Zenith Bank Zecathon Innovation Challange for African Entrepreneurs 2025

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.

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.

• Table of Content
• About Zenith Bank
• Zenith Bank Zecathon Innovation Challange
• Aim and Benefits of Zenith Bank Zecathon Innovation Challange
• Requirements for Zenith Bank Zecathon Innovation Challange Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Zenith Bank

Zenith Bank Plc was established in May 1990, and commenced operations in July of the same year as a commercial bank. The Bank became a public limited company on June 17, 2004 and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on October 21, 2004 following a highly successful Initial Public Offering (IPO). Zenith Bank Plc currently has a shareholder base of more than half a million and is Nigeria’s biggest bank by tier-1 capital. In 2013, the Bank listed $850 million worth of its shares at $6.80 each on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).... continue reading

Zenith Bank Zecathon Innovation Challange

Aim and Benefits of Zenith Bank Zecathon Innovation Challange

Cash Prizes for top 5 finalists

• 1st place: N30 million
• Other finalists receive N10 million.
• Access mentorship, resources, and growth opportunities
• Collaborate with Africa's brightest innovators
• Turn your ideas into real-world impact

Requirements for Zenith Bank Zecathon Innovation Challange Qualification

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

Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your startup! 

Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit Zenith Bank Zecathon webpage