Grace Ashiru
The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Exhibition will host the prestigious Startup World Cup Regional Competition in Abuja, marking a significant milestone for Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Applications are now officially open for startups interested in registering and participating in this globally recognized competition.
Organised in partnership with Pegasus Tech Ventures, the Startup World Cup is one of the world’s largest and most respected startup pitch competitions, uniting high-potential innovators from across the globe. The Abuja regional competition will select a leading startup to advance to the global finals, where finalists will compete for a $1 million investment prize and gain exceptional international exposure.
A Global Platform for African Innovation
The Startup World Cup Regional Competition, hosted during the RegTech Africa Conference, will offer startups at all stages and across diverse sectors—including fintech, regtech, payments, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital identity, e-commerce, healthtech, agritech, and climate tech—a powerful platform to present their solutions to a distinguished audience of investors, regulators, corporate executives, and global ecosystem partners.
Shortlisted finalists will pitch live before a high-level jury made up of venture capitalists, industry leaders, and ecosystem experts. The winning startup will progress to the global finals for the opportunity to compete for the $1 million grand prize.
Why Abuja, Why RegTech Africa Conference
As Africa’s leading forum for regulatory innovation and digital transformation, the RegTech Africa Conference & Exhibition brings together senior policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, startups, and development partners from across Africa and beyond. Hosting the Startup World Cup within this environment creates a unique intersection of innovation, policy, capital, and market access, enabling startups to engage directly with decision-makers who influence adoption and scale.
Commenting on the announcement, Cyril Okoroigwe, CEO of RegTech Africa, said:
“Hosting the Startup World Cup Regional Competition in Abuja underscores our commitment to positioning Africa as a global innovation powerhouse. This is more than a pitch competition—it is a gateway for African startups to access global capital, partnerships, and visibility.”
Who Should Apply
The competition is open to:
- Startups at all stages and across all industries
- Founders developing scalable, technology-driven solutions
- African startups and international startups with a strong focus on Africa
Evaluation Criteria
Judges will evaluate startups based on several criteria, including the level of innovation and impact of the idea, team strength, and the overall quality of the pitch presentation. The competition seeks startups that address real-world problems, respond to market needs, and demonstrate strong potential for scalable growth.
Startups are encouraged not to miss this opportunity to elevate their ventures and represent Africa on the global stage.
How to Apply
Applications for the Startup World Cup – Abuja Regional Competition are now open. Interested startups are encouraged to apply early via:
https://regtechafricaconference.com/startup-worldcup/
For partnership and sponsorship opportunities, contact: [email protected].
Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of RegTech Africa.
About Startup World Cup
Startup World Cup is a global startup competition organised by Pegasus Tech Ventures, featuring regional events in more than 70 countries and culminating in a grand finale where regional winners compete for a $1 million investment prize.
About RegTech Africa
RegTech Africa is a leading platform focused on advancing regulatory technology across the African continent.
