We're proud to share that Nearpays, a financial infrastructure for SMBs, has become the first African startup to win the AI for Good Innovation Factory, the United Nations' global AI competition. It's a win for us and a win for every business we're building for.

We did it.

Nearpays has won the AI for Good Innovation Factory 2026, the flagship startup competition of the United Nations' AI for Good Global Summit, held in Geneva, Switzerland. In doing so, we became the first African startup to win the global title, a landmark moment not just for us, but for the entire continent's growing technology scene.

And this was no small contest. It began with over 500 applicants from around the world, all building artificial intelligence solutions to solve real global problems. Over roughly 14 months, that field was narrowed stage after stage, until only a handful of us remained standing in Geneva.

Our journey began in Johannesburg

We first earned our place by winning the African regional round, held at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa. Competing against the continent's best, we came out on top with our SoftPOS technology and won the right to represent Africa at the global finals.

Speaking after the Johannesburg victory, our Founder and CEO Victor Daniyan said, "Africa's problems require African solutions, and Nearpays is providing real-time innovations to solve local challenges while using AI as an enabling environment. This win is not just for Nearpays; it is for every young African innovator proving that global-standard technology can be built here at home."

From there, our journey moved through the competition's pre-final rounds, where the global field was trimmed to just twelve startups. We kept advancing all the way to the grand finale.

The final stage in Geneva

The AI for Good Global Summit ran from 7 to 10 July 2026 at Palexpo in Geneva, bringing together world leaders, top researchers, investors, and innovators. On the summit's main stage, three finalists made their final pitch for the 2026 crown: us, alongside Doto Health (maternal health monitoring) and Nemocare (early detection of sepsis in newborns).

When the judges made their decision, one name stood out: Nearpays.

Why we won

For millions of small businesses across Africa, accepting a card payment usually means buying hardware they simply cannot afford. We remove that barrier. Our SoftPOS technology turns a smartphone into a payment-acceptance device, no expensive terminal required.

Underneath it all sits artificial intelligence that does far more than move money. With Nearpays, a business owner can complete transactions, pull together the details they need for tax, and even take payments offline in places where the network is weak or unreliable. The result is powerful: traders who once dealt only in cash and left no financial records at all can now build a clear, digital history of their business. Over time, that record can open doors to credit and fuller participation in the economy.

In short, we're using technology to bring financial inclusion to the people traditional systems have long left behind, from busy market stalls to rural communities.

A surprise ending

The night held one more twist. Global music star, entrepreneur, and technologist will.i.am, who joined the judging panel as a guest judge, closed the ceremony with an unexpected announcement: he would personally match the competition's cash prize out of his own pocket for each of the three finalists.

For us, that meant walking away with double the winnings, and our fellow finalists, Doto Health and Nemocare, were each honored with a matching prize of their own.

More than a prize

For us, this win is about far more than the money. A victory on the United Nations' biggest AI stage places Nearpays in a rare spotlight, earning global recognition, the trust of international investors, and a powerful stamp of credibility as a company building real-world impact.

It's proof of a message we've carried from the very beginning: world-class technology can be built in Africa, for Africa, and it can compete with, and beat, the very best in the world.

To our team, thank you for believing in the vision. To everyone who has trusted us on this journey, this win is yours too.

For us, Geneva is not the finish line. It's the launchpad. And we're just getting started.

Join us on the journey; download Nearpays and be part of what comes next.