Newly established national and regional award designed to reinforce Africa's rapidly developing startup ecosystem.Southern Africa is preparing to host national awards for web/tech startups in more than ten countries across the region as part of the Global Startup Awards which will culminate in a Regional finale in October 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Organisers say the global startup awards, which are now being extended to include new regions Southern Europe, Middle East, Baltic countries, UK and Southern Africa for the first time, will connect, support and celebrate more startups worldwide.

Mckevin Ayaba, Regional Director for Global Startup Awards-Southern Africa (GSASA) says great business ideas by entrepreneurs from Southern Africa will finally get recognition through a judging process that will be managed by seven judges at the national, regional and global stage of the startup competition.

"Startups from here don't get to be in the limelight because we don't always have people who believe that they can make it to the next level. We want to recognise and appreciate them because technology is shaping the future of the world and we need to encourage startups to keep doing this important work."

Ayaba says the winners of the GSASA regional finale will represent Southern Africa at the Global Startup Awards finale in December 2018.

He adds that a total of sixteen categories include an award for 'Best investor of the year award', 'Best startup of the year', 'Best accelerator programme of the year', 'Best co-working space', 'Best agricultural startup' Best Fintech Startup of the year' and 'Best student startup'.

Nominations for GSASA will open March 2018.

"The startup ecosystem in Africa has grown immensely over the last five years and it is important to show more support. Other regions around the world are also taking advantage of the opportunity to show the best startups in their ecosystem recognition through the Global Startup Awards and Southern Africa is pleased to be among them."

The Global Startup Awards was established in Denmark in 2012. The awards have since broadened their reach to more than twenty six countries worldwide with more set to join in 2018.

Ayaba has confirmed that GSA has the support of companies including Microsoft, Google AWS, Facebook and IBM.

For more information, contact babalwa@globalstartupawards.com