Ecobank, the leading pan-African financial services group, has announced Daba Finance, an Ivorian fintech, as the Grand Winner of its flagship Ecobank Fintech Challenge 2024.
Daba Finance took home the top prize of US$50,000 for its innovative solution making investing accessible to everyone.
Twelve fintech startups competed for the prize, with Melanin Kapital from Kenya securing second place and US$10,000, and Guinean fintech YMO taking third place with US$5,000. MiaPay from Togo won the “Public Choice Award.”
The Ecobank Fintech Challenge attracted a record 1,550 entrants from 70 countries, demonstrating the competition’s growing prominence.
The finalists were enrolled into the prestigious Ecobank Fintech Fellowship programme, gaining exposure to investors and industry leaders, access to Ecobank’s Banking Sandbox, and potential scaling across Ecobank’s pan-African footprint.
BOUM III JR, CEO of Daba Finance, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “Winning this challenge propels our mission to make investing and wealth building opportunities available for all.”
Ecobank Group CEO, Jeremy Awori, praised the finalists’ quality and congratulated Daba Finance on their win.
“The African continent is a hotbed for fintech innovation globally, and Ecobank’s Fintech Strategy centers on leveraging our borderless pan-African digital platform to provide cutting-edge solutions.”
The Ecobank Fintech Challenge winners include Daba Finance from Ivory Coast as the Grand Winner with a prize of US$50,000.
Melanin Kapital from Kenya came in second, receiving US$10,000, while YMO from Guinea took third place with US$5,000. Additionally, MiaPay from Togo won the Public Choice Award.
Since its inception in 2017, the Ecobank Fintech Challenge has attracted over 7,000 applications from 70 countries, inducting 72 fintechs into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship.
This annual event showcases Ecobank’s commitment to helping African fintechs develop and grow, bridging the financial inclusion gap, and streamlining access to payments.
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