Ecobank Group, the renowned Pan-African banking institution, is extending an invitation to enterprising and forward-thinking fintech entrepreneurs from Africa to apply for the 6th installment of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge. This esteemed competition, akin to its previous editions, presents remarkable opportunities for fintech companies that share Ecobank’s strategic goals, providing them with the chance to collaborate and expand their groundbreaking solutions throughout the bank’s vast network spanning 35 African markets and its international operations in France.
Fintech entrepreneurs who are selected as finalists and advance to the Grand Final will be granted the privilege of participating in the esteemed Ecobank Fintech Fellowship program. The eagerly anticipated Grand Finale and Awards ceremony, set to take place in late September, will provide a platform for showcasing the remarkable achievements of these finalists. Following the tradition set in the previous year, the ultimate victor will be honored with a substantial cash prize of US$50,000.
Ecobank Fintech Fellows will also benefit from the following opportunities through their collaboration with Ecobank and its partners:
- Multinational product rollout: an opportunity to integrate their solutions with Ecobank, opening doors to potential product launches within Ecobank’s expansive 35-country Pan-African ecosystem
- Service provider partnerships: Selected fintechs may be chosen as Pan-African service partners within the bank’s ecosystem
- Access to Ecobank’s Pan-African Banking Sandbox: Fellows will receive exclusive access to Ecobank’s cutting-edge APIs, enabling them to test and improve their products for the Pan-African market.
- Priority access to Ecobank’s Venture Capital partners for funding exploration
Applications are now officially open to fintechs and developers from all African countries as well as global Africa-centered fintechs. Interested parties can submit their applications through the official website: Ecobankfintechchallenge.com. Applications are open until 21st July 2023.
Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group, reflecting on the impact of the Fintech Challenge, said ‘Over the past six years, the Fintech Challenge has welcomed a significant number of fintechs, with six participants successfully partnering with Ecobank to launch innovative products that have been rolled out across our markets. Indeed, these collaborations have played a significant role in transforming Africa’s digital landscape and driving financial inclusion.’
Tomisin Fashina, Operations and Technology Executive, Ecobank Group, added that ‘the Ecobank Fintech Challenge has become Africa’s premier fintech competition, driving scalability for African fintechs.’ He further observed ‘through this challenge, we identify talents who can support Ecobank’s mission to remain bold and innovative, driving pan-African prosperity for the continent.
The Ecobank Fintech Challenge was designed in partnership with international advisory firm, Konfidants, and is supported by various partners.
For more information on the competition and how to apply, visit Ecobankfintechchallenge.com.
