The 2026 Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit & Awards (ASEB) is recognising the people, organisations and institutions working behind Africa’s startup growth, with 145 finalists across 29 categories. The initiative is designed to bring greater attention to the work that happens before a startup becomes successful, from providing funding and mentorship to building innovation hubs, improving policy, supporting founders and connecting businesses to new markets.
ASEB was created around the concern that ecosystem builders often do important work without receiving enough recognition or support. According to the organisers, when ecosystem builders leave, the ecosystems they have helped build can lose momentum. Since 2022, ASEB has convened across four host cities and recognised more than 200 ecosystem builders.
The 2026 finalists represent a wide range of African countries and areas of entrepreneurship. Together, they show that building a strong startup ecosystem requires more than founders and investors. It also requires institutions, programmes, researchers, educators, mentors, policymakers and service providers that create the conditions businesses need to grow.
Below are the 29 categories and all 145 finalists.
1. Accelerator Champion of the Year
This category recognises organisations helping operating startups grow through structured, time-bound acceleration programmes.
Accelerate Africa | Nigeria – Recognised for helping early-stage African founders improve execution, access experienced operators, prepare for investment and build scalable businesses.
Ideialab | Mozambique – Runs a structured acceleration pathway that helps operating startups move towards growth, capital and stronger market traction.
Turbine | Mauritius – Supports startups through structured acceleration designed to strengthen businesses and help founders move towards growth, funding and market opportunities.
InnovaLab | Guinea-Bissau – Runs an acceleration pathway focused on helping operating startups develop towards growth, capital and market traction.
AUC Venture Lab | Egypt – Provides structured acceleration that supports startups as they work towards growth, capital and stronger market positions.
2. Angel Investor Champion of the Year
This category recognises individual investors with a demonstrated record of backing and supporting African startups.
Keshni Morar | South Africa – Recognised for backing African founders with early personal capital and providing the guidance that often helps young ventures survive their early stages.
Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes | Nigeria – Supports African founders through early investment and guidance, helping ventures access capital and experience when they need it most.
Mbwana Alliy | Tanzania – Recognised for providing early personal capital and support to African founders.
Laïssa Mouen | Senegal – Supports African startups through early investment and the guidance that comes with backing emerging founders.
Daniel Boateng | Ghana – Recognised for backing African founders with early capital and providing support as their ventures develop.
3. Corporate–Startup & CVC Collaboration Champion of the Year
This category recognises corporate programmes and collaborations that create startup partnerships, pilots, investment opportunities or market access.
Founders Foundation | South Africa – Works with corporate and specialist partners to provide entrepreneurs with financial readiness, market readiness, mentorship and access to funding opportunities.
Flat6Labs Egypt | Egypt – Connects corporate scale with startup opportunities through pilots, procurement, investment and market access.
Safaricom Spark Accelerator | Kenya – Creates opportunities for startups to access corporate partnerships, pilots, procurement, investment and markets.
Orange Fab Africa Morocco | Morocco – Uses corporate networks and opportunities to connect startups with pilots, investment, procurement and market access.
Ecobank Fintech Challenge | Togo – Creates opportunities for fintech startups to work with corporate structures through pilots, investment, procurement and market access.
4. Coworking Space Champion of the Year
This category recognises coworking organisations providing founders with accessible workspaces, infrastructure, community and business support.
YOCILAB Creative Space | Cameroon – Provides founders with accessible space, reliable infrastructure and a working community.
KiandaHUB | Angola – Provides entrepreneurs with workspace, infrastructure and a community where they can develop their ventures.
JoziHub | South Africa – Supports founders through accessible workspace, infrastructure and a community of entrepreneurs.
Innovation Village Workspace | Uganda – Provides founders with a physical environment, infrastructure and community support for building their businesses.
Productivity Improvement Center of Excellence Coworking Space | Ethiopia – Provides founders with workspace, infrastructure and a working community that supports startup activity.
5. Diaspora Ecosystem Bridge Builder Champion of the Year
This category recognises people connecting diaspora capital, skills and markets with African startup ecosystems.
Rachel Mlota | Malawi – Works to connect diaspora capital, capabilities and markets with African startup ecosystems.
Stella Opoku Owusu | Ghana / United Kingdom – Builds connections between diaspora resources and African startup ecosystems, linking capital, skills and markets.
Julie Atenda | Belgium / Congo (DRC) – Connects diaspora capital, capabilities and markets with opportunities within African startup ecosystems.
Fadima Diawara | Spain / Guinea – Works across diaspora networks to connect African ecosystems with capital, expertise and markets.
Lady Mariéme Jamme, Founder & CEO, iamtheCODE | United Kingdom / Senegal – Recognised for connecting diaspora capability, capital and markets with African startup ecosystems.
6. Ecosystem Builder Champion of the Year
This category recognises individuals with sustained, ecosystem-wide contributions and documented outcomes for founders or institutions.
Dr. Robyn Whittaker | South Africa – Recognised for sustained ecosystem work that has strengthened how founders and institutions operate.
Walid Daas | Tunisia – Recognised for long-term ecosystem work that contributes to stronger founders and institutions.
Ndeye-Awa Gueye | Senegal – Works across the ecosystem to strengthen founders and institutions through sustained contribution.
Henriques Francisco Ngolome | Angola – Recognised for sustained ecosystem-building work that strengthens the environment in which founders and institutions operate.
Isaac Kofi Maafo | Ghana – Recognised for ecosystem-wide work supporting stronger founders and institutions.
7. Ecosystem Collaboration Champion of the Year
This category recognises structured partnerships whose combined work achieves outcomes that individual participants could not achieve alone.
Equilibrium | Nigeria – Recognised for building structured collaboration that produces results beyond what a single organisation could deliver.
Bamboo Labs | Ethiopia – Works through structured collaboration to produce stronger ecosystem outcomes.
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator | South Africa – Uses collaboration to deliver outcomes that would be difficult for individual participants to achieve alone.
Catalytic Africa | Pan-African – Builds structured collaboration across the ecosystem to produce shared results.
YESDEC International Partnership Network | Uganda – Uses partnerships and coordinated work to deliver broader ecosystem outcomes.
8. Ecosystem Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion of the Year
This category recognises initiatives removing barriers and expanding fair participation in the startup ecosystem.
Liderança Feminina em Angola | Angola – Works to remove structural barriers and expand fair participation in entrepreneurship.
Alpha Females | Cameroon – Works to widen participation and remove barriers affecting access to the startup ecosystem.
Women in Mining Association of Namibia | Namibia – Recognised for work addressing structural barriers and expanding participation.
nXtABLED Entrepreneurship Centre | South Africa – Works to create broader and fairer participation in the startup ecosystem.
MpaMpe | Uganda – Recognised for efforts to remove barriers and widen access to entrepreneurial opportunities.
9. Ecosystem Funder & Development Partner Champion of the Year
This category recognises development partners and funders providing catalytic resources and long-term ecosystem support.
GIZ-Make It in Africa | Germany – Provides patient and catalytic resources designed to build lasting ecosystem capacity.
Enabel | Belgium – Supports ecosystem development through resources intended to create durable capacity.
European Investment Bank, EIB Global | Luxembourg – Provides resources that support long-term ecosystem development and capacity.
Mastercard Foundation | Canada – Provides catalytic resources aimed at strengthening ecosystem capacity.
UNDP-Timbuktoo | Rwanda – Supports African ecosystems through resources intended to build sustainable capacity.
10. Ecosystem Infrastructure & Coordination Champion of the Year
This category recognises initiatives building shared systems, platforms, data resources and coordination infrastructure used by founders and ecosystem institutions.
Hanga Central | Rwanda – Builds shared systems, platforms and coordination infrastructure used by founders and institutions.
Association of Startup and SMEs Enablers of Kenya | Kenya – Works on shared ecosystem systems and coordination infrastructure that founders and institutions can use.
UpGrowth | Algeria – Builds systems and platforms designed to strengthen coordination within the startup ecosystem.
Tanzania Startup Association | Tanzania – Supports shared ecosystem infrastructure, systems and coordination for startups and institutions.
OSE in Africa | Morocco – Works on shared systems, platforms and coordination infrastructure supporting founders and ecosystem institutions.
11. Ecosystem Internationalisation & Cross-Border Champion of the Year
This category recognises initiatives enabling market entry, ecosystem connections and sustained cross-border opportunities for founders.
Icealex | Egypt – Helps create cross-border market entry and international opportunities for African founders.
EtriLabs | Benin – Supports founders in accessing opportunities beyond their domestic markets.
ENRICH in Africa | South Africa – Creates international ecosystem connections and opportunities for African founders.
Fashionomics Africa | Côte d’Ivoire – Supports cross-border opportunities and market access for African entrepreneurs.
Great Zambezi Initiative | Zimbabwe – Works to open cross-border market opportunities and international connections for African founders.
12. Ecosystem Measurement, Research & Impact Champion of the Year
This category recognises researchers and platforms producing credible ecosystem data, research and evidence used by the wider startup sector.
Techcabal – State of Tech in Africa, SOTIA | Nigeria – Produces ecosystem data and research that helps founders, funders and policymakers understand Africa’s technology sector.
Disrupt Africa Research and African Tech Startups Funding Report | Pan-African – Produces research and funding data on African technology startups.
Startup Tunisia Annual Ecosystem Reports | Tunisia – Provides ecosystem research and reporting that supports better understanding and decision-making.
Partech Africa Tech Venture Capital Report | Senegal – Produces data and analysis on technology venture capital activity across Africa.
Africa: The Big Deal | Kenya – Provides ecosystem and investment data that helps stakeholders understand startup funding activity.
13. Ecosystem Media & Content Creator Champion of the Year
This category recognises media and content platforms consistently informing, documenting and connecting the startup ecosystem.
African Startup News / StartupAfricas | Mozambique – Documents and explains the African startup ecosystem through consistent content and reporting.
Platform Africa | Mauritius – Provides content that documents and explains developments across the African startup ecosystem.
Shega | Ethiopia – Documents the startup ecosystem and helps inform audiences about entrepreneurship and innovation.
Tiakeda | Mali – Creates content documenting and explaining developments within the African startup ecosystem.
Socialnetlink | Senegal – Provides consistent content covering and connecting the African startup ecosystem.
14. Entrepreneur Support Organisation (ESO) Champion of the Year
This category recognises structured organisations providing sustained and accountable support to entrepreneurs.
Africa Agility Foundation | Nigeria – Provides sustained founder support with outcomes that can be demonstrated.
Vanhu Tech | South Africa – Provides ongoing support to entrepreneurs and focuses on measurable founder outcomes.
CJES Togo | Togo – Provides sustained and accountable support to entrepreneurs.
Craving 4 Development | Sierra Leone – Supports entrepreneurs through sustained programmes designed to produce measurable outcomes.
ANJE Angola | Angola – Provides structured and continued support to entrepreneurs and the wider startup ecosystem.
15. Entrepreneurship Education Champion of the Year
This category recognises programmes that move learners beyond theory into ventures, entrepreneurial careers and practical action.
Spark Link Africa | Cameroon – Helps turn entrepreneurship education into practical ventures, careers and action.
Maarifasasa | Uganda – Provides entrepreneurship learning designed to move learners towards practical entrepreneurial activity.
Skill Addis | Ethiopia – Connects entrepreneurship education with practical ventures and career development.
UZURI Fashion Forward Incubator | Mozambique – Combines entrepreneurship learning with practical development in the fashion sector.
The Bees Hive Academy | Botswana – Provides entrepreneurship education aimed at helping learners turn knowledge into practical ventures and careers.
16. Founder Wellbeing Champion of the Year
This category recognises practitioners and programmes providing ethical and structured wellbeing support designed around the pressures founders face.
Onkgopotse Khumalo | South Africa – Provides structured wellbeing support designed around the pressures faced by entrepreneurs.
Tom Osborn | Kenya – Works on founder wellbeing and provides support aimed at helping entrepreneurs manage the pressures of building businesses.
Chime Asonye | Nigeria – Provides ethical, structured wellbeing support for founders.
Edna Reis | Angola – Supports founder wellbeing through structured support designed around the realities of entrepreneurship.
Charity Kiki Kennedy | Botswana – Provides wellbeing support designed to help founders remain healthy and able to continue their entrepreneurial work.
17. Immigrant Ecosystem Builder Champion of the Year
This category recognises individuals doing ecosystem-building work in a host country different from their country of origin.
Aminata Kane Balde | Senegal / Sierra Leone – Builds ecosystem capability in a host country far from where she started, contributing without the advantage of being on home ground.
Derrick S. Vormawor | Ghana / Germany – Builds ecosystem capability in a host country while bringing experience from his country of origin into a different entrepreneurial environment.
Kizito Okechukwu | Nigeria / South Africa – Contributes to ecosystem development in a host country after originating from Nigeria.
Almaz Negash | Eritrea / United States – Builds ecosystem capability in the United States while bringing experience from Eritrea.
Sibomugisha Damascene | Congo (DRC) / Uganda – Works to build ecosystem capability in Uganda after originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
18. Incubator Champion of the Year
This category recognises organisations supporting early-stage ventures through structured incubation, validation and business development.
Hadina RIMTIC Incubator | Mauritania – Supports early-stage entrepreneurs through incubation, business development, mentorship and pathways towards viable enterprises.
The Ignition Hour | Sierra Leone – Guides early-stage ventures through structured incubation, validation and business development.
SING | Gabon – Supports early-stage ventures through incubation, validation and business development.
REINA Incubadora | São Tomé and Príncipe – Provides structured support to early-stage ventures as they validate ideas and develop their businesses.
Propella Business Incubator | South Africa – Supports early-stage ventures through structured incubation, validation and business development.
19. Innovation Hub Champion of the Year
This category recognises operating innovation hubs connecting talent, founders, programmes and ecosystem partners.
Acelera Angola | Angola – Connects talent, founders, programmes and partners while providing a central point for ecosystem activity.
Riversands I-Hub | South Africa – Brings together founders, talent, programmes and partners within an innovation hub environment.
University of Juba UNIPOD | South Sudan – Connects talent, entrepreneurs, programmes and ecosystem partners to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
Muzambiringa SL Limited | Zimbabwe – Provides an ecosystem hub connecting founders, talent, programmes and partners.
Innov8 Hub | Nigeria – Connects founders, talent, programmes and partners to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
20. Policy & Government Startup Initiative Champion of the Year
This category recognises public policies, projects and government programmes that improve conditions and support for startups.
POTRAZ ICT Innovation Drive and National Innovation Acceleration Centre | Zimbabwe – Recognised for government action and programmes aimed at improving conditions for startups and supporting innovation.
ScaleUp Namibia | Namibia – Provides government-related support aimed at improving the conditions in which startups can grow.
Digital.ao | Angola – Recognised for public-sector action aimed at improving the environment and support available to startups.
Entrepreneurship Hub and Seed Financing Facility | Lesotho – Combines entrepreneurship support with seed financing to improve opportunities for emerging businesses.
Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem Programme (SKIES) | Kenya – Works to strengthen Kenya’s innovation ecosystem through public-sector action and support for startups.
21. Startup Coach Champion of the Year
This category recognises individuals with defined coaching methods, accountability practices and evidence of founder progress.
Keitumetse Diseko | South Africa – Coaches founders through a defined approach focused on accountability and measurable progress.
Josué Vangu | Congo (DRC) – Provides structured coaching and accountability to help founders improve how they run their businesses.
Nate Razanadambo | Madagascar – Works with founders through structured coaching aimed at improving their businesses and progress.
Fakih Abdallah | Comoros – Provides founders with coaching based on defined methods, accountability and progress.
Nadine Zoro | Côte d’Ivoire – Coaches entrepreneurs through a structured approach designed to produce measurable founder development.
22. Startup Ecosystem Event Champion of the Year
This category recognises events and event series that create meaningful ecosystem connections, opportunities and follow-through.
Africa Business Heroes | Rwanda – Brings entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders together while creating opportunities that extend beyond the event itself.
Tanzania Innovation Week | Tanzania – Creates a platform for ecosystem connections, innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Africa Startup Congress | Algeria – Convenes startup ecosystem stakeholders and creates opportunities for connection and collaboration.
Africa Tech Festival | South Africa – Brings together technology and startup stakeholders to create connections and opportunities across the ecosystem.
USET Innovation Week | The Gambia – Creates opportunities for ecosystem connection, innovation and follow-through for entrepreneurs and stakeholders.
23. Startup Financing & Angel Network Champion of the Year
This category recognises funds, networks and financing initiatives mobilising appropriate capital and founder support.
ViKtoria Business Angels Network | Kenya – Mobilises investment and founder support for African ventures.
Lagos Angel Network (LAN) | Nigeria – Connects startups with angel investment and support suited to their growth needs.
National Youth Development Fund | Namibia – Provides financing support aimed at helping young entrepreneurs access capital.
eSquared Investments | South Africa – Mobilises investment and founder support for African ventures.
265 Business Angels | Malawi – Provides angel investment and support to startups and entrepreneurs.
24. Startup Investment Readiness Champion of the Year
This category recognises people and programmes preparing ventures to meet investors, strengthen governance and raise suitable capital.
BongoHive Technology and Innovation Hub | Zambia – Helps ventures prepare for investors, strengthen governance and raise appropriate capital.
Leancubator | Algeria – Supports startups in becoming more prepared for investment and improving their business fundamentals.
FirstFounders | Nigeria – Helps ventures prepare for investment, strengthen their operations and approach investors.
Savant Capital | South Africa – Works with ventures on investment readiness, governance and preparation for raising capital.
WYLDE International Investment Readiness Programme | Kenya – Helps Kenyan enterprises strengthen their business fundamentals, develop fundable growth strategies and prepare for responsible engagement with investors and other growth-capital providers.
25. Startup Mentor Champion of the Year
This category recognises individuals providing sustained, ethical mentorship with credible founder feedback and outcomes.
Fábio Domingos Francisco | Angola – Provides founders with sustained and honest mentorship focused on long-term development.
Latoya Adriano Martins | Mozambique – Mentors founders over time, helping shape how they approach entrepreneurship and business decisions.
Rita Ngenzi | Uganda – Provides sustained mentorship and guidance to entrepreneurs.
Imke Dannhauser | South Africa – Supports founders through long-term mentorship and practical guidance.
Nelson Madiba Amo | Ghana – Provides sustained mentorship that helps founders develop their thinking and approach to building businesses.
26. Startup Service Provider Champion of the Year
This category recognises professional and service organisations solving important legal, financial, talent, technology and operational needs for startups.
Legafrik | Côte d’Ivoire – Provides services that help startups address legal, financial and other business needs.
Youth@Work | South Africa – Provides support aimed at helping startups and young businesses address important operational needs.
JENBA Business Impulse Partners | Burkina Faso – Provides professional support to help startups overcome business and operational challenges.
YeleenMa Consulting | Mali – Provides consulting support addressing the business needs that can slow down startup growth.
Dixon Warren & Associates | Botswana – Provides professional services that help startups address material business and operational challenges.
27. Technology Transfer & Commercialisation Champion of the Year
This category recognises offices and initiatives moving research and intellectual property into licensing, products, spinouts and operating ventures.
R2C by Kenya Innovation Agency | Kenya – Works to move research and intellectual property into licensing, products, spinouts and operating ventures.
University of South Africa, DTTC | South Africa – Supports the transfer of university research and intellectual property into commercial opportunities.
BIUST Directorate of Technology Transfer | Botswana – Works to move research and intellectual property towards commercialisation and operating ventures.
Mbarara University Centre for Innovations and Technology Transfer | Uganda – Helps move university research and intellectual property into products, licensing and ventures.
NUST Innovation Hub (NUST-i) | Namibia – Supports the commercialisation of research and intellectual property through products, licensing and ventures.
28. University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Champion of the Year
This category recognises higher education institutions and centres translating learning, research and talent into ventures and wider ecosystem value.
UM6P Entrepreneurship and Venturing Ecosystem | Morocco – Connects university teaching, research and student talent with entrepreneurship and venture creation.
University of Lagos NITHUB | Nigeria – Helps translate university talent, learning and innovation into entrepreneurial ventures.
Africa University i5Hub | Zimbabwe – Connects university talent and learning with innovation and entrepreneurship.
Innovus Technology Transfer Office, Stellenbosch University | South Africa – Supports the movement of university research, talent and innovation into ventures and wider ecosystem opportunities.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa Innovation Hub | Rwanda – Connects university education, research and talent with entrepreneurship and ecosystem development.
29. Youth Ecosystem Builder Champion of the Year
This category recognises young individuals with sustained and documented results in building startup ecosystems.
Tuyamba Akwaake | Namibia – Recognised for building ecosystem capability early in their career and producing sustained outcomes.
O’Maxwell Gad | Kenya – Has contributed to ecosystem development early in their career, with documented and sustained outcomes.
Adebayo Pelumi Toyin | Nigeria – Recognised for building ecosystem capability and contributing to entrepreneurship at an early stage of their career.
Moreno dos Santos Ginga | Angola – Has taken on ecosystem-building work early in their career and contributed to sustained ecosystem development.
Ntyam Princia Minko | Cameroon – Recognised for building ecosystem capability early in their career and producing sustained outcomes.
The breadth of the 2026 ASEB finalists demonstrates why ecosystem building matters to the future of African entrepreneurship. Startup growth does not depend only on the founders who create businesses. It also depends on the people creating access to capital, knowledge, infrastructure, mentorship, markets, research, policy support and professional services.
By putting these contributors forward, ASEB is shifting attention towards the wider systems that allow entrepreneurs to build and grow. The 145 finalists represent different roles and countries, but their work connects around one larger objective: creating stronger conditions for African startups to succeed.
