The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the second edition of its regional Startup Awards, offering up to $65,000 in prizes for innovative startups across West Africa. Nigerian startups are eligible to apply, with a deadline of August 31, 2026.
ECOWAS Startup Awards Open for Applications
The ECOWAS Startup Awards are a regional competition designed to discover, celebrate, and support startups driving innovation and economic growth across West Africa. The programme is open to startups from the 12 ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria. Eligible founders are to submit applications across six sectors: FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, EdTech, CleanTech, and Tourism.
The competition follows the maiden edition held in Niamey, Niger, in November 2021. Applications opened on August 3, 2026, and interested founders have until August 31, 2026, to submit their entries. Successful applicants will go through virtual masterclasses from September 21 to September 25, before attending a physical bootcamp and pitching event in Abuja between September 28 and September 30, where the regional finals will take place.
Eligibility and Application Process
To be eligible, startups must have been in operation for at least two years and show evidence that the business has traction or can scale. Applicants must upload the following: a national passport or another ECOWAS-approved identity document, a business registration certificate (where applicable), financial statements, management accounts or financial projections covering at least two years, and a one-minute pitch video in MP4, MOV, or WebM format.
The selection process will happen in two stages. First, each ECOWAS member state will nominate part of its representatives, while the remaining slots will come from open applications. Finalists will then pitch their businesses in Abuja before an independent panel made up of investors, industry experts, and policy stakeholders.
Judging Criteria and Prizes
Applications will be judged using the following criteria: problem being solved and solution fit (20%), team capacity and ability to execute (15%), business model and financial sustainability (10%), pitch performance, online voting, and data integrity (5%). The overall prize pool is $65,000, with winners receiving cash rewards, while runners-up will also take home significant prizes, including $20,000 for the first runner-up and $15,000 for the second runner-up.
What It Means for Nigerian Startups
The ECOWAS Startup Awards offer Nigerian startup founders a chance to win a share of $65,000 in prize money, as well as access to investors, mentorship, and regional exposure that could help take their businesses to the next level. With startup funding becoming increasingly difficult to secure across Africa, programmes like this offer founders not just prize money, but also a chance to scale their businesses and make a meaningful impact in their respective industries.
Source: Pulse.ng
