Ecobank, the pan-African Bank, has announced the top finalists for the first-ever and inaugural 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge Hybrid Semi-Final event held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to the Ecobank Newsroom, the finalists were chosen from a pool of 40 highly competitive Fintechs that advanced to the semi-final stage of the competition. The report further noted that this year’s challenge drew over 1,550 applications from 70 countries across Africa and other global regions.
These finalists, selected from a competitive pool of 40 Fintechs, will now advance to the Grand Finale scheduled for September 27, 2024, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lomé, Togo. The highly anticipated event will be streamed live on Ecobank Group’s social media channels, allowing a global audience to witness the competition. Finalists will compete for the ultimate prize of $50,000.
Speaking at the Semi-Final, Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group, praised the exceptional talent and innovation showcased by this year’s finalists. “The finalists in this year’s Ecobank Fintech Challenge have showcased exceptional talent and innovation; and we look forward to welcoming them to the Finale. At Ecobank, we’re committed to collaborating with these business builders to develop products and services that will benefit our customers and contribute to our continent’s progress,” he remarked.
Showcasing the future of African fintech, the exceptional finalists of the 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge include:
- BuuPass, Kenya
- Daba Finance, Ivory Coast
- EasyEquities, South Africa
- Exuus, Rwanda
- Melanin Kapital Neobank, Kenya
- MiaPay, Togo
- PaySika, Cameroon
- PROBOUTIK, Senegal
- Sawport Video Banking as a Virtual Branch, Nigeria
- Sproutly, Nigeria
- Vaultpay, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- YMO Africa, Guinea
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The Ecobank Fintech Challenge, a flagship initiative of the Ecobank Group, has been organized for seven consecutive years and continues to serve as a premier platform for promoting innovation and fostering collaboration between Fintechs and the pan-African Bank’s cross-border markets, which span 35 countries.
The challenge has become a significant event in the fintech ecosystem, attracting key players from within the industry and beyond. It provides fintech entrepreneurs with a unique opportunity to address challenges such as scaling, navigating an uncertain regulatory environment, and managing funding scarcity. In addition to financial rewards, the challenge offers access to Ecobank’s expertise in diverse market operations and the right solutions to scale across its pan-African footprint and international presence.
The Ecobank Newsroom noted, “Since its inception, 60 fintech startups have been inducted into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship,” highlighting the challenge’s significant influence on the fintech landscape.
The Ecobank Fintech Challenge is designed in partnership with the international advisory firm Konfidants and is supported by various partners, including Huawei, Proparco, TechCabal, BlueSpace, Afrilabs, Africa Fintech Network, MEST Africa, Naija Startups, Expand In Africa, and Founders Africa.
This year’s Grand Finale is set to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including fintechs, regulators, investors, financial institutions, global technology companies, tech hubs, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, all eager to witness the latest innovations in African fintech.
Ecobank invites all key stakeholders within the Fintech ecosystem, and members of the general public to register for the Grand Finale via this link
