Fintura, an AI-powered accounting platform for professionals, has emerged victorious in the South African chapter of the Startup World Cup, one of the most prestigious global competitions for startups and emerging tech ventures. This triumph secures Fintura a coveted spot in the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, where it will compete with other regional winners from over 20 countries for global exposure, investment opportunities, and the ultimate startup bragging rights.
Backed by angel investor and former CEO of Kalon Venture Partners, Clive Butkow, Fintura has become the first South African startup in recent years to win a regional leg of the competition with a fintech product specifically designed to digitize professional services in emerging markets. “This win validates the massive opportunity in rethinking how accounting and compliance services are delivered across Africa,” says Butkow, now Managing Partner of Conducive Capital. “Fintura isn’t just a platform—it’s solving real, daily pain points for accountants who are drowning in fragmented, outdated tools.”
A Unified Platform Designed by Practitioners for Practitioners
Founded by Bernice Christine Houy, an experienced accountant with over a decade of experience, Fintura was born out of frustration from juggling multiple platforms for billing, compliance, tax, HR, and audit tasks without a unified system. The result is South Africa’s first AI-powered accounting platform that integrates every core business function of a professional practice into one seamless dashboard. Its purpose is to reduce administrative tasks, drive efficiency, and ensure compliance across accounting firms of all sizes.
“We’ve built what we wish existed,” said Bernice. “Our goal is to empower accounting professionals with smarter tools so they can focus on strategic work, not paperwork.”
Co-founded with Reece Bailey, Fintura now stands among a select group of African startups pushing the boundaries of innovation and demonstrating that some of the most compelling ideas are emerging from outside the traditional tech hubs.
Global Validation for South African Innovation
Often referred to as the “Olympics of Startups,” the Startup World Cup is hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures and draws more than 100 regional entries from around the world. Previous winners have raised millions in follow-on funding, and the competition has become a launching pad for high-growth ventures tackling real-world problems.
“Innovation doesn’t only happen in Silicon Valley,” says Butkow. “It’s happening here in South Africa, solving problems that matter—especially in professional services, where digitisation is long overdue.”
Fintura’s success at the regional finals highlights a broader trend: the rise of vertical SaaS and AI-driven solutions in Africa. As startups shift their focus from consumer-facing apps to B2B tools with measurable impact, investors are increasingly taking notice. Founders like Bernice and Reece are demonstrating what’s possible with domain knowledge, perseverance, and a strong product-market fit.
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