The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has opened applications for the second edition of its Startup Awards, offering a total prize pool of $65,000 to startups across the region. Nigerian startups are eligible if they have been operating for at least two years and meet the programme requirements. Applications close on August 31, 2026, with regional finals scheduled for September 30 in Abuja.
Programme Details and Timeline
ECOWAS announced the programme on its official X (formerly Twitter) page, stating that the initiative aims to discover, celebrate, and support startups driving innovation and economic growth across West Africa. 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 participate in virtual masterclasses from September 21 to September 25, followed by a physical bootcamp and pitching event in Abuja from September 28 to September 30, where the regional finals will take place.
Eligibility and Target Sectors
The programme is open to startups from all 12 ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria. ECOWAS is seeking businesses operating in six key sectors: EdTech and Skills Development, FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech and Food Systems, CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation, and Tourism, Hospitality and TravelTech.
To qualify, applicants must be citizens of an ECOWAS member country, own a startup registered and operating in an ECOWAS member state, have been in operation for at least two years, have a working product or service, demonstrate traction or scalability, and submit all required documents.
Prizes and Benefits for Winners
The overall prize pool is $65,000, with winners receiving cash rewards. The first runner-up will receive $20,000, and the second runner-up $15,000. Beyond cash prizes, winners will gain exposure to investors, mentors, and policymakers from across West Africa.
Additional benefits include access to investors through dedicated deal rooms, networking opportunities with founders and development partners, a six-month acceleration and mentorship programme, and digital support tools including computers, software, and accessories.
Required Documents and Application Process
Applicants must upload a national passport or another ECOWAS-approved identity document, a recent passport photograph, business registration certificate (where applicable), financial statements or projections covering at least two years, a business plan (maximum 10 pages), a pitch deck (maximum 10 slides), and a one-minute pitch video in MP4, MOV, or WebM format (not exceeding 100MB).
Interested founders should visit the official ECOWAS Startup Awards application portal and create an account using their name, email address, and password. The application form is divided into Sections A to J, and applicants can save their progress as a draft and complete it later before submission.
Selection Criteria and Judging Process
The selection process occurs in two stages. First, each ECOWAS member state nominates part of its representatives, while the remaining slots come from open applications. Finalists then pitch their businesses in Abuja before an independent panel of investors, industry experts, and policy stakeholders.
Applications are judged based on the following criteria: problem being solved and solution fit (20%), innovation and originality (20%), team capacity and ability to execute (15%), market potential and scalability (10%), business model and financial sustainability (10%), social and economic impact (10%), alignment with ECOWAS priorities (10%), and pitch performance, online voting, and data integrity (5%).
With startup funding becoming increasingly difficult to secure across Africa, programmes like this offer founders not just prize money, but also access to investors, mentorship, and regional exposure that could help scale their businesses across West Africa.
