#StartupSouth has announced the official opening of nominations for the 2024 Startup Awards. The Startup Awards by #StartupSouth is an annual celebration of individuals, startups, and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment and deepening innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria, particularly in frontier cities.

Now in its 9th edition, the #StartupSouth Conference continues to be a premier platform fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, and the Startup Awards is a key highlight of the event. The awards recognize and honour the relentless efforts of those who have significantly contributed to the growth and development of the startup ecosystem.

Call for Nominations:

Nominations are now open across more than 20 categories, inviting the public to nominate deserving individuals, startups, and organizations that have made a remarkable impact in the last 12 to 36 months. Categories range from “Startup of the Year” to “New Media Platform of the Year,” “Innocent Chukwuma Award for Innovation,” and for the first time, we are introducing the Most Innovative Public Leader category, to spotlight public leaders who have shown commitment and made significant progress in the deployment of innovation and digital tools in their operations.

How to Nominate:

To submit a nomination, visit bit.ly/ss9-an or  and follow the guidelines for each category. The nomination window will remain open until August 30, 2024. Following this, a jury will carefully review the nominations, followed by voting (in some categories) and winners will be announced during the Award Ceremony at #StartupSouth9 Conference on October 3, 2024.

Award Criteria:

Nominees will be assessed based on their regional impact, venture backing, national spread, and the results of a public vote. The scoring rubrics include:

• Public Vote: 20%
• National Spread (Impact/Relevance): 20%
• Venture Backing (For Startups): 20%
• Regional Impact: 20%
• Jury Decision: 20%

This year, we aim to shine an even brighter spotlight on those who are not only driving innovation but also making a lasting impact on communities, economies, and the future of technology in Nigeria.

Awards Ceremony:

The winners will be announced at the Startup Awards Gala, which will take place during the #StartupSouth9 Conference on October 4, 2024. This year’s conference, themed “Deep & Broad: Extending Frontiers of Technology and Economic Development,” will be held in Port Harcourt, bringing together founders, innovators, investors, and key stakeholders from across the nation.

About #StartupSouth:

#StartupSouth is a startup ecosystem development and advocacy organization that inspires a new generation of founders to build high-scale innovation-driven ventures in Nigeria, particularly in the South-South and South-East regions. Since its inception in 2015, #StartupSouth has been at the forefront of regional technology and startup trends, providing a platform for education, networking, and collaboration. Please visit www.startupsouth.org to learn more.