Press Release
After a decade of championing innovation from Nigeria’s emerging cities, #StartupSouth is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a bold convening #StartupSouthX across Owerri (Sept 30) and Port Harcourt (Oct 2–3).
Themed “Auctus: Shaping the Next Decade of Innovation, Culture and Capital,” the convening signals a new era for innovators, investors, and ecosystem builders in Nigeria’s South-East and South-South. Positioned as Africa’s Emerging Cities’ Boldest Business, Innovation and Culture Convening, #StartupSouthX goes beyond the traditional conference format to become a deal-making and market-shaping platform, where ambition meets opportunity and entrepreneurs connect directly with capital, corporates, and global networks.
Highlights of #StartupSouthX
- Deal Room – curated sessions where founders pitch, investors deploy capital, and corporates open doors to markets.
- Global Prize – in partnership with Lumo Hub, one standout founder will win an all-expense-paid trip to WebSummit Portugal, one of the world’s largest tech gatherings.
- Private Sector Validation – collaboration with the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (PHCCIMA) connects innovators directly with the organized private sector.
- Global Voices – speakers from Silicon Valley, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, and across Nigeria, including:
- Chris Burry, Co-CEO, US-MAC
- Steve Adelman, MD, Nexus Partners
- Mark Okoye II, MD/CEO, South-East Development Commission
- Timothy Laku, Fractional CIO/CTO, Rwanda
“Global exposure can change a founder’s trajectory overnight. Our partnership with #StartupSouth is about breaking boundaries and making sure regional innovators stand shoulder to shoulder with the best globally,” said Anie Akpe, Founder, Lumo Hubs.
“For 10 years, #StartupSouth has proven that great ideas can thrive outside traditional centres. With #StartupSouthX and our theme ‘Auctus,’ we are setting the agenda for the next decade of innovation, culture, and capital from our region,” said Uche Aniche, Convener, #StartupSouth.
The Owerri leg of the convening, the Africa Business Angel Investment Roundtable (Sept 30, in partnership with ABAN- and the Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy & E-Governance), primes the ecosystem by convening capital and investors ahead of the Port Harcourt main stage.
With 100+ speakers, 60+ sessions, 5,000+ participants, and a projected media reach of over 20 million, #StartupSouthX is set to define sub-national innovation for the next decade.
For Participation: linktr.ee/ssxconf
Media Enquiries:
Email: press@startupsouth.org | Tel: +234 805 161 0019
About StartupSouth
StartupSouth Enterprise Development Ltd/GTE is a leading ecosystem development and advocacy organisation committed to growing the digital and creative economy across Nigeria’s emerging commercial cities. Over the past decade, StartupSouth has partnered with global brands including Google, Meta, The Ford Foundation, MainOne, Sterling Bank, Zoho, and the Bank of Industry, supporting thousands of startup founders to raise over $10 million in funding, including $500,000 directly invested through the South-South-East Angel Network (SSEAN).
#StartupSouthX Snapshot
- Sessions: 60+
- States Covered: 11
- Expected State Officials: 100+
- Speakers: 100+
- Attendees: 5,000+
- Estimated Total Media Reach: 20M+
Read Also: https://techsudor.com/how-startupsouth-is-shaping-an-ecosystem-for-the-future/
