African startups pitching at the finals of the L59 Pitch competition revealed
Latitude59 Kenya’s Pitch Competition has announced the 10 startups selected to compete for an invitation to Latitude59 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia.
The selected startups from Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania will have the chance to win a prize pool of one million euros.
The pitch competition broke records with a total of 382 applications from 37 countries with a strong representation from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Additionally, an impressive array of applicants came from other regions, including countries like the UAE, India, and Azerbaijan, highlighting the competition’s growing international appeal.
Founding Member of Nairobi Business Angels Network Nick Vilelle noted that it’s great to see such a strong batch of founders taking part in Latitude59’s event. “We see more and more founders building for East Africa, but with plans for global expansion, and I think that is an exciting sign of things to come,” he said.
According to Dolores Daniel, the project manager for the Latitude59 Kenya Edition, the final decision will be challenging, as African startups are truly impactful, with ideas capable of making a real difference globally.
“Latitude59 Kenya Edition has showcased a surprising shift in startup focus. While fintech once dominated the landscape, this year’s pitch competition applications reveal an inspiring wave of innovation in agriculture and sustainability. It’s clear that founders are increasingly prioritising impact-driven solutions to tackle food security, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management—reshaping Kenya’s entrepreneurial narrative.”
The competition’s top ten startups will have the opportunity to pitch live on the main stage at Latitude59 in Nairobi on 28 November. They will also receive personalised pitch training from Latitude59 Pitch Coach Gleb Maltsev.
“Compared to last year, the number of applications has nearly doubled. As Latitude59 gains a stronger reputation, we’re also challenging ourselves to provide more value to startups who join our Pitch Competition—from in-person and online training to collaboration with relevant partners to help entrepreneurs grow regionally and globally.” Triin Ilves, Head of Startup Relations at Latitude59 said.
