Applications are open for Zenith Bank ZECATHON 6.0, a 2026 innovation programme created for African startups, developers, designers, innovators and secondary school students.
The programme gives participants an opportunity to present ideas, build practical solutions and compete for a combined ₦190 million prize pool.
ZECATHON 6.0 has three main categories. These are the Startup Pitch Competition, the Hackathon and the Zenith Future Innovators Challenge.
Applications close on October 13, 2026.
About Zenith Bank ZECATHON 6.0
ZECATHON is an innovation programme supported by Zenith Bank to encourage entrepreneurship, technology development and problem solving.
The 2026 edition is designed to bring together people working on business and technology solutions that can solve practical problems in Nigeria and across Africa.
Participants will have the opportunity to present their ideas to judges, receive guidance from industry professionals and connect with other people working in technology and entrepreneurship.
The programme is open to different groups, so applicants should choose the category that matches their experience and current level.
Startup Pitch Competition
The Startup Pitch Competition is designed for African startups that already have a business, product or service in the market.
Applicants are expected to show that their businesses have moved beyond the idea stage.
This may include evidence of customers, revenue, market demand, partnerships or other signs that the business is already operating.
Startups may apply from sectors such as:
- Financial technology
- Agriculture
- Healthcare
- Education
- Cybersecurity
- Retail and ecommerce
- Insurance
- Transportation and logistics
- Consumer goods
Selected businesses will have the opportunity to present their ventures and explain the problem they are solving, how their business works and how they plan to grow.
The competition can also give startups visibility among investors, business leaders and other people within the African innovation ecosystem.
ZECATHON Hackathon
The Hackathon is for developers, designers, technology professionals, students and innovators who want to build solutions to real problems in the financial sector.
Participants are expected to work in teams and develop practical solutions using modern technologies.
Areas of interest include:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Generative Artificial Intelligence
- Agentic Artificial Intelligence
- Data analytics
- Other emerging technologies
Teams should contain between two and four members.
Participants are expected to demonstrate that their solution can solve a clear problem and that it can realistically be developed or used.
Projects may be assessed based on factors such as innovation, feasibility, impact, scalability and presentation.
The Hackathon is particularly suitable for people with experience in software development, product design, data, Artificial Intelligence or other technology related fields.
Zenith Future Innovators Challenge
The Zenith Future Innovators Challenge is designed for senior secondary school students in Nigeria.
Students will participate in teams and develop solutions to problems affecting society.
Each team should have between two and four students from the same school.
A teacher or authorised school representative will serve as the official contact person for the team.
Students may develop ideas in areas such as:
- Financial inclusion
- Education
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Climate and environmental sustainability
The top three schools will share ₦10 million.
First place will receive ₦5 million.
Second place will receive ₦3 million.
Third place will receive ₦2 million.
The challenge gives secondary school students an opportunity to gain early exposure to innovation, teamwork and problem solving.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility depends on the competition selected.
For the Startup Pitch Competition, applicants should have a registered African startup with a product or service already available in the market.
The startup should also be able to show evidence of business activity or customer demand.
For the Hackathon, participants must be citizens of an African country and should apply as part of a team of two to four people.
Applicants for the Hackathon are expected to be between 20 and 35 years old.
For the Future Innovators Challenge, participants must be students currently enrolled in SS1, SS2 or SS3 in a Nigerian secondary school.
Students must participate through their school and work as part of an approved team.
What Participants Can Benefit From
ZECATHON 6.0 is not only about the cash prizes.
Participants may also gain access to mentorship, training and opportunities to meet professionals working in business, technology and innovation.
For startups, the programme can provide an opportunity to present a business to people who may become investors, partners or customers.
Developers and technology teams can use the Hackathon to test their ability to solve practical problems under competitive conditions.
Secondary school students can gain experience in teamwork, research, idea development and public presentation.
These experiences can be useful even for participants who do not win a prize.
Important Dates
Applications opened on September 22, 2026.
The application deadline is October 13, 2026.
Some competition stages will continue after the application deadline.
The Hackathon shortlist is expected to be announced on October 16, 2026.
Startup semifinalists are expected to be announced on October 19, 2026.
The live Hackathon is scheduled for October 20 to October 22, 2026.
Final presentations are expected to take place on October 28, 2026.
Applicants should check the official competition page for updates relating to their selected category.
How to Apply for ZECATHON 6.0
Interested applicants should visit the official application website at:
https://beyondlimits.global/zecathon6/
Choose the competition you want to enter.
Read the eligibility requirements and competition rules carefully.
Complete the online application form and provide all requested information.
Applicants should ensure that their details, team information and supporting materials are correct before submitting the application.
The deadline is October 13, 2026.
Participation is free.
Applicants should use only the official ZECATHON website when submitting their application or checking competition updates.
Important Information About the Prize Structure
The organisers state that ZECATHON 6.0 has a combined prize pool of ₦190 million across the three competitions.
However, some official competition pages currently show different prize breakdowns for the Startup Pitch Competition and Hackathon.
For this reason, applicants should confirm the exact prize structure on the official page for their selected competition before applying.
The ₦10 million prize structure for the Zenith Future Innovators Challenge is clearly stated, with ₦5 million for first place, ₦3 million for second place and ₦2 million for third place.
