Leading Nigerian tech blog, TechCabal has announced the contenders who made it into the Battlefield Academy in its maiden edition of the TechCabal Battlefield, a competition for tech start-ups with a prize a$20,000 for the winner.

“Out of 92 applications and a fiercely competitive shortlist of twenty, the final seven startups have emerged,” said Bankole Oluwafemi, TechCabal’s Editor.

According to TechCabal, the finalists must not be older than two years, must have received less than $200,000 in funding, must have a substantial tech component which is live at the time of competition i.e. corporate website does not count, and must serve Nigerian customers and also be based in Nigeria.

Going into the faculty, the finalists will be trained in business, financials, technology and presentation skills by a group of professionals referred to as ‘the Faculty’.

An audience which will include a gathering of investors and the media will be at Four Points by Sheraton on February 21 at 6:30pm, will watch one of the seven finalists go home will the star prize having being screened by a panel of judges; experienced entrepreneurs, consultants and financiers.

The panel of judges include “Jason Njoku of iROKO Partners, Akin Oyebode of Stanbic IBTC, Ayodeji Adewunmi of Jobberman, Gbenga Sesan of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, and one mystery judge to be revealed soon will decide which startup will leave the arena with glory, fame and the ultimate prize of $20,000,” Bankole said.

Gifts will be given to the top 3 start-ups. There will also be a second prize of $2,000.

The startups which qualified to enter the academy include: 500Shops, Adugbo, Callbase, CasaGrupo, Decoded, GoKool and Prepclass. “Each of them will be paired with a mentor from the Faculty that will help them think through their product, business and presentations,” he said.

Tomi Davies of Lagos Angel Network, Editi Effiong of Anakle, Femi Taiwo (INITS), Hotels.ng’s Mark Essien, and Ojoma Ochai of British Council are members of the TechCabal Battlefield Faculty.