The ECOWAS Commission, in a post on its official X handle on Monday, said the awards were designed to identify, celebrate and support innovative startups while promoting digital entrepreneurship, innovation and economic integration across West Africa.
The second edition follows the inaugural ECOWAS Startup Awards held in Niamey, Niger, in November 2021.
According to the commission, applications for the 2026 edition opened on August 3 and will close on August 31, 2026.
Key Dates
- Application opens: August 3, 2026
- Application closes: August 31, 2026
- Virtual masterclasses: September 21–25, 2026
- Physical event: September 28–30, 2026, in Abuja
- Regional finals: September 30, 2026
The programme will select 60 startups from 12 ECOWAS member states, with eligible businesses drawn from six major sectors:
- EdTech and Skills Development
- FinTech
- HealthTech
- AgriTech and Food Systems
- CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation
- Tourism, Hospitality and TravelTech
$65,000 Prize Money
The top three startups will receive cash prizes as follows:
- Winner — $30,000
- First runner-up — $20,000
- Second runner-up — $15,000
- Total — $65,000
In addition to the cash awards, successful startups will benefit from:
- Regional visibility across ECOWAS member states.
- Access to investors through deal rooms.
- Networking opportunities with founders, policymakers and development partners.
- A six-month post-award acceleration and mentorship programme.
- Digital tools, including computers, accessories and software.
Who Can Apply?
Nigerian startups and applicants from other ECOWAS countries must meet the following conditions:
- Be citizens of an ECOWAS member state, including Nigeria.
- Operate a startup registered and based in an ECOWAS member state.
- Have been in operation for at least two years.
- Have a functional product or service.
- Demonstrate evidence of market traction or scalability.
- Provide all required documentation.
How Nigerians Can Apply
Interested applicants can submit their applications through the official ECOWAS Startup Awards portal
Applicants are required to:
- Create an account using their full name.
- Provide an email address.
- Provide a telephone number, which is optional but recommended.
- Create a password of at least 10 characters.
- Log into the dashboard after registration.
- Start a new application.
- Complete Sections A through J of the application form.
- Save the form as a draft if necessary before final submission.
Documents Required
Applicants are expected to provide:
- National passport or ECOWAS-approved identity document of the lead founder.
- Recent passport photograph.
- Business registration certificate issued in an ECOWAS member state, where applicable.
- Two years of financial statements, management accounts or financial projections.
- Business plan of not more than 10 pages, single-spaced, in Times New Roman, size 12 font.
- Pitch deck of not more than 10 slides.
- One-minute pitch video in MP4, MOV or WebM format, with a maximum file size of 100MB.
How Startups Will Be Selected
The selection process will be conducted in two stages:
- National selection: Each ECOWAS member state will nominate half of its allocated slots, while the remaining slots will be filled through open public applications.
- Regional selection: Finalists will proceed to Abuja, where they will pitch their businesses before an independent jury comprising industry experts, investors and policy stakeholders.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be scored based on the following:
- Problem clarity and solution fit — 20%
- Innovation and originality — 20%
- Team capacity and execution ability — 15%
- Market potential and scalability — 10%
- Business model and financial viability — 10%
- Social and economic impact — 10%
- Alignment with ECOWAS priorities — 10%
- Pitch, online voting and data integrity — 5%
The ECOWAS Startup Awards are expected to give emerging businesses across West Africa greater access to funding, mentorship, investors and regional markets while supporting the commission’s broader agenda of strengthening innovation and digital entrepreneurship.
