The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has opened applications for the second edition of its Startup Awards, offering a total cash prize of $65,000 to high-impact ventures across the region. The 2026 programme aims to identify and accelerate Startups driving digital transformation, regional integration, and sustainable value-chain development in West Africa.
Convened by the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Private Sector and Industry, the initiative is 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 inaugural edition took place in Niamey, Niger, on November 18 and 19, 2021. The upcoming edition is expected to convene 60 startups from ECOWAS member states for a series of masterclasses, startup clinics, pitch competitions, exhibitions, investor deal rooms, policy dialogues, and a post-award acceleration programme.
The top three winners will share the $65,000 purse, with the champion receiving $30,000, the first runner-up $20,000, and the second runner-up $15,000. Beyond cash, selected participants will gain regional exposure across the ECOWAS bloc, direct investor introductions, networking with founders and policymakers, mentorship, and a six-month acceleration programme.
Eligible ventures must operate in one of six priority sectors: education technology and skills development (EdTech), technology-driven financial products and services (Fintech), healthcare delivery innovation (HealthTech), agricultural technology and food systems (AgriTech), clean technology and climate solutions (CleanTech), and tourism, hospitality, and travel technology (TravelTech).
To qualify, applicants must be citizens of an ECOWAS member state leading a startup registered and based within the bloc. The venture must have been operational for at least two years, possess a working product or service, and demonstrate market traction or scalability. Required documentation includes a completed application form, a national passport or ECOWAS-approved identity document for the lead founder, a recent passport photograph, business registration certificate, two years of financial statements or projections, a business plan not exceeding ten pages, a pitch deck of no more than ten slides, and a one-minute pitch video.
Applications are submitted through the official ECOWAS Startup Awards portal, where founders are advised to prepare all materials before beginning the process. The award represents a significant mechanism for channeling resources and visibility toward the region’s most promising innovators, reinforcing ECOWAS’s commitment to fostering a competitive, integrated digital Economy. As the application window progresses, the focus will shift to the evaluation phase and the eventual announcement of the cohort that will shape the next wave of West African entrepreneurship.
