Africa Fintech Summit 2025 | New Venture Pitch Competition – Powered by AWS Activate

On April 24, 2025, twelve Africa-focused early-stage startups took center stage at the 13th Africa Fintech Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted at Halcyon during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. This marked the 7th edition of the AFTS New Venture Pitch Competition, a micro-accelerator program designed to spotlight breakthrough innovations from across the continent. 🚀 Congratulations to the Winners: 🏆 1st Place – Mainstack (Nigeria) – An AI-powered platform helping businesses earn globally 🥈 2nd Place – LipaWorld (Kenya) – A stablecoin wallet + digital voucher marketplace for immigrants 🥉 3rd Place – Ha:Hu:: (Ethiopia) – A gamified edtech & cultural preservation platform, women-founded These three startups emerged on top after pitching their solutions to a live panel of judges and over 270 in-person delegates (plus 1,700+ virtual attendees). Thanks to AWS Activate, each participating startup received $25K in cloud credits to accelerate their growth. 🎤 Panel of Judges: Tamara Zeidan – Director of Innovation, DISB, DC Government Marcelo Homrich – VP of Programs, Halcyon Njeri Muhia – General Partner, FrontEnd Ventures Carlos Sánchez Reboiro – Global Industry Specialist, IFC (World Bank Group) Foster Awintiti – Founder, APEX Advisory & AFTS US-Ghana Partnership Manager 🌍 Featured Startups: Mainstack, LipaWorld, Ha:Hu::, Expedier, Zapper by ShrinQ Ghana, Zeem Africa (Sobridge), Kutana Technologies, EdGo HQ, Growwr, Kiotapay Inc., FlincapAI 💬 Founder Reactions: “Pitching at AFTS DC was a clear reminder of the talent rising from Africa. Winning means a lot for our team—and proves we’re building something that matters.” – Ayo Oyaleke, CEO, Mainstack “The energy, feedback, and support were incredible. This is just the beginning.” – Jonathan Katende, CEO, LipaWorld “Empowering, educational, and exciting! A huge moment for Ha Hu.” – Nigist Goytom, Co-Founder, Ha:Hu:: 📌 The next pitch competition will take place during AFTS Accra from October 8–10, 2025. Startups, sponsors, and partners interested in participating should contact: [email protected] ABOUT AFTS The Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS) is the premier global platform for the African fintech ecosystem. Held twice a year—each April in Washington, D.C., and each fall in a major African city—AFTS brings together entrepreneurs, regulators, investors, and ecosystem builders to debate ideas, close deals, and shape the future of fintech. Past summits have taken place in Nairobi, Cape Town, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Lusaka, and more. 🔗 Learn more: https://africafintechsummit.com