Piggyvest has been named one of CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies 2026, marking its third consecutive appearance on the global ranking and underscoring the growing prominence of African fintech companies on the international stage.
The Nigerian wealth management platform was recognised in the Wealth Technology category, becoming the only African company featured alongside global players including Robinhood, Bankrate, Tiger Brokers, and Wealthsimple. The recognition highlights not only Piggyvest’s continued growth but also the increasing competitiveness of financial technology products built for African markets.
The annual ranking, compiled by CNBC in partnership with market research firm Statista, evaluates fintech companies across eight market segments using an aggregated scoring model that combines industry-wide and segment-specific performance indicators. The list has become one of the most closely watched benchmarks for innovation and impact within the global fintech ecosystem.
A decade of growth
Founded in 2016, Piggyvest began as a platform focused on helping Nigerians cultivate disciplined savings habits through automated savings tools. Over the past decade, it has expanded into a broader wealth management platform offering savings, investments, and other financial products designed to help users grow and preserve wealth.
According to the company, more than six million people have used Piggyvest to save and invest trillions of naira, reflecting increasing demand for digital financial services in Nigeria and among Nigerians living abroad.
The latest recognition comes only months after the company celebrated its tenth anniversary, another milestone in its evolution from a savings application into one of Africa’s most recognised wealth technology companies.
Recognition built on user trust
For Piggyvest’s leadership, the latest honour represents more than international recognition; it reflects the confidence users have placed in the platform over the years.
“Being recognised for the third consecutive year means a great deal to us because it’s built on the trust millions of people have placed in Piggyvest over the last decade,” said Odun Eweniyi, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Piggyvest.
She added that every milestone the company has achieved has been driven by customers choosing Piggyvest to help them reach important financial goals.
“We remain committed to earning that trust every day.”
The emphasis on trust comes at a time when digital financial platforms continue to compete on security, reliability, and user experience as more consumers adopt online savings and investment products.
What the Wealth Technology category represents
CNBC classifies companies in the Wealth Technology segment as organisations providing digital investment, trading, portfolio management, and technology solutions that support wealth creation and financial planning.
While many companies in the category operate in mature financial markets across North America and Europe, Piggyvest’s inclusion demonstrates that African fintech firms are increasingly building products capable of competing on a global scale.
Being listed alongside companies such as Robinhood, Tiger Brokers, Wealthsimple, and Bankrate places Piggyvest within a group of firms recognised for reshaping how individuals access investment opportunities and manage their finances digitally.
Its recognition also signals growing international awareness of Africa’s fintech ecosystem, which has produced some of the continent’s fastest-growing technology companies over the past decade.
A milestone for African fintech
Piggyvest’s latest recognition extends beyond the company itself.
Nigeria has become one of Africa’s largest fintech hubs, producing startups that have attracted significant investment while addressing gaps in financial inclusion, payments, lending, and wealth management.
As digital adoption continues to accelerate across the continent, African startups are increasingly moving from solving local challenges to developing products that meet global standards.
For Piggyvest CEO and Co-founder Somto Ifezue, the CNBC recognition validates that ambition.
“Sitting alongside some of the world’s leading wealth technology companies reinforces something we’ve always believed: products built for African users can meet the highest global standards and can compete with the very best in the world.”
He added that the achievement should inspire greater ambition across Africa’s technology ecosystem, encouraging more founders to build globally competitive products without losing sight of local market needs.
Industry observers have increasingly pointed to wealth technology as one of the next frontiers for African fintech. While much of the continent’s fintech growth has historically centred on payments, companies are now expanding into savings, investments, insurance, and broader wealth management offerings as consumers seek more sophisticated financial tools.
Looking ahead
Piggyvest says its next phase of growth will focus on expanding products that support users throughout their financial journeys.
According to Joshua Chibueze, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer and Co-founder, the platform has evolved significantly over the last decade.
“Over the last decade, we’ve evolved from helping people save money to building a platform that supports wealth creation at every stage of the journey.”
He added that the company intends to continue refining its products based on user feedback while making saving, investing, and wealth management simpler for millions more people.
As competition in digital wealth management intensifies both within Africa and globally, Piggyvest’s third consecutive appearance on CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies list suggests that the company has established itself as one of the continent’s most visible fintech success stories.
For Nigeria’s broader technology ecosystem, the recognition offers another example of a locally founded startup earning global validation, reinforcing the growing perception that African fintech innovation is increasingly shaping conversations beyond the continent.
