Absa Bank Tanzania has congratulated Black Swan, one of the Top Three winners of the 2025 Absa Wazo Challenge Tanzania, for emerging as the overall winner of the Absa–MEST Africa Challenge 2025, a pan-African innovation competition run in partnership with the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST Africa).
Black Swan’s continental victory, achieved through its Mauritius-registered entity, marks a powerful milestone for a fintech whose journey was first spotlighted locally through Absa Bank Tanzania’s Wazo Challenge Tanzania, reinforcing the bank’s role as a catalyst for innovation from local validation to continental scale.
The Absa–MEST Africa Challenge brought together high-potential fintech startups from across Absa’s African footprint, with Black Swan standing out for its AI-driven alternative credit-scoring solution designed to expand access to finance for underserved individuals and SMEs.
Commenting on the achievement, Sam Mkuyu, Director of Customer Experience and Digital at Absa Bank Tanzania, said: “Black Swan’s success is a strong validation of why platforms like the Wazo Challenge Tanzania exist. Innovation does not thrive in isolation, it requires access to expertise, real-world use cases, and institutions willing to collaborate.
Through Wazo Challenge Tanzania, we intentionally create a space where fintechs can test ideas, strengthen their technical models, and build solutions that are scalable, secure, and aligned with the future of banking. Seeing a Tanzanian-rooted innovation go on to win at continental level is exactly the outcome we set out to enable.”
The Wazo Challenge Tanzania, launched by Absa Bank Tanzania in partnership with Hindsight Ventures, was designed to support fintechs and innovators developing solutions aligned to the theme “Bank of the Future.” Since its inception, the initiative has helped build confidence among local innovators, demonstrating that Tanzanian fintechs can compete and win on larger African stages.
Beyond Tanzania, Absa Group continues to play a critical role in advancing fintech growth across the continent through initiatives such as the MEST Africa Challenge, which connects startups to capital, enterprise-grade partnerships, and cross-border opportunities.
Speaking on Absa’s broader purpose and the importance of storytelling in innovation, Aron Luhanga, Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Absa Bank Tanzania, said: “Black Swan’s journey reflects the very essence of our brand promise, Your story matters.
From a Tanzanian innovation ecosystem to continental recognition, this is a story of belief, partnership, and possibility. At Absa, our purpose is clear: Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together, one story at a time. The stories of fintechs like Black Swan inspire us to continue championing innovation and to stand alongside entrepreneurs who are shaping Africa’s future.”
Absa Bank Tanzania has also announced that preparations are underway for the next edition of the Wazo Challenge Tanzania, scheduled to take place in 2026, with an even stronger focus on scalable fintech solutions, digital inclusion, and partnerships that unlock real economic impact.
“As we look ahead to the next Wazo Challenge Tanzania, we want innovators to know that there are institutions in this market that believe in them,” added Mkuyu. “Innovation thrives when confidence meets opportunity, and Absa is committed to providing both.”
Through initiatives at both country and Group level, Absa continues to position itself as a thought leader in fintech enablement, innovation partnership, and financial inclusion, helping ensure that ideas born in Tanzania can grow into solutions that serve Africa.
Absa Bank Tanzania has also announced that preparations are underway for the next edition of the Wazo Challenge Tanzania, scheduled to take place in 2026, with an even stronger focus on scalable fintech solutions, digital inclusion, and partnerships that unlock real economic impact.
“As we look ahead to the next Wazo Challenge Tanzania, we want innovators to know that there are institutions in this market that believe in them,” added Mkuyu. “Innovation thrives when confidence meets opportunity, and Absa is committed to providing both.”
Through initiatives at both country and Group level, Absa continues to position itself as a thought leader in fintech enablement, innovation partnership, and financial inclusion, helping ensure that ideas born in Tanzania can grow into solutions that serve Africa.
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