TOTALENERGIES STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR CHALLENGE 2024

On 25th October 2024, The Fiesta Royale Hotel came alive as TotalEnergies Ghana proudly hosted the 4th Edition of the Startupper of the Year Challenge awards gala, an event dedicated to recognizing the ingenuity and passion of young entrepreneurs. This occasion marked the announcement of the challenge winners and brought together management, staff and the supportive friends and family of the top 15 finalists. Special guests such as the French Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Jules Armand Aniambossou, the CEO for the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Dr. Riverson Oppong and the Brand Ambassador, Mr Stephen Appiah were present at the occasion. Speaking at the gala, the Managing Director, Mr. Olufemi Babajide, stated the purpose and origin of the Challenge. The Startupper of the Year Challenge is a TotalEnergies Group initiative designed to significantly support business creation and development in African countries and globally. The Challenge was open to young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 with a startup less than 3 years old or pioneering with a business idea to develop, that had a positive impact on their communities and/or the planet. The call for projects was open from April 30 to June 18, 2024. For this year’s edition, TotalEnergies Ghana received over 1,261 applications from diverse fields across the country, following the launch in April. After various stages which included a “Share for Likes” phase, and a rigorous selection process conducted by Sparknews, an independent body, the Top 15 finalists pitched their projects to a local jury of experts in September after a bootcamp session. The challenge featured three main award categories, that is the Innov’Up winner that rewards the best entrepreneur; the Cycle’Up winner, to reward a startup or business idea exemplifying the principle of circular economy and the Power’Up winner, which is to reward a startup or business idea which aims to promote, create, produce or use sustainable and affordable energies. Each winner would receive financial support of GHC 90,000, in addition to extensive publicity and one-year coaching from business experts to help them grow their businesses. Following a thorough selection process, the winners emerged as: Innov’Up category - Mr. Ernest Larmie of Farm Estates, Cycle’Up category - Mr. Longi Aadam of Kodu Technology and Power’Up category - Miss Georgina Boamah of Verte Tower. TotalEnergies Ghana is excited to support these changemakers on their remarkable journey toward positive change. Congratulations to all participants and the 2024 Startupper Challenge of the Year winners!!