Connect X Ignite ’26 · Birmingham

The Corridor Honours

Recognising the people, companies, and partners driving the UK–Africa tech corridor forward. Nominations are open, so tell us who deserves the spotlight at CXI ’26.

Takes about 5 minutes · nominate across multiple categories in one form

Full CXI ’26 details at tnnaija.com/connect →

Watch the CXI ’25 recap This is the energy CXI ’26 is building on.
Why this matters

This is a community-built award, not a corporate one.

Founders
Scaling their companies through the corridor
Engineers
Shipping the products this award celebrates
Investors
Backing corridor founders early

“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

Takes about 5 minutes. You can nominate across multiple categories in one form.

How it works

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.

Award categories

17 categories across the corridor

I: Individual nomination
C: Company/Organisation nomination

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

FAQ
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.

One ask

“I found my co-founder in this room. My first hire came from this room. Now it’s your turn: put someone forward.”

A voice from the TN Naija community