Zenith Bank Invests ₦140 Million in Nigerian Tech Ecosystem Through Zecathon 5.0

Zenith Bank Plc has reinforced its commitment to Nigeria’s fast-growing technology ecosystem by committing a total of ₦140 million to innovation-driven startups through the Zecathon 5.0 initiative.

The landmark event attracted thousands of applications from aspiring innovators across the country, reflecting the increasing appetite for technology-led solutions in Nigeria. The gathering also drew notable dignitaries, including the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, CFR, alongside the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, highlighting strong public and private sector collaboration in driving indigenous innovation.

The presence of government leadership at the event underscored a growing recognition of locally developed technology as a powerful catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and digital transformation.

Zecathon 5.0 Raises the Bar for Startup Development

The 2025 edition of Zecathon further cemented its reputation as a high-impact launchpad for early-stage startups, introducing a more structured and demanding Innovation Hackathon track. This strategic addition emphasized hands-on execution, scalability, and real-world problem solving.

From hundreds of submitted entries, twenty carefully selected teams made up of developers and designers advanced to the final stage. These teams engaged in an intensive three-day innovation sprint, where they worked under pressure to design and deploy functional solutions addressing key challenges across essential sectors of the economy.

Zenith Bank Positions Innovation as a Strategic Priority

Speaking at the event, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, described Zecathon as a deliberate long-term investment rather than a one-off initiative.

According to her, the goal is to equip innovators with the right tools, mentorship, and funding needed to build sustainable ventures capable of solving real-life problems. She emphasized that Zecathon remains a vital platform where ambitious ideas are refined into viable, market-ready products capable of accelerating Africa’s digital and economic development.

Hackathon Winners Share ₦140 Million Prize Pool

At the Innovation Hackathon segment, TrustLoop, a digital Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and liveness verification solution, emerged as the overall winner and received the top prize of ₦30 million.

Other finalist teams — Konfam, The Very Hacked Men, Zenith IntelliScore, and ZeraX — were each awarded ₦10 million in recognition of their innovative solutions and technical execution.

Startup Pitch Competition Showcases Sectoral Innovation

The Startup Pitch Competition, which featured early-stage founders operating in fintech, edtech, and healthcare, delivered a strong display of creativity and market relevance.

An education-focused startup, Cubbes, stood out as the overall winner, securing ₦30 million to support product development and growth. Four other promising startups — Venille, Sowota, Invopay, and Flow — were rewarded with ₦10 million each as runners-up.

Industry Experts Applaud the Impact of Zecathon

Commenting on the success of the initiative, Fikun Aluko, Head of Tech & Entrepreneurship Programs at Beyond Limits Global, noted that the event demonstrated the value of platforms that unite visionary institutions with emerging entrepreneurs.

He highlighted that the solutions presented during the competition showed strong potential to advance digital transformation and innovation across the African continent, reinforcing the importance of sustained investment in technology ecosystems.