Ecobank Announces Top Finalists for the 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge Grand Finale
Ecobank, the pan-African bank, has revealed the top finalists for its inaugural 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge Hybrid Semi-Final event, held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
These finalists were selected from a highly competitive group of 40 fintech startups that made it to the semi-final stage of the competition. This year’s challenge garnered over 1,550 applications from 70 countries across Africa and other global regions.A total of twelve African fintech startups have advanced to the final round of the competition.
The finalists were announced during the Semi-Finals in Lagos, with participation from various countries, including France, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. The finalists will present 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 semi-finals concluded with a jury selecting the top 12 finalists who will compete in the grand finale for the $50,000 grand prize and a spot in the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship program. The 12 top finalists are;
1. Buupass (Kenya)
Buupass is a platform that digitises inter-city transport and allows users to compare, book, and pay for bus, train, and flight tickets. Founded by Sonia Kabra and Wyclife Omondi.
2. MiaPay (Togo)
MiaPay enables African merchants to collect digital payments, including mobile money and visa cards, in-store through a single mobile app. Founded by Tav Denkey Jr.
3. EasyEquities (South Africa)
EasyEquities is a low-cost investment platform. The fintech company lets users buy and sell local or international shares from an app. Founded by Charles Savage.
4. PaySika (Cameroon)
PaySika is a neo-microfinance bank that enables users to obtain virtual and physical visa cards, which they can load via mobile money or a bank account. Users can also receive salaries, pay bills, and shop internationally via one mobile app. Founded by Roger Ntafam, Khalil Jamai, and Stezen Bisselou-Nzengue.
5. Sawport Video Banking (Nigeria)
Sawport transforms physical bank branches into virtual branches and enables financial institutions to enhance the banking experience for their customers. Founded by Charlres Oligbo.
6. Exuus (Rwanda)
SAVE by Exuus helps unbanked Africans manage micro-savings, access micro-loans, and engage in micro-insurance within informal social savings groups. Founded by Shema Steve.
7. Daba Finance (Côte d’Ivoire)
Daba Finance is a multi-asset investment platform that allows investments in stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, savings products, and Venture Capital. Founded by Boum III JR and Anthony Miclet.
8. Proboutik (Senegal)
Proboutik is transforming the way informal businesses manage financing by digitising transactions, cash management, debt tracking, and more. Founded by Thierno Sakho and Abdoulaye Faye.
9. Melanin Kapital Neobank (Kenya)
Melanin Kapital creates financial access for small African businesses through climate action and carbon credits. Founded by Mélanie Keïta and Ian Minjire Kibira.
10. YMO Africa (Guinea)
YMO Africa is enhancing financial inclusion with its cutting-edge multi-service wallet and unique instant payment system. Founded by Barry Abdoulaye.
11. VaultPay (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
VaultPay is transforming finance in the DRC with a visa-powered digital wallet.
12. Sproutly (Nigeria)
Sproutly is financial management tool for African schools which offers invoice creation, payment tracking, loan access, and financial insights. They also provide families with various payment options and tuition credits. Founded by Pierre Nwoke, Maxwell Agu, and Prince Akachi
