Four young Kenyan women have earned national recognition after their groundbreaking AI-powered fintech solution, “Jasho Powering Your Hustle”, clinched the top prize at the Absa Bank Kenya-GirlCode Women-in-Tech Hackathon.
The team, known as Team Avytria, will now represent Kenya at the continental finals of the prestigious competition, where they will face off against top innovators from Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, and Ghana.
Comprising women aged between 21 and 26, Team Avytria wowed judges with a solution designed to empower gig economy workers and persons living with disabilities. Their platform harnesses artificial intelligence to provide real-time expenditure tracking, personalised financial coaching, and advanced fraud prevention. It also includes accessibility features such as facial recognition and voice command options, ensuring inclusivity for all users.
This year’s hackathon brought together 112 young women aged 18 to 35 under the theme “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI.” Participants engaged in a grueling 30-hour innovation marathon aimed at strengthening women’s digital skills and driving the development of secure, resilient technologies for Africa’s digital future.
Absa Bank Kenya’s Vice President and Head of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Charles Wokabi, praised the creativity and resilience displayed by all participants.
“These teams have shown great creativity and problem-solving under very intense conditions. Each had the chance to pitch innovative ideas around financial inclusion, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention before an experienced panel of judges,” said Wokabi.
He added that the top three teams would benefit from an incubation programme facilitated by the Absa Kenya Foundation and ALX, gaining access to working spaces, tools, mentorship, and business development support.
“This programme will help them develop their ideas into viable products, learn how to scale, and understand how to attract investors and venture capitalists,” he noted.
The overall Pan-African winner will take home a grand prize of USD 5,500 (approximately KES 700,000).
Now in its latest edition, the GirlCode Hackathon continues to serve as a powerful launchpad for women in technology. The initiative not only celebrates innovation but also aligns with Kenya’s national goals of youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and entrepreneurship.
Reflecting on the growth of the competition, Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO and Founder of GirlCode, emphasized the event’s role in addressing the gender gap in technology.
“This hackathon gives women a platform to showcase their skills, innovate, and create solutions to real problems in their communities. It’s been inspiring to see young women collaborate and design impactful tech solutions,” said Mkwanazi.
Last year’s competition drew 280 participants across nine African cities, and this year, the number has surged to over 450 women across seven cities — a clear sign of the growing momentum of female-led innovation in Africa’s tech ecosystem.
The Nairobi judging panel featured notable industry leaders including Muthoni Kanyana, CEO of MK-Africa; Lucy Mbuthia, Country Manager of Women in Tech Kenya; Mumbi Kahindo, Absa Bank Kenya’s Chief People Officer; Moses Okundi, Chief Information Officer; and Seline Awuor, Head of Digital Marketing and Next Gen.