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.

As part of the build-up to #StartupSouthX, the 10th edition of the South-South and South-East’s premier innovation conference, #StartupSouth will host the Digital Transformation Summit – Enugu 2025 on Friday, July 25, 2025.

This pre-event doubles as a critical ecosystem touchpoint, fueling what organizers describe as an “Enugu innovation relay”, building on the State’s recent growth in tech, policy innovation, and entrepreneurial activity.

The summit is powered by the Enugu State Government through key bodies: the Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, Enugu SME Center, and the Office of the SA on Digital Economy.

Representatives from ECCIMA and various tech-forward institutions will also participate.

Set against the backdrop of Enugu’s rising profile as a digital hub, the event aims to:

• Bridge government and ecosystem actors
• Facilitate founder-corporate collaborations
• Spotlight investable innovation
• Co-create practical strategies for digital acceleration

Key Segments:
Founder pitches & startup showcases
High-level policy & industry panel conversations
Keynote speeches from digital enablers
A curated solutions marketplace

“We’re curating a conversation that connects dots,” said Uche Aniche, convener of #StartupSouth. “This isn’t just pre-conference hype, it’s part of a real strategy to activate economic potential at the edge of innovation.”

According to Adaeze Ngozi Chianumba, Co-Founder, DigitalMoms & Lead, #StartupSouth Enugu Community:

“This is more than a conversation, it’s a convergence of people who believe in Enugu’s digital future. We’re deepening momentum already building in the ecosystem by bringing corporate players into dialogue with founders and changemakers.”

Israel Unya, founder of YuSocial.com and Co-Lead, #StartupSouth Enugu Community:

“This summit is a signal that Enugu’s innovation ecosystem is no longer on the sidelines, we’re building a thriving community where startups, government, and corporate leaders collaborate meaningfully. It’s about turning momentum into real opportunity and ensuring local founders have access to the networks, tools, and capital they need to scale.”

Registration: Free via bit.ly/DTSEnugu2025.