The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has shortlisted 210 startups for its flagship Venture Capital Programme, marking a significant step toward accelerating innovation, enterprise development and investment flow within the region. The initiative is designed to strengthen the startup ecosystem and position the South-East as a competitive hub for technology driven solutions.
According to the Commission, the selection was made from over 1,200 applications, reflecting a highly competitive process that identified founders building scalable solutions across key sectors of the regional economy. Of the selected startups, 128 were admitted into the Incubator Track for early stage innovators, while 82 progressed into the Accelerator Track for ventures with proven traction and growth potential.
SEDC explained that the selection process was guided by strict criteria, including problem solution fit, market opportunity, execution capacity and innovation strength. Startups in the accelerator category were further evaluated based on revenue performance, growth indicators and overall business sustainability.
The programme will now advance to a video pitch phase, where founders will present their ideas and demonstrate leadership clarity, scalability and impact potential. The initiative will climax on May 25, 2026, with a grand finale expected to determine top performers who will receive funding, mentorship, strategic partnerships and post investment support aimed at scaling their ventures.