The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Africa Credit Expo (ACE) 2025 by Dr Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, MD/CEO of CreditRegistry, and Mrs Maureen Mba, head of the MANSA Digital Initiative at Afreximbank.

The agreement links Nigeria’s pioneering credit bureau with MANSA, Afreximbank’s flagship due diligence platform under the Africa Trade Gateway, a digital ecosystem created to unlock intra-African trade.

MANSA acts as a single trusted source of KYC and compliance data for businesses, banks and SMEs, helping firms prove their credibility in both regional and global markets. 

During the signing, Mrs Mba noted MANSA’s purpose: “deepen cross-border trust and equip African businesses with the credibility and confidence that they need to thrive in global trade.”

Both institutions say the collaboration will help African businesses gain visibility and credibility in regional and global markets. They describe the partnership as a joint initiative aimed at closing long-standing gaps in identity, verification and financial literacy across the continent.

Under the partnership, CreditRegistry and Afreximbank will onboard thousands of African businesses onto the MANSA platform. They will also deliver financial literacy and compliance training to MSMEs, build capacity for responsible borrowing, and create a more transparent environment for cross-border transactions. 

The institutions say this will make more African enterprises “visible, credible and bankable.”

The signing also highlighted CreditRegistry’s long history in enhancing Nigeria’s credit infrastructure. Dr Sharrieff-Ayedun recalled how millions of Africans had long faced blocked opportunities due to the lack of verifiable credit history. 

That changed when CreditRegistry established Nigeria’s first credit bureau, an effort that later introduced biometric technology into credit reporting and helped pave the way for the Bank Verification Number system.

Over the years, the organisation supported several initiatives to expand financial literacy. These include the Africa Consumer Credit Academy and public awareness programmes that reached more than a million Nigerians. 

Last year alone, the group completed 73 webinars and in-person sessions sponsored by industry partners. The company has also launched youth-focused initiatives, such as Project Launchpad, designed to guide young Africans towards financial independence.

Another ongoing initiative, “On The Streets: Naija Tours,” captures real voices and personal stories about the meaning of credit, financial struggles and the desire for better opportunities. 

These programmes, the organisers said, align with the everyday realities of young Africans, many of whom are ambitious but lack guidance and access to credit tools.

The Africa Credit Expo itself has evolved into a regional point of convergence, bringing together regulators, innovators and more than 90 stakeholders from across the continent. Its mission is to connect, empower and ensure trust in Africa’s financial systems.

CreditRegistry and Afreximbank aim to enhance that mission. Their shared commitment, they said, is to strengthen the backbone of Africa’s financial ecosystem and push the continent closer to a self-sustaining future where businesses can trade with confidence across borders.

This downturn marks a significant phase in the nascent and turbulent African VC journey. From challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank to opportunities like the 2021 VC bull run, these events have collectively influenced African VCs to adopt a more cautious investment approach, resulting in more detailed due diligence.

Due diligence represents a critical phase in the investment process, where investors examine various aspects of a startup to ascertain its investment readiness.

Excelling in the execution of due diligence (considering that this is a two-way street) is  pivotal for fast-growing, technology-enabled companies, as it determines whether the business can secure funding.

The due diligence process can decisively make or break a startup’s funding prospects despite favourable macroeconomic conditions potentially easing the path to investment.

Doing it correctly means startups are well on their way to a crucial cash injection for the venture. But it’s easier said than done.

How can startups give themselves the best chance of successfully completing due diligence? What are investors looking for?

These guidelines are designed to help startups prepare for and navigate the due diligence process, thereby maximising their chances of securing the necessary capital for expansion

1. First impressions matter 

Generally speaking, there are three stages in the due diligence process: screening, business check, and legal business check. During the screening stage, investors will take a peek at your business before deciding whether they want to delve deeper.

If you want to get past this initial stage, you have to ensure that you’re making the best possible first impression. That means putting care and consideration into your pitch deck and initial documents but it also means ensuring that you’re making the best possible impression with your digital real estate (including your website, search, and social media presence).

Get all those things right, and you’ll be in a much better position to progress to the business check, where you’ll be asked to highlight your strengths and address any potential concerns, and the legal business check, where investors make sure that everything you’ve said is aligned with your books.

2. Put your best foot forward 

A popular aphorism in the startup investment space is “back the jockey, not the horse.” While the technical fundamentals of a startup—such as its product, market fit, and business model—are indispensable, the ability of the founding team to articulate a clear vision, demonstrate deep domain knowledge, and exhibit proven management skills is frequently a more reliable indicator of a venture’s potential for success.

These characteristics not only reassure investors of the team’s capability to lead the venture to success but significantly enhance the startup’s attractiveness as an investment opportunity.

3. Demonstrate market and product expertise 

But that is not the only kind of expertise investors look for. Beyond the intrinsic qualities of the founding team, investors evaluate the team’s understanding of the market dynamics relevant to the startup.

Demonstrating a deep grasp of the market environment—through analysis of demand, identification of unmet needs, and articulating a targeted strategy that distinguishes the business in the marketplace—is crucial.

This approach to market analysis not only underscores the startup’s potential to capture and grow its market share but also significantly boosts confidence in the venture’s viability.

Founders must also leverage precise metrics to illustrate the product’s value proposition and fit within the market landscape.

Ultimately it’s about effective communication of how the product addresses specific market gaps or customer pain points, supported by data-driven evidence of its appeal and utility.

4. Prepare your business, financial, technical, and legal documentation 

During the due diligence process, you’re going to be asked to demonstrate that your business model is solid, your finances are sound, the technology you use is robust, and that you’re on a good legal footing.

The availability and readiness of documentation to support these aspects are crucial. Preparedness in this context not only involves having all necessary documentation organised and accessible but also being able to present it promptly when requested by potential investors.

Timeliness and thoroughness in providing these documents significantly enhance your startup’s credibility.

It demonstrates meticulous planning, operational efficiency, and a proactive approach to addressing investor inquiries.

5. Treat potential investors like prospective partners from the start 

A good investor is so much more than the money they put into your business. They can also provide irreplaceable guidance and insight that could be crucial to the success of your business.

In essence, once that money lands in your business account, they become partners in the startup.

Acknowledging this partnership dynamic from the outset and fostering an environment of transparent communication and constructive feedback is crucial. Such an approach lays the foundation for a trust-based relationship, essential for any successful collaboration.

By actively engaging investors in discussions, seeking their advice, and valuing their input, startups not only benefit from the wealth of knowledge these partners offer but also affirm their respect for the investor’s contribution beyond financial support.

An ongoing process 

Getting these steps right will undoubtedly make it easier for you to successfully get through the due diligence process. It’s important to remember, however, that due diligence isn’t a once-and-done exercise.

It’ll happen at every investment stage, from seed to acquisition or listing. It’s critical, therefore, that you constantly review and refine your due diligence readiness.

Get it right, and you stand a much better chance of getting funding in even the most challenging fundraising environments.