Northern Africa Startup Awards: Uniting the Future-Shapers of Tech Ecosystems

The Northern Africa Startup Awards is a regional extension of the renowned Global Startup Awards

In an era where innovation fuels progress, startups have become the heartbeat of economic transformation across Africa.

From the bustling corridors of Cairo’s tech hubs to Casablanca’s rising fintech sector and Tunis’s thriving entrepreneurial networks, Northern Africa is emerging as a formidable player in the global startup scene.

At the core of this dynamic evolution is the Northern Africa Startup Awards — a prestigious platform that recognizes, celebrates, and connects the most promising changemakers shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship in the region.

By honoring ingenuity, resilience, and impact, the Northern Africa Startup Awards elevates the continent’s narrative from one of potential to one of global influence.

It is not just an event — it’s a movement that unites innovators, investors, policymakers, and communities around the shared vision of a prosperous, tech-enabled Africa.

What Are the Northern Africa Startup Awards?

The Northern Africa Startup Awards is a regional extension of the renowned Global Startup Awards, created to spotlight and celebrate the best startups, founders, ecosystem builders, and changemakers in countries across Northern Africa.

Covering Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and Sudan, the awards aim to foster collaboration, highlight regional talent, and provide a global stage for startups innovating in tech, sustainability, healthcare, education, fintech, agriculture, and more.

With a mission rooted in inclusion and empowerment, the Northern Africa Startup Awards go beyond trophies and titles.

They serve as an essential bridge—connecting local innovators with regional accelerators, global investors, mentorship opportunities, and high-impact networks that can scale ideas into transformative solutions.

Why the Northern Africa Startup Awards Matter

Startups in Northern Africa are tackling deeply rooted social and economic issues — from digitizing healthcare access in remote areas to creating smart agriculture systems that mitigate climate change.

Yet, these bold ventures often lack the visibility, recognition, and resources to thrive on the global stage.

The Northern Africa Startup Awards fills that critical gap by:

Elevating visibility for startups in underrepresented markets.
Validating innovative business models with global and regional recognition.
Encouraging cross-border collaboration within North Africa’s fragmented tech landscape.
Attracting funding and partnerships through spotlight-driven exposure.
Creating a community where entrepreneurs, ecosystem enablers, and policymakers interact meaningfully.

For early-stage ventures, being shortlisted or winning can catalyze fundraising, customer growth, and expansion.

For ecosystem builders and policymakers, the awards act as a dashboard—highlighting what’s working and what needs support.

Award Categories

The Northern Africa Startup Awards features a wide range of categories designed to reflect the diversity and depth of the startup ecosystem.

Each award category serves to recognize different pillars of innovation:

1. Startup of the Year

This premier award goes to the startup that demonstrates exceptional growth, scalability, innovation, and positive impact in its field. The winner sets a benchmark for others in the ecosystem.

2. Founder of the Year

Recognizing a visionary entrepreneur who has shown leadership, resilience, and ingenuity in building a game-changing startup in Northern Africa.

3. Best Newcomer

This award celebrates startups less than two years old that show tremendous potential, creativity, and traction.

4. Best Co-working Space

Honoring spaces that serve as community anchors, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and growth among local startups.

5. Best Accelerator/Incubator Program

Celebrates organizations helping startups scale through structured programs, investment, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.

6. Best HealthTech Startup

Awarded to a startup using technology to revolutionize healthcare delivery, access, or diagnostics across Northern Africa.

7. Best AgriTech Startup

Recognizing a company using innovation to tackle challenges in food security, supply chains, or sustainable farming.

8. Best EdTech Startup

Honoring those disrupting education with scalable, accessible, and inclusive digital tools.

9. Best GreenTech Startup

Focused on startups building eco-friendly, sustainable technologies that reduce environmental impact.

10. Best Fintech Startup

Awarded to companies redefining banking, payments, credit, or financial literacy through cutting-edge tech.

11. Ecosystem Hero of the Year

An individual or organization whose advocacy, mentorship, or community-building efforts have elevated the Northern Africa tech scene.

12. Investor of the Year

Recognizes a venture capitalist, angel investor, or fund that has played a key role in growing impactful startups in the region.

Selection Process: Transparent, Merit-Based, and Inclusive

The integrity of the Northern Africa Startup Awards lies in its multi-stage selection process, which ensures fairness and excellence:

Nominations Open to the Public
Startups, founders, and ecosystem actors can nominate themselves or others.
Shortlisting by Regional Experts
A team of regional judges — including investors, entrepreneurs, and tech leaders — evaluates entries based on innovation, scalability, sustainability, and impact.
Public Voting Phase
For some categories, community votes help amplify support for shortlisted nominees.
Jury Deliberation
A final panel selects winners based on defined metrics and performance indicators.

This hybrid model ensures the awards remain both community-driven and globally credible.

2024 Northern Africa Startup Awards Highlights

The 2024 edition of the Northern Africa Startup Awards, held in Tunis, Tunisia, was a vibrant showcase of talent and transformation.

The event gathered over 500 stakeholders, including founders, investors, accelerators, and policymakers from across the region.

1. Dominance of Egyptian Innovation

Egypt led the region with 11 out of 14 awards, signaling its exceptional maturity and depth in the startup ecosystem.

Top Honors

Startup of the Year – Jadeed Climate Tech (Egypt)
Recognized for pioneering climate-tech solutions aimed at reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, and also received the Best Mobility & Logistics award.
Best Newcomer – Neqabty (Egypt)
A standout new entrant digitizing services and payments for professional associations and labor unions.
Founder of the Year – Tamsir Ousmane Traore (Morocco)
Honored for founding Logidoo, a logistics and marketplace platform driving cross-border trade and innovation.
Ecosystem Hero of the Year – Dr. Eng. Nabil Shalaby (Egypt)
The visionary behind Arab Entrepreneur House, recognized for ecosystem-building efforts.
Investor of the Year – EdVentures (Egypt)
Celebrated for its strategic support of education and tech-focused startups in the region.
Best Coworking Space – Sector B5 (Egypt)
A leading lab for electronics prototyping, supporting hardware innovation.
Best Accelerator/Incubator – Athar Accelerator (Egypt)
Recognized for nurturing over 250 Upper Egypt startups through mentorship and funding.

2. Sector-Specific Excellence

Women in Tech – Sonia Nasfi (Tunisia)
Spotlighted for her impactful work with Deaf Square to boost digital inclusivity.
GreenTech Startup of the Year – NoorNation (Egypt)
Awarded for delivering clean energy and water solutions to off-grid populations.
HealthTech Startup – PharmacyMarts (Egypt)
Recognized for transforming healthcare delivery with digital pharmacy benefits.
Best AgriTech – AgriCash (Egypt)
Celebrated for its fintech-powered agricultural support services.
Fintech Startup of the Year – Chari (Morocco)
Honored for its digital distribution and e-payment solution for informal retailers.
Youth Startup – Ultrateb (Egypt)
Spotlighted for its young-led innovation in the tech space

Spotlight on Regional Ecosystems

The Northern Africa Startup Awards also shed light on the strengths and opportunities within individual countries:

1. Egypt

With Cairo as a startup epicenter, Egypt continues to lead in fintech, healthtech, and SaaS development. Government support through entities like ITIDA and a vibrant investor network fuel rapid scale.

2. Morocco

Rabat and Casablanca are becoming hotbeds for agritech, mobility, and smart logistics. The rise of regulatory sandboxes and university-linked incubators signal Morocco’s startup readiness.

3. Tunisia

Often called the “startup nation,” Tunisia boasts robust public-private partnerships, supportive legislation (like the Startup Act), and strong tech talent.

4. Algeria

A growing emphasis on green and sustainable tech is transforming Algeria’s innovation story, with strong public-sector-led accelerators and emerging investor interest.

5. Libya & Sudan

Despite political challenges, both countries are nurturing resilient ecosystems through diaspora-led ventures and grassroots accelerators, particularly in edtech and healthtech.

Partners and Collaborators of the NASA

The 2024 awards were made possible through the collaboration of key stakeholders:

GIZ Tunisia
Startup Tunisia
Google for Startups
Flat6Labs
Orange Digital Center
Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG)

These partners not only fund the event but also support post-award scaling through capacity building, investment linkages, and global exposure.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the Awards

The Northern Africa Startup Awards is poised to become an even bigger platform in the coming years. Plans are underway to:

Introduce sector-specific bootcamps for finalists.
Launch founder exchange programs between North and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Develop year-round support hubs for past nominees and winners.
Expand to include diaspora-led innovation awards.

With its growing influence, the awards aim to be more than annual recognition — they seek to become an enduring pillar of North Africa’s entrepreneurial journey.

Conclusion

The Northern Africa Startup Awards is more than just a trophy—it is a symbol of courage, creativity, and commitment.

It celebrates those solving real problems, building scalable solutions, and shaping a new narrative for the region—one defined by possibility, not limitation.

In uniting founders, investors, policymakers, and changemakers, the Northern Africa Startup Awards inspires collaboration, encourages resilience, and accelerates progress.

As North Africa continues its rise as a powerhouse of tech innovation, this platform will remain at the heart of the region’s story—championing those who dare to build the future.

FAQs

What are the eligibility criteria for startups?

Startups must meet the following requirements:

Founded within the last 5 years (exceptions apply for “Best Newcomer” and investor categories)
Based and operating in a Northern Africa country (e.g., Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia)
Have a minimum viable product (MVP) and be generating monthly recurring revenue
Must be African-led, with at least one founder residing on the continent
Operate with a team of two or more people
All submissions (including pitch decks) must be in English.

How does the nomination and application process work?

The process involves multiple stages:

Nominations are submitted by ambassadors, the public, or startups themselves.
Nominees receive an invitation link by email and must create/complete their profile.
Complete category-specific application forms and upload required documents like pitch decks.
Applications are shortlisted, with up to five finalists per category per country.
Selected finalists proceed to regional finals (Northern Africa); winners advance to continental and eventually global finals.

Can I nominate myself or only someone else?

Yes! If you’ve been nominated but feel the category doesn’t fit, you can self-nominate for a more appropriate award. The system allows multiple nominations per entrant across different categories, and forms for each category must be completed separately .

Is there an entry fee?

No. Participation in the Northern Africa Startup Awards is completely free. You only need to fill out forms, submit documentation, and—if required—complete the pitch deck. There are no charges at any stage.

What benefits do finalists and winners receive?

Recognition in the competition offers several advantages:

Access to regional and global visibility through press, investors, and conferences
Inclusion in a global alumni network with mentoring and partnership opportunities
Credibility boost, which can help with fundraising, recruiting, and business development.