Nigeria’s fast-growing startup scene received another significant boost as Zenith Bank concluded Zecathon 5.0, deploying N140 million to support emerging technology founders and developers.
The competition — the headline feature of the Zenith Tech Fair — drew thousands of applications and gathered industry leaders, policymakers and innovators. Among the dignitaries present were the bank’s founder and chairman, Jim Ovia, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, signalling stronger public-private collaboration around technology and digital growth.
A launchpad for African innovation
This year’s edition expanded the programme’s ambition, introducing a tougher hackathon track designed to test technical skill, speed and practical problem-solving. From hundreds of entries, 20 shortlisted teams worked through a three-day sprint across key sectors including payments, identity, education and health.
Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Dame Adaora Umeoji, described the investment as part of a long-term economic strategy.
“Our mission is to empower innovators with the resources and support they need to build ventures that can solve real challenges and accelerate Africa’s digital and economic growth,” she said. “Zecathon continues to be the essential platform where bold ideas are transformed into market-ready solutions.”
Winners take the spotlight
TrustLoop — a digital identity verification and liveness solution — emerged top in the Innovation Hackathon, earning N30 million. Other standout teams, including Konfam, The Very Hacked Men, Zenith IntelliScore and ZeraX, each received N10 million.
The Startup Pitch Competition also delivered strong performances from early-stage founders across fintech, edtech and healthcare. Cubbes, an education technology startup, won the overall prize of N30 million, while runners-up Venille, Sowota, Invopay and Flow collected N10 million each.
Head of Tech & Entrepreneurship Programmes at Beyond Limits Global, Fikun Aluko, praised the quality of innovation on display.
“This edition proved the power of investing in platforms that bring visionary institutions and entrepreneurs together. The teams delivered solutions with real potential to advance digital transformation across the continent.”
With Zecathon now firmly established as one of Nigeria’s most influential startup pipelines, organisers say future editions will deepen mentorship, funding access and international exposure for participating founders.
