Kenyan AI Startup ‘Jasho’ Heads to Africa Finals in Women-in-Tech Challenge

Four young Kenyan innovators are set to fly the national flag high at the Absa Bank Kenya–GirlCode Women-in-Tech Hackathon continental finals after their AI-powered fintech solution emerged top in the national round.

The team, known as Avytria, developed Jasho – Powering Your Hustle, a financial platform designed for gig workers and people living with disabilities. The solution uses AI for smart expense tracking, personalised financial coaching, fraud protection, and includes inclusive accessibility features such as facial recognition and voice navigation.

This year’s event attracted 112 women aged 18–35 under the theme “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity & AI.” The competition runs as part of efforts to narrow the gender gap in tech, promote digital inclusion, and fuel youth-led innovation.

Absa Bank Kenya’s Head of Sustainability, Charles Wokabi, praised participants for tackling real-world financial challenges. The top three finalists will now join an incubation programme by Absa Kenya Foundation and ALX, gaining mentorship, tools, and investor readiness training.

Team Avytria will now face competitors from Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, and Ghana for the $5,500 (KSh 700,000) grand prize. The competition continues to spotlight Africa’s rising generation of female tech leaders.