Two Nigerian digital platforms, 1app and Boldd, were among the exhibitors at the African Startup Festival (ASF) 2025 in Lagos, offering insight into the conversations and trends shaping the continent’s technology ecosystem.

ASF 2025 brought together founders, operators, investors, policy contributors, and ecosystem leaders for four days of exhibitions, discussions, and workshops. For 1app a digital finance and payment platform enabling everyday transactions, cross-border transfers, crypto swap and virtual dollar card services and Boldd, a business-focused financial platform providing companies with a business account, operational tools, access to capital, and API integrations, the event provided a direct view of the evolving needs and realities of Africa’s digital economy.

Representatives from both teams observed that this year’s festival leaned more toward practical, execution-driven discussions rather than early-stage pitching. Many attendees who visited the 1app and Boldd booth focused on operational challenges, user behavior, compliance considerations, and sustainable growth models for African markets.

A noticeable shift at the festival was the strong involvement of young builders, including students, developers, and early-stage founders who actively participated in sessions and engaged exhibitors with technical and ecosystem-related questions.

Despite operating in different segments of digital finance, 1app and Boldd attracted interest from founders across diverse sectors such as logistics, education, legal, creative technology, and commerce. According to the teams, the interactions highlighted shared concerns around scale, infrastructure, and user trust, regardless of industry.

In addition to the formal program, informal exchanges around the venue played an important role in shaping the experience. Team members from both platforms noted that spontaneous conversations and peer learning offered valuable perspective on the broader state of innovation across the continent.

As ASF 2025 concluded, 1app and Boldd described their participation as an opportunity to reconnect with the wider ecosystem and to observe emerging directions in African technology. The festival underscored continued interest in collaboration, resilience, and long-term product development as central themes for the region’s startup community.