MARRAKECH, Morocco – GITEX Africa Morocco 2026 may have ended (April 07 – 09) but memories remain.
In a high-stakes finale that electrified the African tech ecosystem, the Zambian fintech neobank Lupiya emerged as the Overall Winner of the 2026 GITEX Africa Supernova Challenge.
Lupiya secured the grand prize of $50,000 in equity-free funding, beating out hundreds of startups from over 100 countries in what has become Africa’s most prestigious pitch competition. The startup’s AI-driven platform focuses on bridging the financial gap by providing accessible credit and neobanking services, a mission the judges hailed for its potential to fundamentally transform the continent’s financial landscape.
A Showcase of Digital Innovation
The Supernova Challenge, held as the centerpiece of the 4th edition of GITEX Africa Morocco from April 7 to 9, showcased the depth of technical talent across the continent. While Lupiya took the top spot, several other startups were honored for their sector-specific innovations.
Category Winners ($10,000 each):
| Category | Winner | Country | Focus Area |
| Fintech & Blockchain | Woliz | Morocco | Digital ecosystem for “nanostores” |
| AI & Digital Cities | RawMart | Egypt | Construction and raw materials marketplace |
| Cybersecurity | FACIA | UK/Africa | Liveness detection and facial recognition |
| Healthtech | DeepEcho | Morocco | AI for prenatal ultrasound diagnosis |
| Sustainability & Agritech | StableFoods | Kenya | Climate-resilient food production |
Empowering the “Nanostore” Economy
Among the highlights of the evening was the success of local Moroccan startup Woliz, which took home the Fintech & Blockchain prize. Woliz is tackling the data vacuum in Africa’s 12 million “nanostores”—the small, neighborhood shops that serve as the backbone of daily commerce.
“Millions of transactions pass through nanostores every day without leaving a trace,” said Kamal El Hardouzi, CEO and co-founder of Woliz. “We are building the infrastructure that makes these transactions visible, these businesses financeable, and this market investable.”
Special Recognitions
The 2026 ceremony also introduced and highlighted special awards to foster diversity and regional growth:
- Woman in Tech Award: Won by InsightEX (Mauritania).
- Young CEO Award: Awarded to SecDojo (France/Africa).
- Morocco High-Flyer Award: A new category for 2026 aimed at accelerating the growth of local Moroccan tech exhibitors.
The GITEX Africa Supernova Challenge continues to serve as a vital launchpad, with previous winners having gone on to raise significant venture capital and achieve international scale. As the curtains close on the Marrakech event, the focus now shifts to the next stop on the global circuit, including AI Everything Kenya and Expand North Star Dubai, where these winners will represent the vanguard of African innovation.
Numeris Média is media partner to GITEX Africa Morocco 2026