pan-African banking group invites African startups, developers for a fintech challenge competition – Here is how to participate

Ecobank, the leading pan-African banking group, is inviting African fintech entrepreneurs to enter its Ecobank Fintech Challenge.

Now in its second year, the initiative gives African start-ups the chance to promote their fintech solutions, and potentially to partner Ecobank in rolling-out their solutions across Ecobank’s 33 markets.

Ade Ayeyemi, Group CEO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, reiterated Ecobank’s dedication to support innovations in banking and finance across the continent, stating, “We, at Ecobank, believe that the current winds of change led by technology and innovation will redefine how banks do business, and indeed the relationships people have with their money. We want to be at the forefront of this change, in partnership with Africa’s rising start-ups, and that is why we created the Ecobank Fintech Challenge”.

Eddy Ogbogu, Ecobank Group Executive for Operations and Technology said, “The maiden 2017 edition of the Challenge proved that Africa has an impressive army of highly capable fintech start-ups. Ecobank is looking forward to another successful competition.”

How to participate

Start-ups and developers in any of Africa’s 54 countries to enter the 2018 Ecobank Fintech Challenge at http://EcobankFintech.com

10 Finalists will be selected to participate in an Awards and Innovation Fair at the global headquarters of Ecobank in Lomé, Togo in July 2018.

Following a series of pitches from the finalists, a panel of judges will select the top three winners, who will receive cash prizes worth $10,000, $7,000, and $5,000 respectively.

Opportunities for 10 finalists to be conferred Ecobank Fintech Fellows

Multi-national product roll-out: the most commercially viable start-ups can launch their products in Ecobank’s 33 markets across Africa

Service provider partner deals: start-ups with deep capabilities to become pan-African service partners within Ecobank’s ecosystem

Mentoring and networking support: founders will be conferred as Ecobank Innovation Fellows for a year, which grants them access to networking and mentoring from Ecobank’s vast global network of technology leaders, fintech experts, investors and management coaches.

Ecobank Fintech Challenge was designed in partnership with the advisory firm Konfidants and is supported by several partners across Africa and globally. Applications for the competition will close on 20th May 2018.