ECOWAS Launches $65,000 Startup Awards for Entrepreneurs

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched the second edition of its Startup Awards, offering a total prize pool of $65,000. The competition is scheduled for September 28, 2026, five years after the inaugural event in Niamey, Niger Republic, in 2021.

The winner will receive $30,000, while the first and second runners-up will be awarded $20,000 and $15,000, respectively. Peter Oluonye, the Acting Director of the Directorate of Private Sector and Industry at ECOWAS, announced that over 6,000 applications were received since the application portal opened on August 3.

The selected 60 participants will undergo a masterclass to enhance their entrepreneurial skills before narrowing down to 20 finalists. The initiative aims to identify scalable businesses addressing economic and social challenges in West Africa and promote inclusion among young people, women, and persons with disabilities.

ECOWAS also seeks to connect startups with investors and facilitate digital adoption among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.