Talktu, a Nigerian edtech startup focused on empowering children with speech and language difficulties, emerged as the grand winner of the 2025 Pitch2Win competition, clinching a $10,000 top prize. Held on July 30 in Lagos, the fifth edition of Pitch2Win brought together ambitious early-stage founders to showcase cutting-edge solutions to Nigeria’s pressing challenges. Talktu’s victory highlighted both its social impact and scalability, solidifying its place as a standout in the nation’s vibrant startup landscape.
Pitch2Win: A Launchpad for Transformative Startups
Organised by TechCircle, Pitch2Win has become a cornerstone for tech innovation in Nigeria, offering selected startups a rare platform to engage with investors, mentors, and potential partners. The competition has a proven track record, having helped previous participants such as Reliance Health, Curacel, and Edves secure over $50 million in cumulative funding. This year’s edition further expanded its global reach, attracting interest from international delegates, including a Japanese contingent, underscoring its growing international relevance.
Talktu’s Mission: Giving Every Child a Voice
Talktu was founded by CEO Sarah Andino, along with Ibraheem Salako and Victoria Aigbekean, with the vision of creating an inclusive space where children can strengthen their communication abilities through personalized and engaging activities. The platform addresses a critical need for accessible speech and language development tools, especially for children with special needs. Speaking at the award ceremony, Andino shared, “This victory fuels our passion to transform lives… We aim to give every child a voice and a chance to thrive.”
A Competitive Field of Promising Solutions
This year’s finalists reflected the strength and diversity of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, tackling issues ranging from education and e-commerce to customer engagement and data management. Talktu outshone 12 other promising startups, including Case Radar, Eventpadi, Impulse CRM, Iyewo, and Wetrocloud, standing out for its clarity of mission and potential for scalable impact. The judges, which included past Pitch2Win participants like Regxta’s founder, praised Talktu’s holistic approach and deep-rooted commitment to social change.
Lumi by HiPrep Earns Accolades for Edtech Innovation
Another notable highlight from the competition was Lumi by HiPrep, an AI-powered personal tutor designed to revolutionize K-12 learning. Lumi received both the Japan IVS Delegates’ Choice Award ($3,000) and the Audience Choice Award ($1,000), recognising its ability to resonate with both international experts and local attendees. The platform simulates a “smart study buddy,” adapting to students’ comprehension levels to enhance engagement, comprehension, and retention across a wide range of core subjects.
Lumi's Approach to Next-Generation Learning
Currently being piloted among HiPrep students, Lumi delivers bite-sized, tutor-led sessions tailored to individual learning needs and styles. It covers key academic areas like Mathematics, Sciences, English, Coding, and more, encouraging critical thinking and creativity through interactive questioning techniques. With plans to scale through school partnerships, Lumi is poised to make a significant impact on education in Nigeria and beyond.
Entrepreneurial Insights from Industry Leaders
Adding depth to the day’s events, Ridwan Olalere, CEO of Lemfi and a keynote speaker, shared practical guidance rooted in personal experience. He encouraged founders to “save before you start a company” and emphasized learning through the startup journey, acknowledging the inevitable uncertainties that entrepreneurs face. His candid advice struck a chord with attendees, many of whom are at the early stages of building impactful ventures.
The Road Ahead for Talktu
For Talktu, the win marks not just a financial boost but also a gateway to invaluable mentorship and investment opportunities. The team intends to enhance its platform with more advanced features to address a broader spectrum of speech and communication challenges. Their next steps include scaling access through school partnerships and integrating adaptive learning tools to deepen personalisation.
Talktu’s success at Pitch2Win 2025 is a powerful testament to the potential of mission-driven innovation in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. By addressing a deeply human challenge with thoughtful technology, the team has captured the hearts of judges, mentors, and the wider audience. As the platform prepares for its next chapter, it carries forward the promise of giving every child not just a voice—but a future.