Win a Share of ₦90 Million in Zecathon 6.0 Startup Pitch Competition
Applications are now open for the Zecathon 6.0 Startup Pitch Competition, offering growth-stage African startups the opportunity to compete for a share of ₦90 million in cash prizes while gaining access to investors, mentors and strategic growth opportunities.
The competition is organised by Zenith Bank in partnership with Beyond Limits as part of the 2026 edition of Zecathon, a flagship innovation programme designed to support entrepreneurs, developers and young innovators across Africa.
The Startup Pitch Competition is targeted at ambitious startups with market-ready products or services, demonstrated traction and the potential to scale across markets.
What Is Zecathon 6.0?
Zecathon 6.0 brings together three innovation programmes: the Startup Pitch Competition, the Zecathon Hackathon and the Zenith Future Innovators Challenge.
For startups, the pitch competition provides a platform to showcase their businesses before investors, industry leaders and potential strategic partners while competing for substantial cash prizes.
The 2026 edition places particular emphasis on emerging technologies, including Generative AI, Agentic AI and other technologies transforming industries across Africa.
₦90 Million Prize Pool
The top five startups will share a total of ₦90 million in cash prizes.
The prize structure is:
- 1st Place: ₦35 million
- 2nd Place: ₦20 million
- 3rd Place: ₦15 million
- 4th Place: ₦10 million
- 5th Place: ₦10 million
Beyond the cash awards, successful participants can gain investor exposure, mentorship, leadership development, networking opportunities and access to strategic partnerships that can support business growth.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to growth-stage African startups that meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.
Applicants must:
- Have a registered business entity.
- Operate in one or more of the competition’s focus sectors.
- Have a market-ready product or service.
- Demonstrate market traction through customer adoption, revenue or evidence of market demand.
- Have a scalable business model and a clear record of growth.
- Demonstrate potential to expand into new markets and reach additional customer segments.
Focus Sectors
Startups developing solutions across a range of industries are eligible to participate. Key sectors include:
- FMCG
- Insurance
- Education
- Retail and e-commerce
- Payments and lending
- Cybersecurity
- Agriculture
- Healthcare
- Transportation and logistics
What Selected Startups Stand to Gain
In addition to competing for the ₦90 million prize pool, participants will have opportunities to:
- Showcase their businesses on a continental platform.
- Connect with investors and industry experts.
- Explore strategic partnerships and market opportunities.
- Receive mentorship and leadership development support.
- Gain visibility among potential customers, partners and investors.
- Access resources designed to help growth-stage businesses scale.
The programme will also include a training and inspiration component for selected participants, providing additional support for leadership and business development.
Zecathon 6.0 Application Deadline
Applications for the Zecathon 6.0 Startup Pitch Competition close on October 13, 2026.
Interested African startups are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements and submit their applications before the deadline. Applications are free.
How to Apply
Eligible startups can apply through the official Zecathon 6.0 platform by selecting the Startup Pitch Competition and completing the application process.
Apply Now: Zecathon 6.0 Official Application Portal
