Verto has rewarded three emerging African startups with cash prizes and targeted support to accelerate their international expansion, following the conclusion of its inaugural Global Business Award ceremony held in Lagos.
The initiative, launched earlier this year, is designed to spotlight high-potential early-stage startups that are building innovative, scalable solutions capable of competing on a global stage.
Announced at a vibrant gathering of industry leaders, investors, ecosystem partners and members of Nigeria’s startup community, the winners: Dingpay, AquaTrack and Grower, were selected after months of evaluation and a rigorous shortlisting process.
The award, created by the B2B global payments platform to strengthen Africa’s role in global trade and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs, offers not just financial backing but also visibility, international supplier connections and access to the financial infrastructure needed to scale across borders.
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Dingpay, a rising fintech company focused on seamless financial services, emerged the overall winner and received the grand prize of $10,000. Its co-founder, Itohowo Udofia, described the win as a powerful validation of the company’s mission and a timely boost to its growth ambitions.
“We are honoured to be recognised as the winner of the Verto Global Business Award. This prize will enable us to scale faster, strengthen our operations, and unlock new market opportunities. It’s an incredible validation of our work, and we’re excited for what comes next,” Udofia said.
AquaTrack, an agrotech startup leveraging technology to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, secured the second-place prize of $3,000.
Grower, an online marketplace connecting skilled tech talents with employers, received the third-place award of $2,000.
Both companies were commended for the innovation, feasibility and scalable potential embedded in their business models.
The winners were assessed by a distinguished judging panel that included Dotun Adekunle, COO/CTO of OPay; Ime Enang, CEO of The Conversationalist Limited; Omotayo Idowu, group head, Commerce; Soibi Ovia, partner at DAO Law; and Austin Okpagu, Verto Nigeria’s country manager. Their decisions reflected a broader push to identify bold ideas capable of shaping Africa’s economic future and deepening the continent’s participation in global markets.
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Speaking at the ceremony, Ola Oyetayo, Verto’s co-founder and CEO, said the award underscores the company’s commitment to nurturing Africa’s growing innovation pipeline.
Oyetayo noted that the calibre of founders, ideas and execution displayed by this year’s finalists demonstrates the continent’s readiness to build globally relevant businesses. Oyetayo reaffirmed Verto’s commitment to offering the financial infrastructure and trade-enabling tools that help promising startups pursue global opportunities and achieve long-term success.
“This inaugural edition of the Verto Global Business Award has revealed just how much innovation, resilience, and global ambition exists within Africa’s early-stage startup ecosystem. The calibre of founders we’ve seen this year has been exceptional. As these businesses grow, expand, and strengthen international ties, we remain committed to providing the financial infrastructure that helps turn their global ambitions into reality,” Oyetayo added.
