Africa's first AI-driven Influencer Marketing Platform, AIfluence, has been declared the winner of the Kenyan edition of the 2023 Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI).

AIfluence pocketed a cash prize of Sh2.8 million and will proceed to the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) regional finals of the global innovation program and competition for start-ups and fintechs.

The start-up that will clinch the CEMEA Regionals will then take part in the global grand finale, which is scheduled to held in September in San Francisco, USA.

Other winners in the VEI Kenyan edition include Leja (Audience Favorite Award) and Ndlovu, who won the Social Impact Prize, with each of the Fintechs walking away with Sh1.4 million.

“This competition has demonstrated the wealth of solutions that exist to solve our country’s current and future commerce challenges,” said Visa Acting General Manager for East Africa Eva Ngigi-Sarwari.

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She added: “We are proud to recognise these start-ups who have exhibited remarkable innovation and a deep commitment to making a positive impact in their sectors.”

The competition got more than 200 applications from across Kenya, each seeking to offer innovative payment and commerce solutions to consumers and businesses in the country.

AIfluence is a tech-driven advertising platform that finds trusted voices that engage, nurture and activate right audience for global brands to accelerate customer acquisition and growth.

Visa Country Manager – Kenya, Eva Ngigi Sarwari, AIfluence Founder and CEO Nelson Aseka and US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whiteman. PHOTO/VISA

The platform utilizes the nascent creator economy by promoting financial literacy, development of payment solutions and provision of tools and resources to grow the sector.

“This is not only a win for AIfluence but a win for the continent. We are looking to empower the young people in the creator economy by helping them build sustainable businesses and collaborating with Visa will provide tremendous synergies that will empower the youth of this continent,” said AIfluence CEO Nelson Aseka.

Aseka added, “The Visa Everywhere Initiative has provided opportunities for those of us in underserved sectors to showcase our solutions and it is an honour to be this year’s winner of the Kenya edition.”

Leja is a finance management app for MSMEs focused on building financial infrastructure while Ndovu is an embedded wealth management platform aimed at promoting savings.