Health Tech Startup, Ireti Wins Hackaholics 4.0 as Wema Bank/ALAT Accelerate Tech Ecosystem Growth
Ireti, a health tech startup has emerged winner of the Hackaholics 4.0 organised by Wema Bank/ALAT, clinching the grand prize of N15 million after a competitive pitch process.
It emerged winner at the Grand Finale of Wema Bank’s Hackaholics Digital Summit held recently at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos where 10 finalists emerged. The Health tech startup founded by Jane Agbaohwo helps to solve the problem of late diagnosis of breast cancer.
According to organisers of the event, Wema Bank/ALAT, the initiative is designed to provide a platform for young innovators with game-changing, tech-driven ideas and products, to bring their creative ideas to life, hone their skills, and gain a competitive edge in the global technology and digital space.
Noteworthy, about 3000 applications were received and scrutinised before 10 finalists emerged at the Grand Finale. Aside from Team Ireti who won; Nelson Nelson-Atuonwu for Team Grip, a fintech startup that compiles fragmented financial data in one piece also won N10 million as the first runner-up; while Oluwatimilehin Ogunme for Team Trakka, a fintech went home with N7 million as the second runner-up and Tochukwu Ifeanyi for Team Outsidee clinched N5 million for the best female-led startup.
Other finalists include Nelson Nelson-Atuonwu for Team Grip; Ebulue Henry for Team Raptor; Bonojo Adedayo for Team Pup Industries; Olukayode Fadairo for Team MumAlive, David Campbell for Team Naija Box; Damilare Ololade for University X; and Gift Akobundu for Chao.
Hackaholics was birthed in 2019 to bring together a community of fintech to solve industry-identified problems following the launch of ALAT.
The two-in-one event themed “Re-imagine: Disrupting the Ecosystem for Scale” had the attendance of industry stakeholders, captains of industries, regulators, investors, startup founders, tech enthusiasts, and others.
In his welcome address, Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO, Wema Bank, said the Bank remains committed to supporting the growth of the tech ecosystem in the country.
“We believe that by providing a platform for technologically savvy and creative youngsters, we can help drive the much-needed transformation in our nation. We have gone beyond just banking, the youth to give them a launchpad for self-actualization, ” he stated.
Similarly, Tunde Mabawonku, ED, Retail & Digital Business, WEMA Bank said “Today, we come together to embark on a transformative journey into the digital realm. Hackaholics Digital Summit is not just another summit, it’s a movement, a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, imagination, and progress in the heart of the ecosystem, and educational institution.
“It’s all about harnessing the collective potential of startup founders to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in the digital age.”
While delivering his keynote address at the digital summit earlier before Hackaholics, Olugbenga Agboola, Founder & CEO, Flutterwave applauded the Bank for the initiative and called for more to help grow the ecosystem.
He stated that a platform like Hackaholics 4.0 will help innovators who are leveraging technology to solve both local and global challenges and offer them the opportunity to be funded or see investors. He therefore charged the finalists, innovators, or founders to come up with more innovative and creative solutions that will solve global challenges.
A panel session was also held on the topic “Pioneering a Transformational Path: Empowering an Ecosystem via People, Processes, and Technology”. The panelists include Dr. Ola Brown, General Partner, HealthCap Africa; Adaobi Okerekeocha, Chief Innovation Officer, Interswitch Group; Wole Odeleye, Financial Services Technology Lead, Microsoft and moderated by Tunde Mumuni, Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer, WEMA Bank who shared insight on how to grow the ecosystem leveraging on technology.
Thereafter, a syndicate session was held with industry experts who dissected topics such as “The Future of Financial Services: Exploring Emerging Trends, technologies, and Business Models Reshaping the Financial Services Industry”; Venture Capital and Funding Viable Innovation for Scale; and Strategic Technology for Impact & Societal Change: Transforming Today & Tomorrow’s World.