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, visit here.

Highlights of the programme: 

#StartupSouthX Snapshot