Six African startups have won a combined $400,000 in grants under the FINCA Ventures Prize 2026, with Kenyan companies VunaPay and Kumbatia Seafood taking first place in the competition’s two categories.

The winners were selected from more than 700 applications across fintech for financial inclusion and sustainable agriculture and food systems, according to FINCA, the international organisation behind the competition.

The six finalists pitched their businesses in San Francisco on Oct. 6 at an event hosted by Cisco.

VunaPay, a Kenyan fintech company co-founded by Gatwiri Njogu-Mokaya and Koya Matsuno, won first place in the financial inclusion category and received $100,000.

The company develops payment and credit infrastructure for agricultural value chains, enabling smallholder farmers to receive payments through cooperatives. FINCA said the funding is intended to help the company expand its model and strengthen access to formal financial services.

Kumbatia Seafood, also from Kenya, won the sustainable agriculture and food systems category and received $100,000.

The company was founded by Bernard Iha Thoya, Will Gertler and Nelson Ondego Mumata. It sources, finances and distributes sustainably caught fish from small-scale fishing communities along Kenya’s Swahili Coast, combining financing, cold-chain logistics, processing and digital traceability.

The second-place winners in the two categories received $60,000 each, while third-place winners received $40,000 each.

In fintech for financial inclusion, Kenyan startup nesti won second place. Co-founded by Christabel Ojuok and David Kimani, the company seeks to turn rental payment histories into financial records that can help renters build credit and improve access to financial services.

ChatCash, which operates in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, took third place. The company has developed an artificial-intelligence-based conversational platform that enables African micro-merchants to operate digital storefronts through WhatsApp, including integrated payment functions.

In sustainable agriculture and food systems, Zimbabwean company eAgro won second place and received $60,000.

eAgro develops agricultural technology that can operate without reliable internet access, allowing farmers in rural communities to receive information on issues including planting, pests and weather. The company uses artificial intelligence, satellite analytics and agricultural data in its systems, according to the competition organisers.

Kenyan startup Pollen Patrollers received the $40,000 third-place award in the category.

The company uses solar-powered internet-connected devices and artificial intelligence-based pollination services to support smallholder farmers and beekeepers. Its stated focus includes improving crop yields, reducing bee colony losses and supporting more resilient agricultural systems.

The FINCA Ventures Prize 2026 is in its third year and focuses on early-stage businesses working in sectors linked to financial inclusion and resilience.

FINCA Global CEO Andrée Simon said the competition was designed to provide early support to entrepreneurs developing businesses around market gaps.

“Africa’s future will be shaped by entrepreneurs who see opportunity where others see market failure,” Simon said, adding that early backing can help founders build credibility, gain traction and attract additional investment.

Winnie Mwangi, managing director of FINCA Ventures, said early-stage companies often face difficulties accessing conventional investment networks.

“Catalytic capital is what allows founders to reach the scale where both financial returns and social impact compound,” Mwangi said.

The prize therefore uses grants as an early source of capital rather than relying solely on traditional venture investment. FINCA said the objective is to help companies reach growth stages where they can attract additional investors and partnerships.

The six winning companies operate across Kenya, Zimbabwe and Rwanda and address areas including agricultural finance, digital commerce, food systems and access to financial services. Three of the six finalists are led or co-led by women, according to FINCA.

The competition’s results also highlight the role of Kenyan startups in this year’s awards. VunaPay and Kumbatia Seafood both took first place, while nesti and Pollen Patrollers won awards in their respective categories.

For African entrepreneurs, access to early-stage capital remains an important part of moving businesses from initial development to wider commercial operations.

The FINCA Ventures Prize 2026 is one of several initiatives seeking to direct capital and investor attention toward companies developing solutions for underserved markets.

FINCA said the competition received more than 700 applications before six finalists were selected to present their businesses to judges in San Francisco. The awards were announced later the same day.

The combined $400,000 in prize funding will now go to the six startups, with the two category winners receiving the largest individual grants of $100,000 each.