Regxta emerged as the winner of the fourth edition of the Pitch2Win startup competition, securing a prize of $10,000 in equity-free funding and an all-expense-paid trip to IVS2024, Kyoto, Japan’s largest startup conference. The platform, founded in 2021 by Rukayat Bello, Afis Bello, and Moses Obika, focuses on providing easy access to financial services for unbanked individuals and micro-businesses in rural and peri-urban communities across Africa.
During the event on June 12, Rukayat Bello delivered an impressive pitch to a panel of judges, including industry experts like Tosin Faniro-Dada, Yuzuru Honda, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Hiro Mashita, and Ireayo Oladunjoye. Rukayat’s presentation highlighted the platform’s unique value proposition of offering immediate funds to customers within five minutes, unlike traditional microfinance banks that can take weeks to disburse funds.
In addition to the main prize, an extra award called “the Sponsors’ Choice” was presented to Preggify, a startup offering 24-hour doctor-led care for pregnant women. This recognition earned Preggify an all-expense-paid trip to IVS2024 in Kyoto. The event also featured other impressive finalists like Acceede, Bunce, Eight Medical, and Trade Lenda, showcasing the diverse range of innovative startups in Nigeria’s ecosystem.
TechCircle, the organizer of Pitch2Win, has been hosting the competition since 2016 to promote and support emerging talent and startups in the Nigerian startup scene. With over 1,100 applications received for the fourth edition, the competition continues to be a platform for showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.
TechCircle not only hosts startup competitions but also provides advisory and consultancy services to African startup founders, corporate organizations, government agencies, and foreign investors. The firm’s ecosystem-wide events, programs, and tours aim to foster valuable relationships and collaboration within the startup community.
Overall, the success story of Regxta at the Pitch2Win competition highlights the potential for innovative solutions to address financial inclusion challenges in underserved communities across Africa. As the startup ecosystem in Nigeria continues to grow, events like Pitch2Win play a crucial role in nurturing and promoting the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.