Article by Jabulile Ngwenya and photos by Teluka Mzuri Communications & Branding Agency
The AfricArena Johannesburg Fintech, Deep Tech & Enterprise Summit, held at 22 On Sloane, celebrated Southern Africa’s top emerging startups, awarding five standout companies for their innovative solutions. Hosted in collaboration with AWS Startups and 22 On Sloane, the event brought together global investors, industry leaders, and high-growth startups for a day of pitching, networking, and collaboration.
The atmosphere was electric, with the main room filled with energy and excitement. Despite the rain which rattled on the roof, adding to the acoustics, Tendai Pasipamire, Business Developer at the ENRICH in Africa Center held his ground as Master of Ceremonies at the event. His delightful, charismatic energy roused the audience to gather around the startups and support them, showcasing what can happen when a strong, resilient ecosystem pulls through to support one another, no matter what.
Carmen Rossouw, Executive Operations at 22 On Sloane and GEC+ Africa Lead said, “At 22 On Sloane, we are committed to powering the next generation of entrepreneurs by providing the resources, networks, and support they need to scale.” Thrilled at the outcome of the summit, Rossouw said, “Hosting the AfricArena Johannesburg Summit at our campus is a testament to our dedication to fostering innovation and investment in Africa’s tech ecosystem. The summit serves as a vital platform for startups to showcase their solutions, connect with investors, and access opportunities that can drive their growth. By bridging the gap between talent and funding, we are collectively shaping a future where African entrepreneurs lead on the global stage.”
Dan Mabbyalas, AfricArise Director and AfricArena Head of Product & Programs said, “We are thrilled at the turnout and strong support of Africa’s tech, innovation and investment community at this event. This is a powerful indicator of what Africa’s tech ecosystem is capable of when a continent backs up, invests in and mentors high quality African-led, African founded tech startups pioneering groundbreaking tech solutions capable of transforming lives across Africa and the world. Given the high quality of deal flow, we are excited for the rest of the AfricArena Tour 2025 circuit as we bring Africa’s successful tech story to the world.”
Each of the 16 startups showcased their multi-talented arsenal of skills ranging from strong pitching skills to succinct storytelling, to incredible pitch decks and an excellent knowledge of their numbers, making the judging process difficult for some judges. In the end, five clear winners were announced:
● Best Deep Tech & AI Startup Award: CureRoot (Njabulo Skhosana, Founder, South Africa)
● Best Fintech Startup Award: eQub (Alexander Hizikias, Founder, Ethiopia)
● Best SaaS Startup Award: Funti3r (Wisani Hlangwane, Founder, South Africa)
● Best Agnostic Startup Award: Loop (Imtiyaaz Riley, Founder, South Africa)
● Most Promising Entrepreneur Award: SB Card (Micaelyn Maharaj, Founder, South Africa)
The winners each won eligibility for up to US$25,000 in AWS Activate credits, and they automatically advanced to the grand finale at the AfricArena Grand Summit which will take place in December in Cape Town, South Africa.
Excited at being recognized as the Best Deep Tech & AI startup in Southern Africa, Njabulo Skhosana, founder of CureRoot said, “We’re really excited to have won the award! This win gives our team a huge boost of confidence as we push forward with our mission of leveraging Africa’s biodiversity to solve global health problems. It was our first time pitching at AfricArena, and we were really impressed by the energy and quality of the startups involved. We’re grateful for the recognition and looking forward to the connections this opens up.”
Alexander Hizikias, founder of eQub shared his happiness at being recognized as the best fintech startup. “The award definitely solidifies our efforts in building inclusive access to finance that will potentially benefit millions of Ethiopians and Africans as a whole. It also puts the Ethiopian ecosystem on the map so additionally, it’s great to have received recognition from an esteemed ecosystem representative such as AfricArena. We have been pitching across the world for a few years and it’s our first time in AfricArena. There will be more collaborations coming up for sure.”
Enthusiastic about winning the Best SaaS Startup Award, Wisani Hlangwane, founder of Funti3r said, “This win validates that we are actually on our way to becoming the best of the best, especially in an African context because we could dominate the South Africa market. The award gives us more momentum to dominate the rest of Africa and we will do our best to dominate the global market. It was my first time pitching at AfricArena and it went well. It is fantastic to have the right set of eyes on us which motivates us to keep up our winning streak, hit our milestones, generate more revenue, keep on building and reach our growth stage at the highest possible level.”
“Winning the Best Agnostic Award at AfricArena is a significant milestone for Loop. It reaffirms our vision and highlights the impact our solution is making in digitising mobility and payments across Africa,” said Loop’s founder Imtiyaaz Riley. Exhilarated at winning this award, Riley said, “This recognition motivates our entire team to continue innovating, growing, and tackling real-world challenges. AfricArena provided an incredible platform – this was our first time pitching at AfricArena, and the experience has been exceptional. We’re excited to pitch at the next leg in Cape Town in December!”
Thrilled at walking off with the Most Promising Entrepreneur Award, Micaelyn Maharaj, founder of SB Card said: “Winning the Most Promising Entrepreneur Award at AfricArena is more than just a trophy for us. It’s further validation that we are on the right track and building something of value! I’m truly grateful for the platform, the support, and the belief in our company. This win gives us the courage to keep pushing forward and dreaming bigger.”
The second leg of the AfricArena Tour 2025 circuit will take place in Lagos, Nigeria on 30 April 2025. Get your tickets for the AfricArena Lagos Fintech, Mobility & Logistics Summit.
For more information, contact Jabulile Ngwenya at jngwenya@methys.com
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About AfricArena
Launched in 2017, AfricArena has established itself as a leading platform dedicated to creating market access and fostering investment opportunities for a growing community of tech founders, angel investors, corporate innovators, and venture capitalists. Designed with a digital-first mindset, AfricArena operates through a series of high-impact investment deal flow events, tailored interventions, and an open-source platform that champions the principles of open innovation and entrepreneurship.
In just eight years, AfricArena has earned significant credibility within the global tech startup ecosystem, with alumni startups collectively raising over $850 million in funding. Its flagship events, known for blending thought leadership and action-driven networking, are structured into three dynamic segments:
Investor Unconference: A collaborative environment for investors to connect and strategize.
Founder’s BootCamp: A hands-on program designed to prepare startups for investment and scaling.
Main Summit Event: A showcase of Africa’s most promising tech talent, connecting them with global stakeholders.
AfricArena continues to be a catalyst for innovation and growth, driving the evolution of Africa’s tech landscape on the global stage. For more information about AfricArena, visit www.africarena.com