In a landmark achievement for Ethiopia’s growing fintech sector, Chapa has secured 3rd place at the Supernova Challenge 2.0, Africa’s largest early-stage startup pitch competition, held during GITEX AFRICA 2025.
The competition, modeled after Dubai’s Expand North Star—the world’s largest startup event—returned this year with even greater momentum, attracting hundreds of groundbreaking startups from across the continent. With a $110,000 equity-free prize pool and a high-stakes pitching format, Supernova Challenge 2.0 offered African innovators a rare chance to shine on a global stage.
Emerging from a pool of elite startups, Chapa earned a $20,000 equity-free award in recognition of its cutting-edge contributions to digital financial services in Africa. Its pitch—delivered under immense pressure in a tightly timed format—captured the attention of judges with its vision to transform the digital payments landscape across the continent.
This year’s competition removed sector-specific categories, challenging startups to compete across diverse industries based on core metrics like innovation, market potential, business model clarity, traction, and team strength. Chapa’s success reflects not only the strength of its platform but also its capacity to scale, solve real-world problems, and foster financial inclusion.
As GITEX AFRICA continues to rise as a premier launchpad for African startups, Chapa’s win signals a turning point for Ethiopia’s tech ecosystem, showcasing the country’s readiness to play a leading role in fintech innovation.
