Early stage Nigerian start-ups can now apply for Seedstars Lagos which will be held On the 25th of August. The event is supported by sponsors including Orange, Merck, Enel and the local host Seedspace Lagos.
According to the press release, the companies selected to pitch at the Seedstars Lagos event need to be less than 2 years old, have raised less than USD 500,000 in funding and have built a minimum viable product, ideally with existing traction. The Seedstars World team is searching for one additional criterion – the startup’s regional and global scalability. With a strong network of international partners such as BBVA, Merck, Enel, Trecc and Standard Bank, Seedstars World is looking for smart startups that solve regional issues and develop profitable products for the global market, to support their regional businesses and growth.
“We connect entrepreneurs with like-minded people in your area and around the world using our extensive network. Our Seedspace in Ikoy gathers some of the most creative minds in Lagos and we are proud to support such a community, who we believe has the potential to shape the future of people and businesses in Nigeria,” explains Alessia Balducci, Community Manager at Seedspace Nigeria.
Moreover, Seedstars World has partnered with the Merck Accelerator on a regional level, in order to support seed-stage companies with a focus on the fields of healthcare, life science and performance materials. The most promising HealthTech startups will receive office space in the Merck Innovation Center in Kenya or Germany, mentoring and coaching on a regular basis and financial support of up to €50,000. In total, each prize package is worth around €200,000.
Up to 10 of the best seed stage startups in Nigeria will be invited to pitch for the opportunity to compete at the Seedstars Summit, that annually takes place in Switzerland. At the same time, Seedstars World is also working very closely with Enel Green Power to source the most innovative business models in the energy sectors and ones that are fostering socio-economic development in rural villages in Africa. Up to 5 best startups in this sector will be invited for an exclusive RES4Africa networking event taking place later this November in Nairobi and compete for an Africa Energy Prize which consists of a financial contribution and a three-month acceleration programme for a total value of up to 50,000 USD.
Applications are open now, and startups can apply here: https://seedsta.rs/lagos2017
2 Comments
Very good.
Startups, what are you waiting for? Start applying now. Thanks admin for the update.
I’m always happy whenever I see corporate bodies coming to the rescue of startups, giving them the necessary push they need to move up. This is a very good one, especially the criteria to applying for the programme. It gives room for newly-founded and very young start-ups to participate on a level playing field.