$65,000 Up for Grabs as ECOWAS Opens 2026 Startup Awards — Eligibility, Sectors, How to Apply

ABUJA — Startups across West Africa now have an opportunity to compete for a combined $65,000 cash prize as ECOWAS opens applications for the 2026 edition of its Startup Awards.

The competition, which is in its second edition, is aimed at discovering and supporting high-impact startups driving digital transformation, regional integration and sustainable value-chain development across the ECOWAS region.

The ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Private Sector and Industry is convening the programme, which will be hosted in Abuja and jointly implemented by the Pan African Alliance of Small and Medium Industries (PAOSMI) and the Investment Promotion Agencies of West African States (IPAWAS).

The 2026 programme follows the inaugural ECOWAS Startup Awards held in Niamey, Niger, on November 18 and 19, 2021.

Organisers expect 60 startups from ECOWAS Member States to participate in this year’s programme, which will include masterclasses, startup clinics, pitch competitions, exhibitions, investor deal rooms, policy dialogues and post-award acceleration.

Prize money

Three startups will share the $65,000 cash prize.

• First place: $30,000
• First runner-up: $20,000
• Second runner-up: $15,000

The benefits extend beyond the financial awards. Selected startups will receive exposure across the ECOWAS region, introductions to investors, networking opportunities with founders and policymakers, mentorship and a six-month acceleration programme.

Participants will also have access to digital equipment and tools, including computers, accessories and software.

Startups in six sectors can apply

The awards are open to businesses operating in the following sectors:

1. EdTech — education technology and skills development.
2. FinTech — technology-driven financial products and services.
3. HealthTech — technology solutions for healthcare delivery.
4. AgriTech — agricultural technology and food-system solutions.
5. CleanTech — clean technology, climate and green innovation.
6. TravelTech — tourism, hospitality and travel technology.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify, a startup must meet six basic conditions.

The founder must be a citizen of an ECOWAS Member State, while the startup must be registered and based within an ECOWAS country.

The business must also have operated for a minimum of two years, have a working product or service, demonstrate market traction or scalability and submit all required documents.

What applicants need

Before starting the application, founders should have the following documents and materials ready:

• Completed Sections A–J of the application form.
• National passport or ECOWAS-approved identification document for the lead founder, in PDF or image format and below 10MB.
• Recent colour passport photograph below 5MB.
• Business registration certificate, where applicable.
• Two years of financial statements, management accounts or projections.
• Business plan of no more than 10 pages, single-spaced, in Times New Roman, size 12.
• Pitch deck containing no more than 10 slides.
• One-minute pitch video in MP4, MOV or WebM format, with a maximum size of 100MB.

Selection process

The competition will use a two-stage selection process.

At the national level, each ECOWAS Member State will nominate half of its allocated slots. The remaining slots will be filled from applications submitted directly by the public.

As a result, startups do not necessarily need a national nomination to qualify for the awards.

Those selected for the regional finals will pitch before an independent jury in Abuja. Winners will be determined through scoring and consensus, with judges drawn from the industry, investment and policy sectors.

The organisers said all judges will be expected to follow conflict-of-interest and confidentiality rules.

Application deadline and key dates

Applications opened on August 3, 2026, and will close on August 31, 2026.

Key dates include:

• August 3: Application portal opens
• August 31: Application deadline
• September 21–25: Virtual masterclasses and startup clinics from 9:00am
• September 28–30: Physical programme in Abuja, including pitches, exhibitions and investor deal rooms
• September 30: Regional finals and final pitches before the independent jury

How to apply for the ECOWAS Startup Awards

Eligible founders from ECOWAS Member States can apply through the official ECOWAS Startup Awards application portal.

Applicants should ensure that all required documents are available before beginning the application. The form allows applicants to save their progress and continue later.

ECOWAS has also provided detailed guidelines covering eligibility, the application procedure, selection criteria and other requirements for participating startups.

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