Nigeria’s Earlybean, a fintech startup revolutionizing financial literacy for kids and teens, made a major impact at Web Summit Qatar 2025 by securing a top 3 finalist spot in the highly competitive PITCH competition. Out of over 1,000 startups, including more than 900 eliminated in the early rounds, Earlybean stood out as one of the most promising startups on the global stage.
Co-founder & CEO Biobele Oyibo took the stage to deliver a compelling pitch, showcasing Earlybean’s mission and innovation, while Co-founder & CPO Tomiwa Ogunmodede shared behind-the-scenes insights on the startup’s journey from Techstars 2023 to a globally recognized fintech leader.
Earlybean: Building Smart Money Habits for Kids and Teens
Earlybean is redefining pocket money management for kids aged 6-17 with its spending card, digital wallet, and built-in financial learning tools. Designed to help young people earn, save, and spend wisely, the platform also empowers parents to monitor and guide their children’s financial decisions.
For schools, Earlybean offers a seamless cashless payment system, allowing students to pay for school supplies, meals, and activities while accessing essential financial literacy tools.
The startup’s impact is already being felt, with over 3,000 active users in Nigeria. Their innovation has been recognized widely, earning them the Tech Innovation of the Year award at the Art of Technology Lagos Awards 2024 and a spot among Nigeria’s top 25 most innovative startups as named by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
Taking Nigerian Innovation to the Global Stage
Web Summit Qatar, one of the world’s most prestigious startup gatherings, provided Earlybean with a powerful platform to showcase its mission. Competing against some of the most promising global startups, Earlybean’s success highlights the rising influence of Nigerian fintech and edtech startups in shaping the future of financial education.
While the grand prize went to another team, Earlybean’s achievement as a top 3 finalist has unlocked new opportunities, expanding its network among global investors, operators, and tech leaders. The exposure has reinforced its commitment to helping kids and teens develop lifelong financial skills.
Earlybean’s Ambitious Growth Plans
Speaking on Earlybean’s next steps, Co-founder & CPO Tomiwa Ogunmodede shared:
“Earlybean is aggressively scaling—partnering with school associations, ministries, and the open market to build mini-financial clubs and cashless ecosystems on campuses, at kid-friendly vendors, and events. Our goal is to impact 2 million kids in the next five years.”
This vision aligns with a growing demand for digital financial literacy, ensuring that young people have the tools and knowledge to make smart financial decisions from an early age.
What’s Next for Earlybean?
Following its success at Web Summit Qatar, Earlybean is focused on scaling across Africa and beyond, making its financial literacy tools more accessible to families, schools, and communities. The team is actively engaging investors and stakeholders to drive adoption and expand its impact on financial education.
As Nigerian startups continue to prove their global competitiveness, Earlybean’s journey is a testament to the innovation and resilience of African entrepreneurs. The next generation of financially empowered youth is being built today, and Earlybean is leading the charge.
