Three outstanding innovators have received a cash prize at the grand finale of the TechSkill AI Hackathon.
They emerged from the initial 1,500 applicants who entered the competition across Africa.
The AI Hackathon initiative is an ideathon designed to empower and support the continent’s brightest tech innovators.
The grand finale, which took place recently in Lagos, witnessed a remarkable showcase of ingenuity and problem-solving prowess, culminating in three startups sharing an impressive N145 million in prize money.
Blante4, the overall winner, was awarded the top prize of N50 million for its innovative B2B wholesale marketplace and SaaS platform. Blanter empowers SMEs to discover, negotiate, and source goods from verified suppliers while accessing credit through a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) model. This groundbreaking approach is set to drive growth and create a significant economic impact.
The first runner-up, Empayment AI, received N35 million for its AI-powered invoice discounting platform, revolutionising how businesses manage payments. Bloom Beauty, the second runner-up, was awarded N20 million for its personalised, AI-curated solutions that are transforming the beauty industry.
The judging panel included: Yemi Okesola, VP of Engineering at Flutterwave, Dauda Lawal, Head of New Tech at Google Africa, Olawale Mayowa, Product Marketing Lead at Adway UK, Benedicta Etafo, Data Manager at Terminal, Lolade Ekundayo, Head of Product at VirtHub and Ridwan Odetunde, Product Leader.
Each judge brought a wealth of experience in AI development, investment, and innovation strategy, offering insightful feedback and challenging participants to think critically about scalability, ethics, and social impact.
MyItura, an innovator delivering remote healthcare services, clinched the position of second runner-up in the women-led category, receiving N8 million.
Both Northino and University X earned mentions at the grand finale, each receiving N10 million. Northino was recognised for bridging traditional knowledge and modern technology through digital skills training for African native speakers, while University X impressed with its transparent, all-encompassing platform for tertiary education management.
John Onifade, Co-Founder, Tech Skill, who shared his vision for the initiative, said, “We are delighted to celebrate the brilliance of our youth through the Hackathon initiative.
“At TechSkill, we are more than a tech community; we are enablers of dreams and drivers of transformation. When I stood here earlier, the total prize money was N75 million. But, inspired by the potential we saw, we decided to increase the total prize pool to N145 million.”
Other finalists also impressed, including a smart agriculture platform for early crop disease detection, and a legal AI assistant for simplifying access to justice in low-income communities.
The event also featured keynote addresses, a panel discussion on “The Future of Ethical AI,” and a networking session for participants and investors. Winners will receive a combination of seed funding, technical mentorship, and access to incubator programs.
Segun Allen, the lead coordinator, described the event as a “launchpad for Africa’s next wave of tech leaders.”