Kenyan startup VunaPay, renowned for its groundbreaking instant payment solutions for farmers, has emerged as the winner of the African leg of the prestigious Latitude59 pitch competition. This victory earns VunaPay a spot at the global finals in Tallinn, Estonia, where it will compete on a larger stage next year.
The Latitude59 competition, which targets early-stage startups with innovative and scalable ideas, has become a significant platform for entrepreneurial recognition. This year, the African leg attracted 382 applications from 37 countries, with ten exceptional startups making it to the finals.
VunaPay’s cutting-edge technology simplifies instant payments for farmers, addressing a critical gap in agricultural transactions. The startup’s pitch impressed the jury with its potential for high scalability and transformative impact.
For the second consecutive year, the Latitude59 pitch competition boasts a prize pool of EUR 1 million (US$1.1 million), underscoring its commitment to nurturing innovative startups. VunaPay’s success at the African finals places it among the continent’s most promising tech ventures.
Other notable winners included Twiva, which received the “Walk the Talk” award from Infobip. This recognition came with platform credits worth US$20,000, to help the startup to further develop its initiatives.
As the global event approaches, all eyes are on VunaPay to see how it will perform at the Latitude59 finals in Estonia. For African tech startups, victories like this not only bring funding opportunities but also spotlight the region’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
