Zenith Bank Plc has unveiled Zecathon 6.0, the sixth edition of its flagship startup and innovation programme, with a ₦190 million prize pool for innovators, startups and students across Africa.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Beyond Limits, introduces the Future Innovators Challenge for senior secondary school students in Nigeria, alongside the existing Hackathon and Startup Pitch Competition.
Applications are free and open to startups and developers across Africa, as well as senior secondary schools in Nigeria. The deadline for applications is October 13, 2026.
AI, technology solutions at centre of competition
Zecathon 6.0 will focus on innovation across sectors including FMCG, insurance, education, retail and e-commerce, payments, lending, cybersecurity, agriculture, healthcare, and transportation and logistics.
The Hackathon will challenge participants to develop solutions to real-world banking problems using artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The Startup Pitch Competition, meanwhile, will target growth-stage ventures with scalable solutions.
Speaking on the initiative, Zenith Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, said the latest edition represents an expansion of the bank’s efforts to support innovation and digital transformation.
“Zecathon 6.0 represents the next leap in Zenith Bank’s journey of empowering innovators and driving Africa’s digital transformation,” Umeoji said.
She said the introduction of the Future Innovators Challenge would give secondary school students an opportunity to participate in the innovation ecosystem.
According to her, the programme will also create opportunities for developers, students and founders to collaborate, compete and develop solutions to emerging challenges in banking and business.
Winners to share ₦190m
In both the Hackathon and Startup Pitch Competition categories, the prize structure is:
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First place: ₦35 million
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Second place: ₦20 million
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Third place: ₦15 million
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Fourth place: ₦10 million
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Fifth place: ₦10 million
The top three schools in the Future Innovators Challenge will receive ₦5 million, ₦3 million and ₦2 million, respectively.
The total prize pool makes Zecathon 6.0 the largest edition of the programme so far, building on Zecathon 5.0, which awarded ₦140 million to participants.
Opportunity for young innovators
The expanded programme is expected to give African startups and developers an opportunity to test and showcase technology solutions while providing secondary school students with an early entry point into the innovation ecosystem.
Zenith Bank said the initiative is designed to accelerate the development of digital solutions and equip young people with skills needed to participate in Africa’s growing technology ecosystem.
Startups and innovators across Africa, as well as senior secondary schools in Nigeria, can apply free of charge before the October 13, 2026 deadline.
Application: cutt.ly/zecathon6
Source: The Guardian