Kigali, Rwanda · November 19–20, 2026

Continental Business &
Finance Forum for SMEs

Building Africa's Trust, Finance and Market Access Infrastructure for SMEs

Kigali Serena HotelVenue
November 19 – 20, 2026Two Days Forum
Deal Room & NetworkingInvestment Matchmaking
Register NowMeet the Panel
Hosted by
Netkigali
Re-bird Belgium
SBPME-UEMOA
Congruence Consulting

2026 Focus Areas

This Year's Key Themes

01 — Investing from Rwanda: Why and How?

The legal, financial, tax and operational conditions that make Rwanda a regional platform for investment and business development.

02 — Blending Public and Private Capital to Reduce SME Risk

Mechanisms combining public and private financing with guarantees to improve access to finance.

03 — AfCFTA Corridors: Financing Cross-Border Trade

Reducing barriers in cross-border payments, foreign exchange, transport and credit insurance across regional corridors.

04 — From Kigali to Brussels and Canada

The regulatory, commercial and quality requirements for successfully entering European, Canadian and other international markets.

05 — Youth and Fintech: Accelerating Financial Inclusion

Digital solutions that reduce costs, improve access to finance and support young businesses.

06 — Securing Cross-Border Transactions

From letter of intent to enforceable contract: the legal and compliance tools SMEs need to secure international commitments.

See the full 2026 themes and panel format →
~30 SMEs
High-potential enterprises prepared per pilot cohort / year
$250–500M
Projected financing for 150+ SMEs over five years

Host City · 2026

KIGALI

RWANDA

Africa's Innovation Capital

#1
Cleanest City
in Africa
KIFC
Finance Hub
Continental
Top 3
Safest City
in Africa
EAC
Gateway
East Africa
Clean & Green

Clean & Green

Model city of Africa

Finance Hub

Finance Hub

Kigali International Financial Centre

Safe & Open

Safe & Open

Top 3 safest cities in Africa

Tech Capital

Tech Capital

Africa's leading digital ecosystem

Heart of Africa

Heart of Africa

Continental crossroads

Past Editions

Over a Decade of Connecting African SMEs & Banks

200+ delegates, Guinée-Bissau 2024
200+ delegates, Guinée-Bissau 2024
Exhibition floor, SBPME-UEMOA
Exhibition floor, SBPME-UEMOA
Networking & deal-making
Networking & deal-making

Exclusive Feature

Deal Room Sessions

The Deal Room is the heart of CBFF Kigali 2026. Pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings connect investors and banks with Africa's highest-potential SMEs in structured, private sessions.

Deal Room access is limited and must be registered for in advance. Priority is given to registered SMEs, banks, and institutional investors.

Register for Deal Room Access
Deal Room Sessions
Day 1
November 19, 2026 — Full afternoon
1-to-1
Private pre-scheduled investor meetings
Limited
Priority access — register early

6th Pillar — Inclusive Growth

Women & Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator

CBFF Kigali 2026 integrates a dedicated inclusion initiative accelerating access to finance, leadership visibility, and international opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs.

40% of selected SMEs reserved for women-led & youth-led enterprises

Register for the Forum →
1

Women & Youth Investment Pitch Sessions

Dedicated pitch slots for women-led and youth-led enterprises to present to banks, investors, and development finance institutions.

2

Leadership Dialogue

High-level dialogue on Women Entrepreneurship & Economic Inclusion, bringing together policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs.

3

Mentorship & Capacity Building

Structured mentorship and capacity-building sessions to strengthen investment readiness and export preparation.

4

Dedicated Selection Quota

At least 40% of selected SMEs are reserved for women-led and youth-led enterprises across all forum activities.

5

Exclusive Networking Sessions

Curated networking connecting women and youth entrepreneurs directly with investors and strategic partners.

Sponsorship

Become a CBFF-SME 2026 Sponsor

Position your institution in front of 250+ decision-makers, bankers, and investors from 30+ countries.

View Sponsorship OffersChat with Us on WhatsApp

Kigali Serena Hotel, Rwanda

KN 3 Ave, Kigali · November 19–20, 2026

Two days of high-level dialogue, deal-making, and networking at Rwanda's premier conference venue.

Register NowView Program