The event, held on February 12, was a highlight of the annual Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, powered by Raenest.

It aimed to spotlight the most innovative and impactful tech solutions and leaders making significant strides across the continent.

Lauren Adair, director of Africa Tech Summit, emphasized the importance of celebrating the achievements of these businesses and individuals:

“The awards were created to honor tech companies driving growth across various sectors. It was incredible to have so many finalists gathered in one room, showcasing the immense potential of Africa’s tech ecosystem. We extend our gratitude to the independent judging panel and everyone who joined us in acknowledging these trailblazers,” she said.

The awards featured 11 sector categories and two individual recognitions in fintech, agritech, AI, and Web3. The winners included:

• Agri-tech Award – Mazao AgClimate Limited (Tanzania): Focused on addressing soil degradation caused by synthetic fertilizers and deforestation, MazaoHub provides solutions to restore soil health and ensure long-term food security.

• AI Award – Cassava Technologies (South Africa): A leader in AI-driven infrastructure, Cassava Technologies enhances digital connectivity, cybersecurity, and cloud services, supporting Africa’s growing digital economy.

• Climate Tech Award – Sabi (Nigeria): The company’s TRACE platform, powered by blockchain, facilitates traceability, ESG compliance, and carbon tracking for key commodities such as cocoa, lithium, and copper.

• Cross-Border Payments Award – Flutterwave (Nigeria): The Flutterwave Send App streamlines international remittances, enabling seamless transactions across more than 35 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, and key African markets.

• Digital Commerce Award – OmniRetail (Nigeria): Tackling Africa’s fragmented retail sector, OmniRetail digitizes supply chains and improves accessibility to essential goods.

• Ed-tech Award – Ikusasa Technology Solutions (South Africa): Driving inclusive education, Ikusasa’s SMART TVET initiative digitizes vocational training to enhance learning outcomes.

• Enterprise Award – Smile ID (Nigeria): Addressing Africa’s identity verification challenges, Smile ID offers secure real-time solutions, reducing fraud risks and enhancing digital transactions.

• FemTech Award – My Pregnancy Journey (South Africa): A pioneering digital maternal health app tailored to African users, offering pregnancy tracking, expert consultations, and postnatal support.

• Fintech Award – HUB2 (Mauritius): HUB2 simplifies financial transactions in Francophone Africa by integrating mobile money, bank transfers, card payments, and cryptocurrency into a unified API.

• Health-tech Award – Zuri Health (Kenya): Delivering accessible healthcare through virtual consultations, AI diagnostics, pharmacy deliveries, and chronic care management across multiple digital platforms.

• Web3 Award – MiniPay (Nigeria): Integrated into Opera Mini, MiniPay facilitates low-cost blockchain transactions using USD Coin (USDC), Tether (USDT), and Celo Dollar (cUSD), promoting financial inclusion in emerging markets.

Recognizing Individual Excellence

Apart from industry innovations, the awards also acknowledged two outstanding individuals driving transformative change in Africa’s tech space:

• Female Tech Innovator – Chinwe Udo-Davis (Nigeria): As the co-founder and CEO of Instollar, a green energy marketplace, Chinwe is bridging the gap in access to clean energy across rural and underserved regions. Through InstallHer, she also trains women in solar installation, fostering employment in the green economy.

• Young Tech Innovator – Maxwell Opondo (Kenya): The creator of Zerobionic, a robotic arm that interprets sign language, enhancing communication accessibility for students with hearing impairments.