TUE JAN 20 2026-theGBJournal| The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Exhibition is set to host the prestigious Startup World Cup Regional Competition in Abuja, marking a major milestone for Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Applications are now officially open for startups to register and participate in this globally renowned competition.
Organised in partnership with Pegasus Tech Ventures, the Startup World Cup is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious startup pitch competitions, bringing together the most promising innovators from across continents.
The Abuja regional competition will identify a top startup, which will advance to the global finals for a chance to compete for $1 million in investment and gain unparalleled international exposure.
A Global Platform for African Innovation
The Startup World Cup Regional Competition at RegTech Africa Conference will provide startups operating across all stages and sectors—including fintech, regtech, payments, AI, cybersecurity, digital identity, e-commerce, healthtech, agritech, and climate tech—with a powerful platform to showcase their solutions before a distinguished audience of investors, regulators, corporate leaders, and global ecosystem partners.
Finalists will be invited to pitch live before a high-level jury comprising venture capitalists, industry leaders, and ecosystem experts, with the winning startup advancing to the global finals for the chance to win the $1 million grand prize.
Why Abuja, Why RegTech Africa Conference
As Africa’s leading platform for regulatory innovation and digital transformation, the RegTech Africa Conference & Exhibition convenes senior policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, startups, and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
Hosting the Startup World Cup within this setting creates a unique convergence of innovation, policy, capital, and market access, enabling startups to engage decision-makers who shape real-world adoption and scale.
Speaking on the announcement, Cyril Okoroigwe, CEO at 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.”
The competition is open to:
-Startups of all stages and industries
-Founders building scalable, technology-driven solutions
-African startups and international startups with a strong Africa focus
Judges will be assessing startups based on several factors, including how innovative and impactful the idea is, the strength of the team, and the overall presentation of the pitch.
The competition seeks startups that solve real problems, meet market needs, and demonstrate the potential for significant growth.
Meanwhile, the Regtech Africa Conference, the premier forum on regulatory services innovation and excellence with focus on Africa, has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 20th 2026 in Abuja
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