Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has concluded the fourth edition of its Technovation Hackathon, rewarding outstanding teams with a total of ₦10 million in cash prizes. The competition recognised innovative solutions developed by employees after months of ideation, experimentation, and product development across several stages of the programme.
The Grand Finale of the Technovation 4.0 Hackathon took place on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Interswitch Innovation Lab and Co-Working Space. The one-day event brought together employees, senior executives, judges, and other stakeholders to celebrate the culmination of the initiative, which was held under the theme “The Wicked Hackathon.”
At the end of the competition, Team Quickteller Fashion emerged as the overall winner, earning the grand prize of ₦4,000,000. The team’s solution stood out to judges for its originality, practical application, and alignment with the company’s strategic direction.
Team Kampe finished in second place and received ₦2,500,000, while Team Stable secured third position with a prize of ₦1,500,000. Additional rewards of up to ₦300,000 were presented to the teams that finished in fourth, fifth, and sixth positions.
Since its launch in 2022, Technovation has grown into a major internal innovation platform for Interswitch. The programme encourages employees to develop technology-driven solutions to complex challenges within the organisation and the broader digital payments ecosystem, while aligning with the company’s long-term strategic priorities.
Speaking during the event, Adaobi Okerekeocha, Chief Innovation Officer at Interswitch, noted that the initiative plays a key role in reinforcing the organisation’s culture of innovation.
According to her, Technovation represents the company’s commitment to bold thinking and the development of impactful ideas from within the organisation. She explained that several concepts generated through the programme have evolved into meaningful capabilities that support the growth of the Interswitch ecosystem. She also highlighted the creativity, dedication, and discipline demonstrated by participants, describing them as evidence of the potential of African innovation to address complex challenges and shape the continent’s technological future.
Over a nine-month period, cross-functional teams from different departments worked together to conceptualise and develop their ideas. The process involved validating concepts, building prototypes, and refining solutions into minimum viable products (MVPs) with the potential for deployment within the business.
During the Grand Finale, the top nine teams presented their projects through live demonstrations and detailed pitches before a panel of judges. The presentations showcased the teams’ research processes, market considerations, and potential impact, as participants responded to questions before the final winners were selected.
Although many of the solutions remain undisclosed due to their strategic importance, the variety and quality of ideas demonstrated during the event highlighted the company’s growing culture of intrapreneurship and structured innovation.
The projects presented illustrated how technology-driven thinking can improve operational efficiency, strengthen internal capabilities, and create new opportunities within the digital payments and commerce landscape.
Beyond the competitive aspect, Technovation reflects Interswitch’s long-term commitment to nurturing talent within the organisation, encouraging experimentation, and providing a clear pathway for transforming innovative ideas into practical business solutions.
As the fourth edition concludes, the programme continues to showcase Interswitch’s investment in its people, its innovation ecosystem, and the advancement of Africa’s rapidly evolving digital economy.