The Zenith Bank Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 3.0,” concluded with resounding success as Sync, a dynamic team collaboration platform, claimed the top spot in the Zenith Hackathon (Zecathon). The event, held at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, witnessed Sync’s victory, earning them a substantial cash reward of N20 million.
Sync’s triumph was celebrated not only for its innovative solutions in project management, task planning, messaging, payments, scheduling and people operations but also for securing a mentorship programme with Seedstars, a renowned entity dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
Skill Up With Kahdsole (SUWK), a social-tech startup focused on empowering youth with technical and vocational skills, secured the first runner-up position, receiving N15 million and a mentorship programme with Seedstars. Tribapay, a payment processing gateway facilitating cross-border transactions, claimed the second runner-up position, winning N10 million and a mentorship programme with Seedstars.
Additional recognition and N2 million rewards were bestowed upon other finalists, including Edupoint, Joovlin, Frootify, Izesan Limited, Natal Cares, Plychain.io, and Niteon.
Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, expressed his enthusiasm during the Tech Fair, emphasizing the significance of the Hackathon in showcasing the creativity and talent of the youth. He outlined plans to further elaborate on the success stories of the participants in future events.
The two-day Tech Fair featured presentations on cutting-edge technological innovations, with a keynote address on “Artificial Intelligence – Application & Bias” delivered by Chris Lu, Managing Director for Huawei Technologies, Nigeria. Eminent IT practitioners from top global brands also contributed, covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Contactless Payments, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, FinTech, Data Analytics, Financial Intelligence, and communication technologies.
The event included panel sessions exploring themes like “The next frontier: Digital Wallets, Contactless payments and BNPL” and “The intersection of Fintech, eCommerce, and SMEs – Collaboration for growth.” Notable industry experts and leaders engaged in discussions, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration within the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
The Zenith Bank Tech Fair solidified its reputation as a premier platform for technological innovation, providing a stage for groundbreaking ideas and fostering collaboration among industry leaders and emerging talents.