Zenith Bank to Give Over N70 Million at 4th Startup Competition

Zenith Bank has announced the fourth edition of its flagship Startup Pitch Competition and Incubation Programme, Zecathon 4.0, as part of the highly anticipated Zenith Bank Tech Fair. Now in its fourth year, the programme seeks to identify and fast-track the growth of high-potential Nigerian startups innovating in key sectors, including Embedded Finance, Cyber security, Fintech, HealthTech, Agritech, E-commerce, and more.

Comprising a startup pitch competition and six-week incubation programme designed to equip participants with the mentorship, exposure, and strategic partnerships needed to thrive in the fast-evolving tech landscape, the programme will provide an ideal platform for startups to showcase their groundbreaking ideas and gain access to invaluable resources to scale their businesses.

“Zenith Bank remains dedicated to nurturing Nigeria’s startup ecosystem,” said the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Zenith Bank, Dr. Adaora Umeoji. “Through Zecathon 4.0, we aim to unlock the potential of visionary entrepreneurs, propelling them toward scalable growth and success,” she added.

Open to early-stage Nigerian startups with innovative solutions in focus sectors such as Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), insurance, education, retail & e-commerce, cybersecurity, agriculture, health, payments, lending, and transportation, the competition offers cash prizes totalling ₦77.5 million, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and investment opportunities. The top three winners will win ₦25 million, ₦20 million, and ₦15 million in cash prizes, respectively.

The remaining seven startups that make up the top 10 will win ₦2.5 million each.

In addition to the cash rewards, the winners will be inducted into a six-week incubation programme designed to help them grow and scale effectively, which will run from December 2024 to February 2025.