Zenith Bank Plc has demonstrated its strong commitment to fostering technological innovation across Africa by awarding a substantial N140 million in cash prizes to ten outstanding African startups and developers during its recently concluded 2025 Tech Fair.
Major Winners and Competition Highlights
The fifth edition of the Zenith Bank Tech Fair, themed "Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate," featured an expanded dual-competition format that attracted over 2,000 developers, founders, and entrepreneurs from across the continent. The event included both the high-stakes Zecathon Hackathon and a Startup Pitch Competition specifically designed for early-stage ventures.
Among the ten finalists who shared the N140 million prize pool, two standout companies emerged as major winners, each receiving N30 million in non-dilutive funding. Trust Loop claimed victory in the Hackathon category with its innovative digital KYC and liveness verification solution, while Cubbes Technologies Limited won the Startup Pitch Competition with its AI-powered EdTech platform focused on enhancing learning outcomes and career readiness.
Comprehensive Support for African Innovators
The remaining eight finalists—Venille Ltd, Sowota, FLOW, InvoPay, Zenith Intelliscore, The Very Hacked Men, Konfam, and Zerax—each received N10 million in funding to further develop their transformative solutions. Beyond the financial support, all ten winning teams will participate in a comprehensive six-week mentorship and incubation programme running from December 2025 to February 2026, aimed at accelerating their growth and market readiness.
During the award ceremony, Group Managing Director and CEO of Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji, emphasized the critical importance of innovation in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. She credited the bank's Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, for creating the platform that continues to identify and nurture Africa's next generation of tech leaders.
Leadership Perspectives on Tech Innovation
"Our theme this year, 'Tech for Success: Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate', is very timely," Umeoji stated. "To appreciate its urgency, it helps to reflect on the speed of human progress. According to the Harvard Business Review, it took humanity millions of years to master fire, yet only 66 years to move from the first powered flight to landing on the moon."
She added: "The lesson is simple – the next technological breakthrough will not take a lifetime. It will emerge sooner than we expect and could come from any one of you in this room today. We are confident that this Tech Fair will produce innovators who will change the world, and we stand ready to support you to turn your ideas into reality."
In his message, Jim Ovia reaffirmed the bank's mission to empower Africa's youth through technology, expressing optimism that the event would help nurture the continent's future tech leaders. The fair also featured a goodwill message from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who emphasized the need for sustained investment in youth-focused digital empowerment initiatives.
The event concluded with masterclasses conducted by leading global technology companies including McKinsey, Huawei, Check Point, and Microsoft, along with keynote insights from industry leaders at M-PESA, Skype, and AWS. This comprehensive approach solidifies Zenith Bank's position as a key catalyst for Africa's next wave of transformative technological innovation.
