Applications to Zenith Bank’s Zecathon 5.0, one of Africa’s most anticipated innovation challenges, are still open, offering startups and tech innovators across the continent a chance to win from a total ₦140 million prize pool before entries close on October 31, 2025.
Designed to empower early-stage founders and developers, Zecathon 5.0 is a platform for bold ideas shaping Africa’s digital future. Applications are free, take less than 10 minutes to complete, and can be submitted via beyondlimits.global/zecathon5.
Two tracks, one goal: powering African innovation
The 2025 edition features two opportunity tracks — the Hackathon and the Startup Pitch Competition — each with ₦70 million in prizes.
In both categories, ₦30 million will go to the winner, while four finalists will each receive ₦10 million, along with mentorship, incubation, and investor access.
The Hackathon is open to developers and innovators building cutting-edge fintech and digital finance solutions, while the Startup Pitch Competition targets early-stage African startups with scalable ideas addressing challenges across sectors like education, healthtech, agriculture, retail, cybersecurity, and transportation.
A pan-African innovation movement
For the first time, Zecathon is expanding beyond Nigeria. Ghana, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone serve as key hubs for this year’s competition, reaffirming Zenith Bank’s commitment to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa.
Last year’s Zecathon 4.0 attracted over 1,500 applicants and spotlighted high-growth startups such as JumpnPass, CreditChek, and Salad Africa, which went on to secure additional funding and partnerships.
“Zecathon is not just a competition, it’s a catalyst for change,” said Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc. “Through this platform, we continue to empower founders and developers who are shaping Nigeria’s economic and digital future. This year’s edition goes beyond inspiration. It’s about creating sustainable impact.”
Eligibility
- Startups: Early-stage African businesses with a viable MVP and scalable model in one of the listed focus sectors.
- Hackathon Teams: 2–4 innovators aged 20–35 developing banking and digital finance solutions.
Applications remain open until Friday, October 31, 2025.
Apply free at beyondlimits.global/zecathon5 — it takes less than 10 minutes to submit your entry.
