Abstract
Low-code and no-code development platforms have been promoted as a route to faster, cheaper software delivery for resource-constrained fintech startups, but empirical evidence on their diffusion and innovation outcomes in African markets is scarce. Using survey data from 187 fintech ventures across Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana combined with platform-reported usage logs, we trace low-code adoption patterns from 2020 to 2025 and test their association with time-to-market and post-launch iteration speed. Adoption rose from 8% to 41% of surveyed ventures over the period, concentrated among seed-stage startups building customer-facing products rather than core transaction infrastructure. Low-code adopters shipped minimum viable products 37% faster on average but showed no significant difference in post-launch feature iteration speed, suggesting the platforms' advantage is front-loaded to initial build rather than sustained iteration. We discuss implications for innovation policy aimed at lowering technical barriers to fintech entrepreneurship.