The Economic Community of West African States has opened applications for the second edition of its Startup Awards, with $65,000 in cash prizes available to innovative startups across the region, including Nigeria.
The ECOWAS Commission announced the opening of applications on Monday, saying the initiative is aimed at identifying and supporting innovative businesses while promoting digital entrepreneurship, economic integration and job creation across West Africa.
Applications opened on August 3, 2026, and will close on August 31.
The programme will select 60 startups from the 12 ECOWAS member states across six sectors: EdTech and Skills Development, FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech and Food Systems, CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation, and Tourism, Hospitality and TravelTech.
The selected startups will take part in virtual masterclasses from September 21 to 25, followed by a physical event in Abuja from September 28 to 30.
The programme will culminate in the regional finals on September 30.
The second edition follows the inaugural Startup Awards held in Niamey, Niger, in November 2021.
What winners will get
The first runner-up will receive $20,000, while the second runner-up will receive $15,000.
Beyond the cash prizes, successful startups will gain regional visibility across ECOWAS member states and access to investors through deal rooms.
They will also have opportunities to network with founders, policymakers and development partners, as well as benefit from a six-month post-award acceleration and mentorship programme.
Other benefits include digital tools such as computers, accessories and software.
Who can apply?
Nigerian applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be citizens of an ECOWAS member state, including Nigeria;
- Operate a startup that is registered and based in an ECOWAS member state;
- Have been in operation for at least two years;
- Have a working product or service;
- Demonstrate market traction or scalability; and
- Submit all required documents.
How to apply
Interested applicants can apply through the official ECOWAS Startup Awards portal.
Applicants are required to create an account with their full name, email address, telephone number optional but recommended and a password of at least 10 characters.
After registration, applicants can log into their dashboard and begin a new application. The form contains Sections A to J and can be saved as a draft before final submission.
Applicants are required to submit a national passport or ECOWAS-approved identity document belonging to the lead founder, a recent passport photograph and, where applicable, a business registration certificate issued in an ECOWAS member state.
They must also provide two years of financial statements, management accounts or financial projections, a business plan of not more than 10 pages in single spacing and Times New Roman 12-point font, a pitch deck of not more than 10 slides, and a one-minute pitch video in MP4, MOV or WebM format.
The video must not exceed 100MB.
How startups will be selected
The selection process will be conducted in two stages.
At the national level, each member state will nominate half of its allocated slots, while the remaining slots will be filled through open public applications.
Finalists will proceed to the regional finals in Abuja, where they will pitch their businesses before an independent jury comprising industry experts, investors and policy stakeholders.
Applications will be assessed based on problem clarity and solution fit, which carries 20 per cent; innovation and originality, 20 per cent; team capacity and execution ability, 15 per cent; market potential and scalability, 10 per cent; business model and financial viability, 10 per cent; social and economic impact, 10 per cent; alignment with ECOWAS priorities, 10 per cent; and pitch, online voting and data integrity, five per cent.
The ECOWAS Commission said the awards are designed to help promising startups gain the visibility, investment opportunities and support needed to expand beyond their domestic markets and contribute to the growth of the West African economy.
