We are thrilled to announce that Centry has emerged as one of the top three winners at the Digital PayExpo 2025 Innovation Challenge in Lagos, Nigeria. This prestigious competition – part of the Digital PayExpo 2025 conference – brought together some of the country’s most innovative fintech startups. Over the course of the event (June 17–19, 2025 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos), dozens of startups pitched bold ideas in fields ranging from finance and health to education and digital inclusion. Standing out in this talented field, Centry’s solution for affordable digital payments earned national recognition, securing us a spot among the top winners of the year’s premier fintech contest.
About Digital PayExpo 2025
Digital PayExpo is one of Africa’s biggest annual conferences focused on digital payments and fintech innovation. The Digital PayExpo 2025 edition was special – it marked the 25th anniversary of the event, celebrated as an “Africa Payment Festival” under the theme “Beyond Borders: Digital Trade and Payment“.This theme highlighted the push for pan-African solutions that break down barriers in finance. The conference gathered industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to explore the future of payments across the continent. Sessions ranged from cross-border payment discussions to live tech demos, creating an electric atmosphere of ideas and networking.
By hosting a National Innovation Challenge, Digital PayExpo 2025 encouraged Nigerian startups (like Centry) to showcase how their products can drive financial inclusion and digital growth. In essence, Digital PayExpo 2025 wasn’t just a conference – it was a launchpad for next-generation fintech solutions, and Centry made a mark on that stage.
Centry’s Achievement in the Fintech Innovation Challenge
Centry’s recognition as a top 3 winner in the Innovation Challenge is a testament to our team’s hard work and our mission of making everyday payments easier and cheaper for Nigerians. The National PayExpo Innovation Challenge 2025 invited startups across Nigeria to “share bold ideas and drive real impact in health, education, agri-tech, digital inclusion, and more”. Out of many applicants, only a handful were selected to pitch live at the event. Centry’s pitch showcased our unique app that offers Nigerians discounts on airtime, data, electricity bills and other utilities – effectively putting money back into people’s pockets on routine transactions. Our solution resonated with the judges and audience, demonstrating real impact in digital inclusion and financial savings for the public.
In the final round, Centry stood alongside two other innovative startups as the top three winners of the DigitalPay Expo competition. This means we earned not only bragging rights, but also concrete rewards that will help accelerate our growth. Key highlights of Centry’s win include:
- Cash Prize: As one of the top 3 startups, Centry received a significant cash award (the competition set aside ₦1,000,000 for 1st place, ₦750,000 for 2nd, and ₦500,000. This prize funding will be reinvested to improve our app and expand our services so that users like you save even more on bills.
- Accelerator Program Access: All top three winners gain entry into an exclusive post-event accelerator. This program, run in collaboration with industry partners, will provide Centry with expert mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities. We’ll be working alongside other fintech innovators to sharpen our business model and scale our impact.
- Seed Funding Opportunity: Beyond the initial prize, there’s also a chance to access $20,000 in seed funding after the acceleration. This means Centry could secure additional investment to fuel features you’ve been asking for – from new bill payment integrations to enhanced app security – all aimed at delivering more value to our users.
- National Recognition: Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects is the national visibility this award brings. Centry was spotlighted at Digital PayExpo in front of bankers, regulators, and tech leaders. Being a top finisher signals to the industry and customers that Centry is a fintech company to watch in Nigeria. It builds trust and credibility, assuring users that our platform is innovative and here to stay.
This achievement didn’t come easy. Our team went through multiple rounds of pitching and intensive Q&A from a panel of judges (comprising industry experts and investors). The experience pushed us to refine our value proposition and demonstrated how strongly we believe in our mission: helping Nigerians spend less on essential digital services. In the end, standing on that stage as a top 3 winner affirmed that we’re on the right track.
What This Milestone Means for Centry Users
For our users and the broader Centry community, our success at the Digital PayExpo 2025 competition is more than just a trophy – it’s a promise of even better things ahead. Here’s what you can expect going forward:
- Enhanced Features & Services: With the boost in funding and mentorship, we plan to fast-track new features on the Centry app. Our roadmap includes adding more billers (so you can pay more types of bills with discount), improving user experience, and strengthening our reward system. Winning this competition has opened doors to partnerships, meaning you could soon see Centry collaborating with other major fintech or service providers to bring you exclusive deals.
- Greater Trust and Security: We understand that trust is crucial when it comes to payments. Being recognized at a national level validates our platform’s reliability. We’re more committed than ever to maintaining top-notch security for all transactions. New users can feel confident joining Centry, knowing that industry leaders have vetted and applauded our solution. For our existing users, rest assured we’ll continue to uphold the highest standards while you save on transactions.
- Community Growth: The spotlight from Digital PayExpo will likely bring many new users to the Centry family. A growing community means a more robust platform – and potentially even better discounts as our negotiating power with service providers increases. By being an early user, you’ve helped us reach this point, and we remain dedicated to rewarding your loyalty. Expect community events, more helpful guides on our blog, and responsive customer support as our user base expands.
In essence, this milestone energizes our efforts to serve you better. Centry’s vision of making digital payments rewarding is stronger than ever. We believe that when you spend less on airtime, data, and utilities, you free up money for other important goals – and that belief is what drives us daily.
About Centry
Centry is a Nigerian fintech startup focused on helping you save money on everyday digital transactions. Through the Centry app (available on Android and iOS), users enjoy instant discounts on purchases like mobile airtime top-ups, data bundles, electricity bills, and more. What started as a vision to make essential services more affordable has grown into a vibrant community of savvy savers across Nigeria. Our platform is secure and easy to use – in just a few taps, you can pay bills and earn cashback or discounts on each transaction, stretching your Naira further.
We are proud to be at the forefront of fintech innovation in Nigeria, continually updating our offerings to meet your needs. Centry’s recent top-3 win at Digital PayExpo 2025 is a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation. It shows that by putting users first and solving real problems, a startup can gain recognition on a national stage.
Thank you to all Centry users, team members, and supporters who made this achievement possible. We couldn’t have done it without you. Going forward, we remain dedicated to providing you with the best value in digital payments. Keep an eye on our blog and announcements – exciting updates and features are on the way!
Interested in experiencing Centry for yourself? Download the Centry app today and start saving on your next bill. Join us as we move beyond this milestone toward an even brighter future for digital payments in Nigeria. Together, we’re proving that paying bills can be rewarding!