BOC Technologies Limited has announced a strategic partnership with Scale, a leading card-issuing platform, to introduce virtual prepaid Mastercard cards for Africa's creative sector. This initiative, set for a Q3 2026 debut, aims to provide creators with streamlined access to their earnings. The program is supported by UBA Kenya as the sponsor bank, leveraging the global Mastercard network.
Addressing a Critical Gap in the Creative Economy
Africa's burgeoning creative economy faces significant financial hurdles despite its rapid growth and digitalization. Creators often receive income from disparate sources, leading to complex and unpredictable cash flow management. This fragmentation makes it difficult to reconcile earnings with necessary business expenditures.
The existing financial infrastructure has not evolved to meet the unique needs of these creative entrepreneurs. As a result, many are forced to self-fund projects while awaiting payment for completed work. This delay hinders their ability to grow their businesses and invest in new creative endeavors.
A Synergistic Solution for Financial Empowerment
BoC is developing a platform designed to bridge this gap using advanced financial technology. Its financial intelligence engine, SIBWE™, and AI copilot, MC Harvey™, will help creators track their work's value and manage their finances. This system provides a comprehensive view of their financial health, empowering better decision-making.
Scale's role in this collaboration is to provide the essential card-issuing infrastructure for the platform. By powering the virtual card program, Scale enables a practical way for creators to access and spend their funds. This partnership gives BoC a solid foundation to build and expand its ecosystem.
The program's integrity is reinforced by established financial institutions, with UBA Kenya serving as the regulated sponsor bank. The virtual cards will be issued on the widely accepted Mastercard network, ensuring reliability and global usability. This structure provides a secure and compliant framework for all transactions conducted by the creators.
Strategic Vision and Market Entry
Syed Raza, Founder and CEO of BoC, emphasized the mission to connect capital with creativity. He stated that the partnership with Scale offers creators a tangible first step toward managing their finances with confidence. The goal is to make the commercial value generated by the creative economy visible to financial systems.
Barbara Woollams, Head of Partnerships at Scale, noted that creators are underserved by traditional financial services. She explained that Scale's purpose is to equip fintechs like BoC with modern infrastructure to address such market gaps. This collaboration empowers creators with a simple method to access and utilize their earnings effectively.
The initiative is strategically anchored in Kenya, where BoC recently obtained fintech certification from the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority. This regulatory approval provides a solid base for the initial launch in the Kenyan market. It also paves the way for BoC to scale its creator-focused infrastructure across other African nations.
This partnership between BOC Technologies and Scale marks a pivotal development for Africa's creative economy. By combining BoC's AI-driven financial intelligence with Scale's robust card infrastructure, the initiative promises to solve critical payment and cash flow challenges. The upcoming Q3 2026 launch is poised to empower a new generation of creative entrepreneurs across the continent.