ECOWAS Startup Awards 2026: three Senegalese startups selected

Three startups have been selected to represent Senegal at the 2nd edition of the ECOWAS Startup Awards, scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria, from September 28 to 30, 2026. They are Gaynako, Diabong-Corp and Kaaraange Kids.

They were designated following a presentation exercise composed of several key players in the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem which brought together 20 pre-selected startups.

At the end of the National Pitch organized by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, through the Evaluation, Support and Coordination Commission (CEAC), three startups were selected to represent Senegal at the 2nd edition of the ECOWAS Startup Awards, scheduled for Abuja, Nigeria, from September 28 to 30, 2026.

“Bringing together 20 pre-selected startups, the National Pitch gave rise to a presentation exercise in front of a jury made up of several key players in the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem, including Abdou Mbacké Lo, Head of Innovation and Startup Support at Adepme, as a member of the jury,” indicates the Agency for the Development and Supervision of Small and Medium Enterprises (Adepme).

Also read: Business competitiveness: Adepme and the SME Directorate strengthen their synergies

Thus, at the end of this selection, Gaynako, a digital marketing consulting company; Diabong-Corp, specialized in numerically controlled machining; and Kaaraange Kids, a digital solution that allows children to alert their parents in the event of danger and allows parents to always be aware of their location, their state of physical and mental health; will wear the colors of Senegal during this next edition.

Their selection highlights, according to the Senegalese Agency in charge of supervising SMEs, the diversity of solutions developed by national startups and their ability to position themselves in areas of competition and visibility on a regional scale.

Mariama DIEME