Applications are now open for innovative EdTech, AgriTech and HealthTech startups with disruptive solutions to challenges arising from the Covid 19 Pandemic.
The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub announced it’s partnership with Ventures Platform and Startupbootcamp AfriTech to launch the iNOVO Accelerator Program.
This fully digital program will leverage SBC’s world-class methodology through a two-pronged approach of (i) accelerating 10 early stage startups in Nigeria that are solving challenges resulting from the Covid19 Pandemic, specifically in EdTech, AgriTech, and HealthTech, (ii) granting 100 early-stage startups life-time learning access to its digital Accelerator Squared platform which gives them more than a dozen modules to work through every aspect of building a successful startup.
Commenting on this, the Country Director of the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Honey Ogundeyi said “With the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, there’s a need to support promising early-stage startups who are driving innovative solutions to address problems caused by COVID on some of the Hub’s core areas – health, agriculture and education”. She also stated that “through the iNOVO programme, entrepreneurs will gain digital and entrepreneurship skills needed to scale their businesses.”
Director of Programs at Ventures Platform Foundation, Mohamed Felata, expressed similar sentiments. In his words, “We are very excited to work with UK Nigeria Tech Hub and Startupbootcamp Afritech to support the ecosystem and help talented founders build solutions for the new world we live in. After a devastating 2020, there is a greater need for Nigerian innovators to rise to the challenge. This is the time to build solutions that will not only help the affected industries heal, but also fortify them for the future. We are looking to Nigerian innovators to show the world we have an important role to play in rebuilding the global economy.”
CEO of Startupbootcamp AfriTech, Philip Kiracofe, said, “We are thrilled to partner with UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and Ventures Platform on this innovative programme that aims to disrupt the challenges faced by this pandemic. We are a proudly African Accelerator with global brand-backing and we welcome more leading African corporates to join in the iNOVO programme to empower the next generation of Nigerian Innovators.”
Through this 3-month online programme, 10 selected startups will receive capacity building, lean startup training, mentorship, and support to rapidly scale their products and business models. SBC will, through its proprietary Accelerator Squared platform, provide a rich learning and collaboration toolset enabling founders to engage directly with the SBC AfriTech and Ventures Platform team, dedicated Entrepreneurs in Residence, mentors, investors, and industry experts. Teams will then validate their solutions with pilots and Proof of Concept engagements, and use the learnings to rapidly pivot and scale.
The programme will also provide a great opportunity for founders to perfect their pitching skills by exposing them to a broad audience of investors, corporate and government partners at the online Demo Day. This showcase will act as a springboard to help these groundbreaking solutions to gain broader traction in the marketplace.
As part of the programme, the Top 10 startups will also receive legal support from Sidebrief, credits from Amazon Web Services, and credits from Msg91.
The second bucket of the iNOVO pilot programme will provide 100 early-stage startups selected from the pool of promising startups to participate in the Accelerator by offering them life-time access to the digital Accelerator Squared platform which gives them more than a dozen modules to work through every aspect of building a successful startup.
Applications are now open and the deadline for submissions is February 24th 2021. Disruptive EdTech, AgriTech, and HealthTech startups can find out more information and apply here http://bit.ly/iNOVO
