TotalEnergies unveils Startupper of the Year Challenge

Ilenre Irele

On the heels of the success of the first three editions, TotalEnergies has launched the 4th edition of the Total Energies Startupper of the Year Challenge. The initiative is aimed at supporting young innovative entrepreneurs.

The 4th edition of the Startupper of the Year Challenge is also a special edition to celebrate TotalEnergies’ 100th anniversary. For this special edition, 100 entrepreneurs from 32 African Countries will be recognised and rewarded via three prize categories, Innov’Up to reward the best entrepreneur; Cycle’Up to reward startup or business ideas exemplifying the principle of the circular economy; Power’Up to reward startup or business ideas which aim to promote, create, produce or use sustainable and affordable energy.

At a press conference on Thursday to mark the launch of the programme, Adesua Adewole, General Manager of Country Services, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, said that for the 4th edition of the Startupper Challenge, TotalEnergies will support, and reward young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 living in Nigeria who have a business creation project or a startup under three years old, in any business sector.

Mrs. Adewole, who was accompanied by the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Dr. Samba Seye, and Country Communication Manager of TotalEnergies Nigeria, Dr. Charles Ebereonwu, said a local jury comprised of experts, business leaders, startup ecosystem participants, local sustainability stakeholders and representatives from TotalEnergies Nigeria will select three winners, Innov’Up winner for the best entrepreneur; Cycle’Up winner for the best project relating to the circular economy; Power’Up winner for the best project relating to sustainable and affordable energy.

Each winner will become a “Startupper of the Year by TotalEnergies” and will benefit from a monetary award of N8 million. They will receive personalised support, dedicated coaching and a communication campaign to enhance their project’s visibility. Winners will also have an invitation to a celebratory event where they will have the opportunity to promote their project. The details of the Location for the celebratory event will be released at a later date.

Mrs Adewole added that Four additional projects in the Power’Up category will be selected by an international jury and all project entries will be assessed against 4 criteria which include relevance to sustainable development goals, Innovation, Feasibility and development potential, respect for gender equality and inclusion of women in the project.

The 32 participating Countries for the Startupper Challenge 2024/2025 include Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Gabon, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mayotte, La Réunion, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Malawi and South Africa.