Southern Africa Startup Awards, a circuit of the Global Startup Awards which first arrived in Africa in 2017 and launched it Southern Africa (SADC) region in 2018, has a mission to connect, support, and celebrate key players in national and regional startup ecosystems worldwide and to fuse them together on a global entrepreneurial network.
The initiative creates a matrix of opportunities for international partnerships, commercial exchange, and investment opportunities. This is done through a ‘bottom-up’ strategy with local startup ecosystems that put the founders and startup ecosystem supporters first.
More than 2,400 nominations from organisations and individuals across 15 countries were submitted for the 2019 edition.
The national finalists from Malawi are:
| Best Accelerator or Incubator Program | mHub |
| Best Accelerator or Incubator Program | Chiponde Business Group |
| Best Accelerator or Incubator Program | Mzuzu E-Hub |
| Best Coworking Space | Mzuzu E-Hub |
| Best EduTech Startup | Chiponde Business Group) |
| Best EduTech Startup | TakenoLAB |
| Best FoodTech/ AgriTech Startup | Mechro Africa |
| Best Health Tech Startup | National Underfive Nutrition Data Management System (NUNDMS) |
| Best Health Tech Startup | Online Clinic Yathu (OCLIYA) |
| Best Newcomer | Droidfx Technologies |
| Best Newcomer | Online Clinic Yathu (OCLIYA) |
| Best Newcomer | Takenolab |
| Best Newcomer | Tumaini Letu |
| Best Social Impact Startup | Cleaners Art |
| Best Social Impact Startup | Vijana Africa |
| Best Social Impact Startup | Chiponde Business Group |
| Best Social Impact Startup | Online Clinic Yathu (OCLIYA) |
| Best Social Impact Startup | Takenolab |
| Best Startup Ecosystem Initiative | Chiponde Business Group |
| Female Role Model of the Year | Prisca Chipao |
| Female Role Model of the Year | Wangiwe Joanna Kambuzi |
| Founder of the Year | Ronnex Wataya |
| Founder of the Year | Kondwani Chimatilo |
| Founder of the Year | Misael Buliani (CFIP) |
| Founder of the Year | Emmanuel Chatina |
| Founder of the Year | Spencer Nundwe Jr |
| Investor of the Year | GiantPlus |
| Startup of the Year | Mechro Limited |
| Startup of the Year | Droidfx Technologies |
| Startup of the Year | Mzuzu ehub |
