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Sierra Leonean startups have been invited to apply for the 2026 ECOWAS Startup Awards, with US$65,000 in cash prizes available to innovative businesses across the West African region.
The second edition of the ECOWAS Startup Awards opened applications on August 3, 2026, and will accept submissions until August 31, giving entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone and other participating ECOWAS Member States an opportunity to compete for regional recognition, funding and business development support.
The initiative, organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is designed to identify, celebrate and support innovative startups while promoting digital entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and economic integration across West Africa.
The 2026 edition targets 60 startups from 12 ECOWAS Member States and covers six sectors considered critical to the region’s economic transformation: EdTech and Skills Development, FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech and Food Systems, CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation, and Tourism, Hospitality and TravelTech.
For Sierra Leone, the programme presents an opportunity for locally developed businesses using technology and innovation to address challenges in areas such as agriculture, education, healthcare, financial services, climate resilience and tourism to gain exposure beyond the domestic market.
The awards offer a total of US$65,000 in cash prizes, with US$30,000 going to the winner, US$20,000 to the first runner-up and US$15,000 to the second runner-up.
Beyond the cash awards, successful startups are expected to benefit from increased visibility across the ECOWAS region, access to potential investors through deal rooms, networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, policymakers and development partners, as well as a six-month post-award acceleration and mentorship programme. Additional digital tools, including computers, accessories and software, are also among the benefits attached to the programme.
The selection process will be conducted in two stages. During the national selection phase, each participating Member State will nominate part of its allocated startups, while the remaining places will be filled through open applications.
Startups that advance from the national stage will proceed to the regional competition, where finalists will pitch their businesses before an independent jury comprising industry experts, investors and policy stakeholders.
The competition will assess applicants on the clarity of the problem they are addressing and the suitability of their solution, innovation and originality, team capacity, market potential, scalability, business model, financial viability, social and economic impact, alignment with ECOWAS priorities, and the quality and integrity of their pitch and application.
Selected startups are scheduled to participate in virtual masterclasses from September 21 to 25, 2026, before travelling to Abuja, Nigeria, for the physical programme from September 28 to 30. The regional finals are expected to take place on September 30.
The awards come at a time when ECOWAS and its development partners are placing greater emphasis on strengthening entrepreneurship, innovation and the competitiveness of businesses across West Africa.
In May 2026, ECOWAS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and development partners, held a regional programme in Freetown aimed at improving the export readiness and competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Sierra Leone and other West African countries. (ecowas.int)
Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs interested in the Startup Awards can submit their applications through the official ECOWAS Startup Awards application platform before the August 31 deadline.
The programme therefore offers local startups not only the prospect of winning a share of the US$65,000 prize fund, but also an opportunity to position Sierra Leonean innovation within the wider West African technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Interested Sierra Leoneans are encouraged to visit the official application portal at ecowasstartupawards.ipawas.org/ to create an account by providing full name, email address, telephone number (optional but recommended) and a password of at least 10 characters.
Once registered, applicants can log in to the dashboard and start a new application. The form covers Sections A through J and can be saved as a draft at any point.
