Wema Bank, a leading innovator in Nigeria’s banking industry and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled the 35 teams advancing to the grand finale pitch of Hackaholics 5.0.
The highly anticipated event, themed “Meta Idea: Catalyzing Africa’s Growth Through Innovation,” is scheduled for November 25, 2024, in Lagos.
This year’s competition, which received thousands of applications from across Nigeria, has spotlighted groundbreaking tech solutions designed to tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges and drive digital transformation.
The finalists emerged from competitive pre-pitch events held at eight physical locations and one virtual pitch center. The top 35 teams represent a diverse range of innovative ideas in agriculture, finance, education, healthcare, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
The selected teams advancing to the final stage are: Northino, Our Haven, Celia, Nadir, Nimsy Agro, Hebron Chain, Paystrait, DevMe, Preview, Coconoto, EduGaze, Dokia, Gbale Prime, Health 4 Moni, Digiland, Abinci, Unifi, CyclexAfrica, Airify, Kwab, Gnergy, University X, AI Teacha, Code Red, APISentry, Fegor, TrashCoin, Paywise, Pandascrow, Lexia AI, Bunce, Bloom Beauty, MyItura, Accede, and Scratop Nigeria Limited.
Grand Finale and Prize Structure
The grand finale pitch will provide these finalists with a platform to present their ideas to a panel of esteemed investors, industry leaders, and mentors. Teams will compete for ₦75 million worth of prizes, divided as follows:
Grand Prize Winner: ₦30 million worth of prizes
First Runner-Up: ₦20 million worth of prizes
Second Runner-Up: ₦15 million worth of prizes
Top Women-Led Team: ₦10 million worth of prizes
CEO Highlights the Importance of Innovation
Moruf Oseni, the Managing Director and CEO of Wema Bank, expressed his enthusiasm for the program, highlighting its significance in nurturing young talent and fostering innovation.
“Hackaholics is a testament to Wema Bank’s commitment to fostering innovation and youth empowerment,” he said. “These 35 top contestants represent the future of Africa’s tech-driven transformation, and we are proud to provide them with a platform to bring their ideas to life.
The Meta Idea theme challenges them to think beyond immediate solutions and focus on innovations that capitalize on Africa’s growth potential. We look forward to celebrating their ingenuity at the grand finale.”
Driving Africa’s Tech Revolution
This year’s Hackaholics has inspired groundbreaking solutions that aim to address critical challenges in Africa, ranging from sustainability to digital education. The competition continues to demonstrate the role of technology and entrepreneurship in the socio-economic development of the continent.
Beyond the monetary prizes, winners will also gain access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to scale their projects globally. The initiative underscores Wema Bank’s dedication to shaping the future of tech innovation in Africa by empowering the next generation of innovators.
Attend the Grand Finale
Tech enthusiasts, investors, and stakeholders are invited to witness the next generation of innovators at the Hackaholics 5.0 grand finale. Registration for the event is available at https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/grandfinale
