ECOWAS Startup Awards 2026: Celebrating West Africa’s Innovation, Entrepreneurial Potential

The ECOWAS Commission has commenced the second edition of the ECOWAS Startup Awards, holding in Abuja from September 28–30, 2026, to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, and the growing potential of startups across West Africa.

Themed “Scaling West African Startups for Digital Transformation, Regional Integration and Sustainable Value Chain Ecosystem Development to Drive Market Access,” the initiative, led by the Commission’s Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, aims to connect promising startups with capital, markets, technology and opportunities to scale across the region.

The 2026 edition attracted 8,679 registrations from 12 ECOWAS Member States, with 1,499 qualified applications. Following an evaluation process supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC), 60 startups emerged as finalists across six sectors: EdTech, FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech and Food Systems, CleanTech and Green Innovation, and Tourism, Hospitality and TravelTech.

The top three startups will receive US$30,000, US$20,000 and US$15,000, respectively, at the Awards ceremony on September 30. The final day will also feature investor deal rooms and a Ministerial HighLevel Dialogue on MSMEs, industrial integration, and trade development.

Ahead of the Awards, the finalists participated in a five-day intensive masterclass covering business validation, market access, regional expansion, investment readiness, fundraising, ESG, and pitching.

Beyond the prize money, all 60 finalists will benefit from a six-month acceleration programme, mentorship, investor access, regional visibility, and post-event support. They will also join the ECOWAS Startup Network and benefit from the ECOWAS Private Sector Development Academy.

In his welcome address, Mr. Dehpue Yenpea Zuo, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, described the Awards as an instrument for regional economic transformation, youth employment, inclusion, industrialisation and regional integration.