Tayo Akinyemi, the Director of African Tech Hub network AfriLabs, sends word that the organisation has partnered up with The Tech Trailblazers awards in a bid to encourage more African businesses to enter.

The awards cover 10 categories of innovation from big data to sustainable IT, and are worth around $1m (R10m) in grants and awards to promising cmpanies. Just as important, Akinyemi tells us, is that they’re judged by a panel of global luminaries – so putting your start-up idea is a great way to get notice.

AfriLabs members – a 20 strong network that includes JoziHub, Kenya’s iHub and iLab Liberia – will be encouraged to enter by the hub managers. Entries are divided regionally, and African firms will be put into the Middle East and African Cup.

We’re a bit snowed under here today at htxt.africa, but I’ll try and follow up with Tayo and local hub managers over the next week to find out more.