This is a community-built award, not a corporate one.
“Nominated by peers, chosen by the community, not decided by a single sponsor logo. If someone lifted you this year, this is how you say so.”
Nominations open
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Nominations close
Saturday, 25 July 2026, 11:59pm BST
Winners announced
CXI ’26, Birmingham
Anyone can nominate. Nominate yourself, your company, or someone else in the ecosystem, with no restriction on self-nomination.
17 categories, two tracks: Individual awards (marked I) recognise people; Company awards (marked C) recognise organisations.
TN Naija membership is a scoring booster, not a category. There is no TNN-exclusive award; active TN Naija members/companies receive a weighted boost in the judging rubric, but eligibility is open to the wider UK–Africa tech corridor.
Shortlisting and judging follows close of nominations, run by the CXI ’26 review panel. Shortlisted nominees will be contacted directly before the event.
Winners are revealed live at CXI ’26 in Birmingham.
17 categories across the corridor
Capital and Network
Angel of the Year: for individual angel investors backing corridor founders
VC Firm of the Year: for institutional investors actively funding the corridor
Bootstrapped Company of the Year: for companies scaling without external capital
Talent and Inclusion
AI Thought Leader of the Year: for individuals shaping AI conversation and practice in the corridor
Technical Talent Accelerator of the Year: for organisations upskilling technical talent
Non-Technical Talent Accelerator of the Year: for organisations upskilling non-technical talent
Solopreneur of the Year: for individuals building solo-led ventures
Employer of the Year: for organisations creating standout employment pathways for corridor talent
Policy and Advocacy
Sociopreneur of the Year: for individuals building ventures with measurable social impact
Policy Champion of the Year: for individuals advancing UK–Africa policy or advocacy work
Products and Services
Startup of the Year: for early-stage companies showing standout traction
Scaleup of the Year: for growth-stage companies scaling in or through the corridor
Most Loved Product: for the product with the strongest user/community affinity
Most Innovative New Product: for a standout new product launch led by an individual/team
Community and Ecosystem
Community Builder of the Year: for individuals growing and nurturing corridor communities
Ecosystem Partner of the Year: for organisations providing standout infrastructure or support to the ecosystem
Social Media Influencer of the Year: for individuals building corridor visibility and narrative online
Can I nominate more than one person or company?
Yes, submit a separate form entry for each nomination.
Do I need to be a TN Naija member to nominate or be nominated?
No. Nominations are open to the wider UK–Africa tech corridor. TN Naija membership adds a scoring boost during judging, not a requirement to enter.
What happens after I submit?
The CXI ’26 review panel shortlists nominees after close on 25 July 2026. Shortlisted nominees are contacted directly ahead of the event; winners are announced live at CXI ’26.
Is there a cost to nominate?
No, nominating is free.
Questions? Email hello@tnnaija.com