AfricaTech Award 2026: Meet The Top 30 Startups Transforming the Continent

The countdown until the VivaTech AfricaTech Award grand winner is announced in June, and the talent this year is world-class. To give you a taste of the innovation coming from the continent, we’ve selected ten companies from thirty total nominees to provide a sneak peek at the competition. These startups are building real-world solutions for education, healthcare, and green energy. From digital banking for farmers to AI-powered emergency rooms, these picks show how Africa is one of the brightest blossoms for creative innovations right now.

PressPlayNg - Nigeria

PressPayNg is helping to solve a 0 billion education funding problem with a complete financial platform. It connects a school management system with a tool that helps families save for tuition and apply for loans. By offering flexible payment plans, PressPayNg helps keep millions of students in school who might otherwise have to leave due to money constraints. Their technology makes it easy for schools and families to handle payments in one place. Before PressPayNg, a student might drop out because their parents couldn’t pay a full semester’s tuition upfront; now, they can break those costs into small monthly payments and stay in class.

SURGiA - Egypt

SURGiA is a digital marketplace that helps clinics and hospitals get the medical supplies they need. The platform uses smart tools to track stock levels and prevent hospitals from running out of important tools or medicine. So far, they have handled over 151,000 orders and offer more than 45,000 authentic products from trusted sources. By combining easy financing with a strong delivery network, SURGiA makes sure high quality healthcare reaches even the most remote areas.

Ndovu Wealth - Kenya

Ndovu Wealth is a regulated investment platform that makes it easy for anyone to access global markets using mobile money. The platform uses blockchain technology to allow people to buy small “fractions” of stocks and bonds that were once too expensive. Ndovu Wealth already manages 5 million for users across Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Their smart system automatically manages portfolios to help protect savings from local inflation. Before Ndovu, global investing was only for the very wealthy; now, an everyday saver can invest as little as into top US companies directly from their phone.

Winich Farms - Nigeria

Winich Farms helps small farmers move away from risky cash trades by giving them a digital identity. They created a special debit card system that pays farmers instantly as soon as they sell their crops. This technology created a record for their sales, which helps farmers qualify for bank loans and savings accounts for the first time. For big buyers, Winich provides a clear and reliable way to buy food directly from the source without the expensive middlemen.

Anda - Angola

Anda is bringing green energy to Luanda by helping motorcycle taxi drivers switch to electric bikes. The company built a network of battery-swapping stations so drivers can quickly trade a low battery for a full one and keep working. Beyond the bikes, Anda provides a digital system for training and insurance to help informal drivers become professionals. With 146 employees and a partner like Yango, Anda is making city transport cleaner and safer. Before Anda, drivers spent most of their money on fuel and repairs for bikes they didn’t own; now, they earn more and work toward owning their own clean, electric vehicle.

Eight Medical - Nigeria

Eight Medical is a fast emergency network that connects people to medical help in 10 minutes or less. Their AI platform tracks which hospitals have open beds and which ambulances are nearby to send help exactly where it’s needed. To make sure everyone can use it, the service works through simple tools like WhatsApp and text messages. Since 2021, they’ve helped over 22,700 people and allow patients to get treated immediately and pay for it later with their “care now, pay later” model.

AgriEdge - Morocco

AgriEdge uses satellite images and smart sensors to help farmers grow more food with less waste. Their technology tells farmers exactly how much water and fertilizer to use, which saves money and protects the environment. The platform is already very successful, managing 2 million hectares of land for 90,000 farmers in Africa and abroad. By turning complex data into simple advice, they’re helping both small and large farms become more successful.

Leya Labs - Ivory Coast

Leya Labs provides the digital pipes that keep mobile money working smoothly. Their app helps mobile money agents manage their cash in real-time so they never have to turn a customer away. In 2025, Leya handled around $110 million in transactions for nearly 800 active clients. This simple fix helps agents, mostly young people and women, increase their daily income by up to 50%. Before Leya, a neighborhood agent might have to close for the day because they ran out of cash. Now, they can get a quick digital top-up and keep their business running.

Cure Bionics - Tunisia

Cure Bionics creates affordable, high-tech bionic limbs for people with disabilities. They use 3D printing and smart sensors that respond to muscle movements, making the prosthetics easy to use and comfortable. Because they use a digital fitting process, they can provide advanced care to people in areas where there aren’t many doctors. Their goal is to make life-changing technology available and affordable for everyone in the world.

Trashcoin - Nigeria

Trashcoin is a clever system that uses blockchain technology to turn plastic waste into money. The platform rewards families and waste collectors with digital tokens that can be used to pay for things like health insurance or school fees. For big companies, Trashcoin provides the data they need to prove they are actually recycling properly and helping the planet. By organizing waste collection with smart technology, they are turning a big pollution problem into a great opportunity for the community.

The AfricaTech Award at VivaTech celebrate the visionaries who are turning complex challenges into scalable opportunities across the continent. While we only highlighted ten companies today, all 30 nominees represent the incredible depth of talent in Africa’s tech ecosystem. These startups prove that when local expertise meets cutting-edge technology, the results can change lives globally. We can’t wait to see who takes home the top prize and how these solutions will continue to grow in the coming years. Make sure to follow Vivatech’s official channels on April 20 to see the six finalists chosen, and the grand winner announced live at VivaTech on June 19th.

You don’t want to miss the action, book your pass now.

For more information on VivaTech’s AfricaTech Award, see here. You can also explore the list of the other 20 below: