The summit served as a vibrant platform for showcasing the strength and creativity of West Africa’s tech ecosystem, especially in the areas of financial technology, mobility, and logistics.

Organized in partnership with AWS Startups, GIZ, Redington, VonTech Group, and Methys, the event ran alongside the 21st AVCA Conference and VC Summit, drawing international venture capitalists, founders, and industry leaders for a full day of startup pitches, networking, and partnership discussions.

Among the highlights of the summit were the awards presented to standout participants.

Five emerging startups walked away with top honors for their innovative solutions, and one investor was also recognized for their role in advancing Africa’s startup landscape.

The winners include:

• Best Fintech Startup Award: PaySika 
• Best Logistics Startup Award: Retail Loop 
• Best E-Commerce Startup Award: Kamel  
• Best Energy Startup Award: Koolbok 
• Best Seed Startup Award: Vetsark  
• Most Promising Entrepreneur Award: Adashi (Ahmed Idris, Founder, Nigeria)
• Most Attractive Investor Award: Al Mada Ventures (Morocco)

Commenting on the event, Jane Egerton-Idehen, CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited and founder of VonTech Group, emphasized the growing role of startups in Africa’s digital transformation:

“This year’s summit showed how technology is helping tackle critical issues in Africa. With over 20 startups presenting innovations in fintech, logistics, and mobility, it was clear that these ventures are not just building businesses — they’re making an impact,” she noted.

Dan Mabbyalas, AfricArise Director and Head of Product & Programs at AfricArena, praised the summit’s success and the energy it brought to Nigeria’s startup scene:

“This was more than just a conference — it was a celebration of vision, innovation, and collaboration. Congratulations to all the winners. What we saw here proves that Africa’s tech ecosystem isn’t just growing — it’s thriving,” he said.

The summit reaffirmed AfricArena’s commitment to supporting early-stage innovation and strengthening connections between startups and investors across the continent.