The spotlight was on innovation and entrepreneurship at the debut Verto Awards in Lagos, where three Nigerian startups claimed the event’s top prizes. The ceremony, attended by leading figures from the tech industry, investment community, and media, celebrated months of intensive review and selection.
The competition drew startups from diverse fields—finance, aquaculture, and AI-driven business solutions—demonstrating Verto’s embrace of sector-wide ingenuity. Cash awards of $10,000, $3,000, and $2,000 were presented to the winning ventures, enabling them to scale operations and expand across borders.
Dingpay, which won the grand prize, is a fintech company developing an “offline-first” digital wallet that consolidates payment tools, identification, and tickets for seamless transactions. Aquatrack, an agritech platform, leverages AI to deliver tailored farm management solutions to fish farmers. Growwr, meanwhile, uses artificial intelligence to streamline hiring, management, and payments for African tech talent.
Dingpay’s co-founder, Itohowo Udofia, hailed the recognition as a significant morale boost for the team. The startups were judged by a panel of industry leaders, including executives from OPay, Providus Bank, DAO Law, and Verto Nigeria.
Verto’s CEO, Ola Oyetayo, remarked that the awards underscore the vibrant innovation emerging from Africa’s early-stage startup ecosystem, reaffirming the continent’s growing reputation for tech-driven entrepreneurship.
