Zenith Bank Zecathon 5.0 Startup Pitch Competition/Hackathon for Young African Innovators (₦140 million in total cash prizes)

Reach us on

Applications are open for Zenith Bank Zecathon 5.0 Startup Pitch Competition/Hackathon. Zenith Bank Zecathon 5.0 brings together developers, entrepreneurs, and visionary innovators to drive Africa’s digital transformation. This flagship innovation challenge features two unique programs designed to empower startups and creators to turn bold ideas into real-world solutions.

The 2025 Zenith Bank Startup Pitch Competition at the Zenith Bank Tech Fair is Africa’s stage for bold innovators shaping the future. This year, it highlights Generative AI, Agentic AI, and emerging technologies transforming industries across the continent. The program identifies, nurtures, and accelerates startups across Fintech, AgriTech, HealthTech, ClimateTech, E-commerce, and beyond, offering continental visibility, mentorship, and growth resources to scale with impact. Zenith Bank empowers African innovators to dream bigger, move faster, and turn visionary ideas into real-world solutions.

Zenith Bank Zecathon 5.0 Startup Pitch Competition Program Structure

This competition seeks to elevate startups innovating in these critical sectors:

Phase 1: Startup Pitch Competition
- Showcase your startup’s innovation and compete for cash prizes.
Phase 2: Incubation Program
- Top 5 finalists move into an intensive incubation program to refine their business models and strategies for scalable growth over six weeks, beginning shortly after the pitch competition.

Zenith Bank Zecathon 5.0 Prizes for Competition Winners

1st Place: ₦30,000,000
2nd – 5th Place: ₦10,000,000 each

These cash prizes offer finalists the capital they need to take their ventures to the next level.

Zenith Bank Zecathon 5.0 Startup Pitch Competition Benefits

Cash Prizes
- Top 5 startups to win 70 million: ₦30 million to the 1st place, and 4 other finalists receive ₦10 million.
Investor Access and Mentorship
- Connect with investors, seasoned entrepreneurs, and experts, opening doors for follow-on funding and strategic partnerships.
Strategic Resources
- Intensive training in financial management, product development, branding, and market positioning for business growth.
Networking and Exposure
- Engage with corporate leaders and potential partners through exclusive events and pitch sessions.
Growth Opportunities
- Collaborate with industry leaders for technical support, co-development, and market entry support to drive scalability.

Overall Benefits

Compete for ₦140 million in total cash prizes
Showcase your talent and ideas on a continental stage
Access mentorship, resources, and growth opportunities
Collaborate with Africa’s brightest innovators
Turn your ideas into real-world impact

Eligibility Criteria for Zenith Bank Zecathon 5.0 Startup Pitch Competition

To be eligible for the Zenith Bank Startup Pitch Competition & Incubation Program, applicants must:

Be an early-stage African startups with a registered business entity
Operate in one or more of the listed focus sectors
Demonstrate a viable product or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with initial market traction
Present a scalable business model with clear growth potential.