The Economic Community of West African States has opened applications for the second edition of its Startup Awards, offering a total of $65,000 in cash prizes to innovative startups across the region, including Nigeria.
The ECOWAS Commission announced the opening of applications on its official X handle on Monday, August 10, 2026, saying the programme was designed to identify, celebrate and support innovative startups while promoting digital entrepreneurship, innovation and economic integration in West Africa.
Applications opened on Monday, August 3, 2026, and will close on Monday, August 31, 2026.
The second edition follows the inaugural Startup Awards held in Niamey, Niger, in November 2021.
Selected startups will participate in virtual masterclasses from September 21 to 25, 2026, followed by a physical event in Abuja from September 28 to 30. The programme will culminate in the regional finals on September 30, 2026.
The initiative targets 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.
Prizes And Benefits
The overall prize purse is $65,000, with the winner receiving $30,000, while the first and second runners-up will receive $20,000 and $15,000 respectively.
Beyond the cash prizes, selected startups will benefit from regional visibility across ECOWAS member states, access to investors through deal rooms, networking opportunities with founders, policymakers and development partners, and a six-month post-award acceleration and mentorship programme.
Participants will also have access to digital tools, including computers, accessories and software.
Eligibility For Nigerian Applicants
To qualify, applicants must:
• 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 functional product or service;
• Demonstrate market traction or scalability; and
• Submit all required documents.
How To Apply
Interested Nigerian applicants can access the official application portal at the ECOWAS Startup Awards website.
Applicants are required to create an account using their full name, email address, telephone number, which is optional but recommended, and a password of at least 10 characters.
After registration, applicants can log in to their dashboard and begin a new application. The application form covers Sections A through J and can be saved as a draft before final submission.
Applicants are required to provide the following documents:
• 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 and written in Times New Roman, size 12;
• Pitch deck of not more than 10 slides; and
• One-minute pitch video in MP4, MOV or WebM format, with a maximum file size of 100MB.
Selection Process
The selection process will be conducted in two phases.
During the national selection phase, each ECOWAS member state will nominate half of its allocated slots, while the remaining slots will be filled through open public applications.
The finalists will then 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.
Nigerian startups that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to submit their applications before the August 31, 2026 deadline.
