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).
The anniversary convening is themed “Auctus: Shaping the Next Decade of Innovation, Culture and Capital,” signaling 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 signals an evolution beyond “just a conference.” It is now a deal-making and market-shaping platform where ambition meets opportunity — and where the region’s 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 — through collaboration with the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (PHCCIMA), innovators are plugged directly into the organized private sector.
- Global Voices — speakers are flying in from Silicon Valley and across Africa & Nigeria (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and more) – 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 – solidifying the conference’s international reach.
“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 of Lumo Hubs.
“For 10 years, #StartupSouth has proven that great ideas can thrive outside traditional centers. 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 — 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, 20 million+ projected media reach, and voices from across Africa and Silicon Valley, #StartupSouthX is set to define sub-national innovation for the next decade.
For Participation: linktr.ee/ssxconf
For Enquiry
Email: press@startupsouth.org | +234 805 161 0019
About StartupSouth
StartupSouth Enterprise Development Ltd/GTE is a leading ecosystem development and advocacy organization committed to growing the digital and creative economy across Nigeria’s emerging commercial cities. Over the past decade, we have 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 our South-South-East Angel Network (SSEAN).
#StartupSouthX Snapshot
| Total Sessions | No of States Covered | No of Expected State officials | No of Speakers | Estimated Attendees | Estimated Total Reach |
| 60+ | 11 | 100+ | 100+ | 5000+ | 20M+ |
