Entrepreneurs and Business grant for Nigerians and Africa

Startupbootcamp, a global business accelerator, is supporting startups and tech entrepreneurs to build innovative solutions to address problems in payment solutions, e-commerce and alternative financing, among others. The organisation held its fast track during the weekend for prospective entrepreneurs in Lagos. DANIEL ESSIET was there.

At least 20  Nigerian startups used the Fast Track  Forum organised by Startupbootcamp, a global business accelerator at Capital Square, Dolphin Estate, Lagos at  the weekend,  to pitch their businesses in just a few hours.

Startupbootcamp is a network of industry-focused startup accelerators. It was founded in 2010 and now operates globally with 20 plus industry-focused programmes in key locations, including Cape Town, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Chengdu, Berlin, Dubai, Hartford, Istanbul, Rome, London, Melbourne, Miami, Mumbai, Mexico City, New York and Singapore.

The entrepreneurs — including the founders of Credalpal,Jama, Smarttellers,Electronic Esusu, introduced their technologies, with founding teams in place. The event offered direct showcasing of the selected businesses, as well as access to vital insights from angels, corporates and seasoned entrepreneurs through networking, making  it a very worthwhile experience for both entrepreneurs and investors.

Co Founder/ CEO, Startupbootcamp Cape Town, Philip Kiracofe, said FastTrack events are for startups to present their businesses to an elite group of mentors, comprising industry experts, corporate executives and investors.

Through the forum, he said startups will be able to engage with the Startupbootcamp community and be exposed to worldwide opportunities.

Kiracofe, said about 518 startups applied to participate in the event, saying 20 were selected. He said applications will open this month for its three-month Africa acceleration programme in Cape Town.

According to him, the final deadline for innovators and entrepreneurs to apply online for the final accelerator, is May 24. The programme will kick off in September.

He  stressed that FastTrack engagements are not a requirement to apply for the Startupbootcamp Africa Accelerator, encouraging all startpus to apply, stating however that attending a FastTrack will be to one’s advantage.

From a pool of hundreds of applications, Startupbootcamp Cape Town, will select the 10 most promising teams, and will provide each team with a stipend, highly engaged mentors, free office space,  access to funding and a network of industry partners, investors and venture capital firms.

By going through Startupbootcamp’s accelerator programme, startups have every chance to succeed on a local and global scale, he said.

Core sponsors for this Africa-based programme, include Old Mutual, RCS, PwC, BNP Paribas, Nedbank and Woolworths Financial Services.

Head of Innovation at Old Mutual Personal Finance, Stanley Gabriel, said the forum was a great example of how the Startupbootcamp is helping to transform the economy by engaging with the start-up community.

While most startups have the mind-, skill- and tool-set and entrepreneurial passion and focus to facilitate their growth, he noted that they often lack access to clients, capital, and resources.

Connecting with corporates, he  added,  provides them with useful connections, access to resources, market expertise, and brings them revenue.

Gabriel, said through partnership with Startupbootcamp, startups have the opportunity to leverage expertise, experience, resources and talent to build compelling commercial success stories.