SDF and DFS Lab hosted a panel discussion featuring five African fintech startups from their blockchain bootcamp, discussing their growth, challenges, and advice for future participants. Companies like Stacks, Phone Bank, Bonafide, Quidro, and Honey Coin shared how the bootcamp accelerated their development and helped them raise significant funding.
Anka Liu from the Stellar Development Foundation moderated a panel with five companies that participated in SDF's blockchain bootcamp in partnership with DFS Lab. Participants included Stacks (offline-first payment app integrating USDC), Phone Bank (crypto on-ramp via mobile airtime), Bonafide (digital wallet for African diaspora), Quidro (invoice factoring platform), and Honey Coin (creator monetization with NFT marketplace). The discussion covered bootcamp experiences, post-bootcamp growth including seed funding rounds ranging from 2.2 to 3.5 million dollars, and challenges like regulatory navigation. Key themes included the value of mentorship, design sprints, community support, and the Stellar Community Fund. Speakers emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind, solving real problems, and applying for future bootcamps.