Verto, a leading global financial technology company revolutionising cross-border payments and foreign exchange for businesses, has announced the list of companies that made it to the final stage of Verto Awards 2025.
Started on February 6, 2025, applications were open to early-stage startups that have been operating for about two years, in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. The award celebrates the spirit of innovation driving Kenya’s economic transformation. This year’s finalists represent diverse sectors – from fintech to agritech and healthtech to digital commerce – showcasing the country’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
Speaking on the launch of Awards, Ola Oyetayo, CEO and Co-Founder of Verto said “The world today is more connected than ever, and for startups, access to global markets isn’t just an advantage – it’s a game changer. Payments are at the heart of this, and, at Verto, we’ve spent years breaking down financial barriers, enabling businesses to send and receive money effortlessly while connecting Africa and other emerging markets to the world. The Verto Global Business Award takes this a step further, equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with the resources and global recognition they need to scale and compete on a global stage.”
Shortlisted companies
● Health Forever Product Ltd – Health Forever solves the global health challenge of chronic illnesses by delivering a clinically validated, plant-based supplement—Jobelyn®—that offers a powerful trifecta of health benefit
● Powerbox Energy Systems Ltd – Powerbox Energy Systems is developing scalable, locally manufactured solar energy technologies that address energy access challenges common across sub-Saharan Africa and other emerging markets.
● AquaTrack Ltd.– AquaTrack is an agritech company offering a subscription-based digital platform that helps small-scale African fish farmers reduce losses and increase profits through AI-powered farm management tools and direct-to-consumer marketplace access.
● ZER Consulting Africa Ltd – ZER enables small and medium enterprises, startups, and social enterprises to achieve sustainable growth and thrive.
● Royal Pearls Resources Ltd – Royal Pearls is a woman-owned Agro business transforming Nigeria’s Agro-processing sector by empowering women, boosting food security, and driving economic growth.
● Growwr – Growwr is an AI-driven hiring platform that connects vetted African tech talent with businesses worldwide.
● Dingpay – Ding Wallet is Nigeria’s first all-in-one digital wallet that allows users to store their physical and digital assets, enabling easy access, management, and QR-based contactless payments at point of sale with minimal user effort.
Next steps
The finalists will now advance to the final stage of judging, where an expert panel of business leaders and product experts will evaluate their innovations based on impact, scalability, and sustainability. The winners, runner-up and second runner-up will be announced on November 21st, 2025 and awarded USD 10,000, USD 3,000, and USD 2,000respectively in Lagos, to accelerate their global expansion and streamline cross-border operations. Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to the awards ceremony.
