Nokwane- Local entrepreneurs are being handed a rare opportunity to pitch their businesses on one of the world’s biggest innovation platforms, after the government officially launched the Startup World Cup competition in Eswatini, with the winning startup set to compete for a US$1 million (about E18 million) investment prize in Silicon Valley.
Minister for Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Savannah Maziya launched the global pitch competition locally, positioning Eswatini as an emerging innovation and digital investment hub while opening doors for startups to access international investors and markets.
The Startup World Cup, organised by Pegasus Tech Ventures, hosts more than 100 regional competitions across six continents. Winners from each regional event will advance to the grand finale in San Francisco on November 6, 2026, where startups will compete for the US$1 million investment award.
Speaking during the launch, Maziya said the initiative comes at a critical time for Eswatini as the country seeks to address youth unemployment and stimulate economic growth through innovation and digital transformation.
“Our young people are not waiting for us to rescue them, but they are ready to build, innovate and create opportunities for themselves and for others,” said MaziyaShe said the programme aligns with government efforts to empower young innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly as more than 70 percent of Eswatini’s population is under the age of 35.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Science and Technology Park described the launch as a defining moment for the country’s innovation ecosystem, saying Eswatini had the potential to compete with larger economies in the global technology and startup space.
“This demonstrates that Eswatini is not too small to innovate, not too small to compete and certainly not too small to lead,” he said.He encouraged local entrepreneurs to believe in the commercial value of their ideas, noting that participation in the Startup World Cup would expose emaSwati startups to global investors, mentorship opportunities and international business networks.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Research, Science, Technology and Innovation Department said innovation remained central to Eswatini’s long-term economic transformation agenda.
“Innovation is the ladder to prosperity,” she said, while reaffirming government’s commitment to building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy capable of competing in the digital era.
The competition is expected to attract startups from sectors including fintech, agritech, health technology, artificial intelligence and digital services, as Eswatini intensifies efforts to grow its digital economy and attract technology-driven investment.
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