Verto, a B2B global payments platform, has recognised early-stage African startups driving innovation and international trade as it announced the winners of its first Verto Global Business Award.

The awards ceremony, held in Lagos on Wednesday, brought together industry leaders, ecosystem partners and members of Nigeria’s startup community.

First place was awarded to Dingpay, a fintech company; second place went to AquaTrack, an agrotech company, while Grower, an online marketplace for tech talents, claimed third place.

The winners received cash prizes of USD 10,000, USD 3,000, and USD 2,000, respectively, to support their global expansion and cross-border operations.

Commenting on the win, Dingpay co-founder Itohowo Udofia expressed his excitement: “We are honoured to be recognised as the winner of the Verto Global Business Award. This prize will enable us to scale faster, strengthen our operations, and unlock new market opportunities. It’s an incredible validation of our work, and we’re excited for what comes next.”

Verto co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Ola Oyetayo praised the exceptional talent and ambition within Africa’s early-stage startup ecosystem.

He emphasised that Verto remains committed to supporting these businesses as they grow and expand internationally.

“This inaugural edition of the Verto Global Business Award has revealed just how much innovation, resilience, and global ambition exist within Africa’s early-stage startup ecosystem. The calibre of founders we’ve seen this year has been exceptional. As these businesses grow, expand, and strengthen international ties, we remain committed to providing the financial infrastructure that helps turn their global ambitions into reality,” Oyetayo said.