12 November 2025 | Rooftop on Bree
Africa Tech Festival Awards
The Africa Tech Festival Awards celebrated the most innovative and impactful tech achievements across the continent. The evening brought together Africa’s tech leaders, pioneers and change-makers to honour groundbreaking digital transformation and recognise the individuals and organisations shaping the future of African technology.
2025 Award Winners
Innovation for Impact Award
This award recognised innovations of products or services that have disrupted traditional approaches, introduced novel solutions, and created tangible value for businesses and individuals in Africa.
2025 Winner: Mastercard Community Pass
Telco of the Year Award
This award is dedicated to recognising and honouring network providers and services that have demonstrated exceptional commitment and effort in ensuring connectivity for all.
2025 Winner: Vodacom
CXO of the Year Award
This award honoured exceptional leaders in Africa and their outstanding contributions in building teams, setting new standards, and delivering on a clear vision in a rapidly changing business landscape.
2025 Winner: Dejan Kastelic - CTO, Vodacom
Changing Lives
The Changing Lives Award is dedicated to recognising and honouring organisations and initiatives that are committed to improving lives across the continent.
2025 Winner: SES and the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI)
Female Innovator of the Year Award
This award seeks to honour the women who have made significant contributions to the fields of tech, media, and telecoms across Africa.
2025 Winner: Asma Ennaifer - Senior VP CSR, Orange Middle East & Africa
Cybersecurity Leader of the Year Award
The Cybersecurity Leader of the Year Award honoured exceptional individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and impact in the cybersecurity field.
2025 Winner: Tim Theuri - CISO, M-Pesa Africa
Fintech Innovation of the Year Award
This award acknowledged the transformative power of financial technology in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation.
2025 Winner: Vodacom
Startup of the Year Award
This award acknowledges the entrepreneurial spirit, technological innovation, and potential impact of startups in driving growth, solving local challenges, and contributing to the advancement of Africa's tech ecosystem.
2025 Winner: Booi Industries (Pty) Ltd
AI Leader of the Year
This award recognised an individual or organisation at the forefront of artificial intelligence in Africa, demonstrating innovative thinking, real-world impact, and a commitment to using AI to drive inclusive, ethical, and transformative progress across industries and communities.
2025 Winner: Jean-Francois Arnod, CMO Orange (AI LLM Project)
Connectivity for All
Celebrating outstanding efforts to close the digital divide, this award honoured a project, organisation or partnership that has significantly improved access to reliable, affordable connectivity in underserved or remote regions, contributing to social inclusion and digital empowerment.
2025 Winner: Orange
Meet the Judges
Vukosi Sambo
Group CIO
PHA STM Healthcare & Marara Group
John Bosco Arends
Group Head Information and Network Technology Operations
City of Johannesburg
Sithembile Songo
Group Head: Information Security
Eskom Holdings SOC Limited
Nina Triantis
Global Head Telecoms, Media and Technology, Client Coverage, Corporate and Investment Banking
Standard Bank
Bas Wijne
Chief Executive Officer
APO Group
Bunmi Adeleye
Chief Strategy Officer, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria (Shoprite Nigeria)
Robert Aouad
CEO
ISOCEL Telecom