EmaSwati entrepreneurs and innovators have an opportunity to compete for a US$1 million (approximately E18 million) investment after the official launch of the Startup World Cup Eswatini 2026, a global startup pitch competition that will connect local innovators to Silicon Valley and some of the world’s leading investors.
Minister for Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, officially launched the initiative at the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) in Nokwane on Monday, describing the competition as a critical platform for unlocking youth potential, promoting entrepreneurship and positioning Eswatini as a regional innovation hub.
The Startup World Cup, organised by Pegasus Tech Ventures, is regarded as one of the world’s premier startup pitch competitions, featuring more than 100 regional competitions across six continents. Winning startups from each regional competition will advance to the global finals scheduled for November 6, 2026 in San Francisco, California, where they will compete for the US$1 million investment prize.
The launch effectively places Eswatini within a global innovation ecosystem that links startups to international investors, venture capitalists, mentorship opportunities and global business networks.
Speaking during the launch, RSTP Acting Chief Executive Officer, Madoda Mdziniso, said the initiative represented far more than a startup competition.
“Today marks more than the launch of a competition. It marks the opening of a global pathway for Eswatini’s innovators, dreamers and problem-solvers to stand confidently on the world stage,” said Mdziniso.
He said the competition aligns with government’s broader ambitions to transform Eswatini into a knowledge-based economy powered by science, technology, innovation and enterprise development.
“One of the many public statements the Honourable Minister made that stayed with me is that ‘We must position Eswatini as a country of firsts in the region and beyond’. Through the launch of Startup World Cup Eswatini, we are saying to the world that Eswatini is not too small to innovate, neither too small to compete, and certainly not too small to lead,” he said.
Mdziniso further said the initiative demonstrates confidence in the potential of emaSwati youth to shape the country’s future through innovation and entrepreneurship.
“As the Royal Science and Technology Park, we are proud to partner with Startup World Cup and Pegasus Tech Ventures in nurturing innovation, supporting entrepreneurship and advancing technology-driven economic transformation in the Kingdom of Eswatini,” he said.
He noted that through the partnership, local startups will gain exposure to world-class investors and international business opportunities that could transform their enterprises into globally competitive businesses.
Mdziniso stressed that the RSTP Business Incubator remains committed to supporting startups from ideation stage to commercialization and market expansion.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of ICT, Director of Research, Science, Technology and Innovation – Dr Rejoice Maseko – said Eswatini is aggressively pursuing the transition toward a sustainable knowledge-based economy built on digital transformation and innovation.
“Our Kingdom is firmly determined to transform its economy into one that is sustainable and knowledge-based, an economy built to thrive in the digital world,” said Maseko.
Maseko commended RSTP for securing the strategic partnership with Pegasus Tech Ventures and bringing the Startup World Cup to Eswatini.
“By bringing the Startup World Cup to our shores, RSTP is opening a gateway for local startups to compete for a US$1 million grand prize on the world’s most prestigious stage in Silicon Valley,” she said.
Meanwhile, Minister Maziya said the Startup World Cup initiative arrives at a critical time as Eswatini battles high youth unemployment levels.
“Approximately 49% of young people are unemployed, while among young women the figure rises to over 52%. Every year, nearly 25,000 young emaSwati enter the labour market, yet only a fraction of formal jobs are created annually,” she said.
However, the Minister said those challenges also reveal significant untapped entrepreneurial potential.
“The 2025 Afrobarometer Survey revealed that nearly half of young emaSwati want to start their own businesses. That tells us something important; our young people are not waiting to be rescued. They are ready to build, innovate and create opportunities for themselves and others,” said Maziya.
She emphasised that government’s responsibility is to create an ecosystem capable of supporting innovators and entrepreneurs. “That is why we are deliberately positioning Eswatini as an innovation and digital investment hub within the Sub-Saharan region,” she said.
Maziya stressed that Eswatini’s size should not be viewed as a disadvantage in the digital economy. “For too long, small countries have been told to think small. But Eswatini’s size is not a weakness; it is an advantage. It allows us to move with agility, innovate faster and position ourselves strategically within the global digital economy,” she said.
The Minister further declared that Eswatini should no longer see itself as landlocked.
“We are no longer looking at ourselves as landlocked. We are land-linked and digitally connected to the world,” she said.
The Minister encouraged innovators to take advantage of the Startup World Cup platform to showcase local ideas on the global stage.
“To every entrepreneur and innovator here today: Believe in your ideas. The world is changing, and there is space for Eswatini innovation on the global stage,” she said.
Sanelisiwe Mkhwanazi, Acting Head of Business Incubation at RSTP, provided the roadmap for aspiring participants. She said that participation is open to all sectors (Fintech, Agritech, Edtech, etc.), including early-stage businesses.
The participation process requires applicants to visit the RSTP website to create a formal startup profile, where they are currently being asked to submit comprehensive business details alongside a professional pitch deck and a recorded video pitch.
In terms of the competition’s schedule, applications are officially opening today, May 11, 2026, and the window will be remaining open until June 14, 2026. Following the close of submissions, the selection committee will identify ten shortlisted startups who will then be competing in a live pitching event at the UNESWA Sports Emporium in early July to determine who will represent Eswatini on the global stage.
Mkhwanazi highlighted the prestige of the destination, noting that Silicon Valley is home to titans like Apple and Meta. “Even if your startup fails, just having ‘Silicon Valley’ on your LinkedIn page guarantees you a major career boost,” she added.