Cape Verde Awards Best Startups After Three-Month Digital Scholarship Program
Demo Day reaffirmed Cape Verde’s commitment to strengthening its digital economy and expanding opportunities for young innovators who are building technology-driven solutions to support national development.
The Government of Cape Verde has reinforced its investment in young talent and digital innovation with the sixth edition of the Digital Cape Verde Scholarship Demo Day, held on December 4 at the Praia Technology Park. The event marked the conclusion of three months of intensive capacity-building, solution design and entrepreneurial development for participating youth.
Three startups—Tournament Tubaron, Nikopay and Cabopay—were announced as the top projects of the edition. Their selection followed evaluations based on innovation potential, social impact and overall performance during the program. The initiative brought together institutional leaders, mentors, incubators and other actors in Cape Verde’s digital ecosystem.
The Digital Cape Verde Scholarship, implemented by the Ministry of Digital Economy in partnership with Pro-Entrepreneurship and, for this edition, the IEFP, aims to strengthen the national entrepreneurship pipeline. Ten finalist projects were showcased, each demonstrating strong potential to transform ideas into viable digital solutions.
The top three startups received awards according to their ranking, including opportunities to participate in international technology events, access to digital equipment, connectivity support and coworking space at the Technology Park. These benefits are designed to accelerate product development and business growth.
Since its inception, the program has expanded significantly, supporting more than 1,000 young people, drawing over 600 project submissions and engaging dozens of mentors and partners across the islands. With six completed editions, it has contributed to the development of 150 startups and facilitated the involvement of 300 participants in hands-on entrepreneurship activities.
Demo Day reaffirmed Cape Verde’s commitment to strengthening its digital economy and expanding opportunities for young innovators who are building technology-driven solutions to support national development.
