PAPERSOFT on the list of top 10 for Ecobank 2020 fintech challenge finals

Ecobank Group recently announced, in a press release, the 10 finalists for the Fintech Challenge 2020 initiative, and Papersoft is one of the selected companies.

“The 10 finalists Fintechs from 7 different countries, who emerged from a competitive pool of over 600 fintechs, will participate in an online Finale scheduled for August 21, 2020.”

The challenge, in its third edition, is designed to deepen collaboration between Ecobank and Fintechs with Africa focused products.

How it all started

Ecobank created a category in the 2020 edition for products aimed at pandemic and quarantine challenges. Papersoft decided to develop an innovative Digital Branch solution that allows banks to continue their operations on digital channels, even with KYC biometrics requirements for services subscriptions.

That is how the HiDesk platform came to life, a software for front-office and customer service functions that helps banks to serve all their customers, as an alternative to the branch network or agent network.

The Final

All the finalists will be enrolled into Ecobank’s Fintech Fellowship where they will spend the next 6 months exploring partnership opportunities which include:

• Multinational product roll out: An opportunity to pursue collaboration with Ecobank and possibly launch products in Ecobank’s  33 African markets.
• Service provider partnerships: A chance to become a pan-African service partner to Ecobank for Fintechs with the qualities to become product partners and offer joint services with Ecobank
• Mentoring and networking support:  Access to networking and mentoring opportunities within the Ecobank Group and its vast network of global and African partners
• Integration with existing Ecobank digital offerings: An opportunity to potentially integrate with Ecobank’s existing digital offerings.

The Group Executive, Operations & Technology, Eddy Ogbogu, left the following motivational words for the finalists:

“We congratulate the 10 Fintechs that have made it to the 2020 Finals. This is an impressive cast of innovators and we look forward to the Final event where we will honor them and potentially build productive collaborations.”

Papersoft is a leading international company that develops technology that helps companies to reach all communities, everywhere, so all people can easily access their services and products.

With a strong footprint in Africa, Papersoft is focused on Agency Banking and Agent Network solutions, promoting strongly access to basic services and Financial Inclusion in the continent.

The Ecobank Fintech Challenge is designed in partnership with the advisory firm Konfidants and is supported by partners across Africa and globally. Ecobank is a pan-African institution present in 33 countries, which represents an amazing opportunity for Papersoft to access new markets and create new products.