{
  "id": 1533596,
  "title": "ECOWAS picks 60 startups from 6,000 for regional awards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ecowas-picks-60-startups-from-6-000-for-regional-awards",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-17T18:22:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/ecowas-picks-60-startups-from-6000-for-regional-awards/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the selection of 60 startups from over 6,000 applications for the second edition of the ECOWAS Startups Award. The selected startups will undergo a five-day masterclass, with 20 finalists competing for the top three positions at the award ceremony. The winners will receive seed capital ranging from $30,000 to $15,000, and the program aims to provide training in business management, capacity building, and other areas to help them transition into the growth stage. The award focuses on various sectors, including FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, EdTech, CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation, and Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel Tech. The ECOWAS Commission hopes to promote digital entrepreneurship, regional integration, job creation, and sustainable value-chain development through the program.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "ECOWAS picks 60 startups from 6,000 for regional awards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ecowas-picks-60-startups-from-6-000-for-regional-awards-1533861",
        "published": "2026-08-17T18:24:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}