Zenith Bank Injects N140 Million into African Tech Ecosystem at “Future Forward 5.0” Fair

Zenith Bank, a leading financial institution, concluded its highly successful 2025 Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate,” by awarding a total of N140 million in non-dilutive funding to ten distinguished small firms and innovators in Lagos. The event successfully convened numerous stakeholders from across the technology industry, serving as a dynamic platform designed to foster fresh ideas, encourage cross-sector collaboration, and generate scalable solutions capable of profoundly shaping the future of African technology. Following an exceptionally competitive hackathon and subsequent pitch session, ten African innovators secured the substantial funding support required to effectively scale their transformative solutions. Beyond the capital, all ten winners also qualified for an intensive six-week mentorship and incubation program, scheduled to run from December 2025 to February 2026. This critical post-award support aims to equip the founders with the necessary skills and resources to grow and refine their products more effectively for market success. The Startup Pitch Competition, which was specifically focused on early-stage ventures, recorded significant participation from thousands of developers, founders, and entrepreneurs spanning the entire continent. Two major winners emerged, each securing a top prize of N30 million. The hackathon winner, Trust Loop, deeply impressed the panel of judges with its seamless digital solution for Know Your Customer (KYC) and liveness verification. Simultaneously, Cubbes Technologies Limited clinched the top position in the Startup Pitch Competition category with its innovative AI-powered EdTech platform, designed specifically to enhance learning outcomes and boost career readiness among users. The remaining eight outstanding finalists, recognized across both the hackathon and pitch categories, were also rewarded for their excellence. Each received a significant grant of N10 million in non-dilutive funding. These finalists included Venille Ltd, Sowota, FLOW, InvoPay, Zenith Intelliscore, The Very Hacked Men, Konfam, and Zerax. Speaking passionately at the event, the chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms. Adaora Umeoji, expressed confidence that the Tech Fair would serve as a catalyst for producing future global innovators, reiterating the bank’s readiness to provide support to turn their ideas into tangible realities. Bank Chairman Mr. Jim Ovia further articulated his vision to continue empowering the youth through technology, expressing the aspiration that the program would one day produce tech giants on par with figures like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos.