Finalists in the ongoing 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge are competing for the coveted $50,000 ultimate prize.
The challenge, which held a hybrid semi-final event in Lagos at the weekend, saw the selection of finalists from a cohort of 40 highly competitive Fintechs that made it to the semi-final stage of the competition.
This year’s challenge attracted over 1,550 applications from 70 countries in Africa and other global regions.
The finalists will showcase their innovative solutions at the Ecobank Fintech Challenge Grand Finale, scheduled for 27 September 2024, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lomé, Togo. The event will be streamed live on Ecobank Group’s social media channels, allowing a global audience to participate.
Speaking at the Semi-Final, Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group, Jeremy Awori, said, “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”.
The top finalists of the 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge include BuuPass, Kenya, Daba Finance,Ivory Coast, EasyEquities, South Africa, Exuus, Rwanda Melanin Kapital Neobank, Kenya and MiaPay, Togo.
Others are PaySika, Cameroon, PROBOUTIK, Senegal, Sawport Video Banking as a Virtual Branch, Nigeria, Sproutly, Nigeria,Vaultpay, Democratic Republic of the Congo and YMO Africa, Guinea.
The Ecobank Fintech Challenge, a flagship initiative of the Ecobank Group, organised for seven consecutive years, continues to serve as a premier continental platform for promoting innovation and collaboration between Fintechs and the pan-African Bank’s cross-border markets spanning 35 countries.
The challenge remains a significant event, attracting key players within the fintech ecosystem and beyond. It provides a unique opportunity for fintech entrepreneurs to address challenges such as reaching scale, navigating an uncertain regulatory environment, and managing scarcity of funding. In addition to financial rewards, the challenge offers Ecobank’s expertise in diversified market operations and the right solutions to scale across its pan-African footprint and international presence.
Since inception, 60 fintech startups have been inducted into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship.
The Ecobank Fintech Challenge is designed in partnership with 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 will bring together fintechs, regulators, investors, financial institutions, global technology companies, tech hubs, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.
