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

AUG 8: FINTECH INNOVATION TOUR + BOAT CRUISE (VIP Pass Holders)

6:30pm EDT

Closing Extravaganza TBD

Friday August 8, 2025 6:30pm - 10:00pm EDT

AUG 8: FINTECH INNOVATION TOUR + BOAT CRUISE (VIP Pass Holders)

10:00pm EDT

Official Close of CAFS 2025

Friday August 8, 2025 10:00pm - 10:00pm EDT

AUG 8: FINTECH INNOVATION TOUR + BOAT CRUISE (VIP Pass Holders)