Earlier Bridge to MassChallenge Nigeria received more than 16,000 applications competing for 30 spots in its inaugural Bootcamp programme.
Afterwards, three startups emerged winners of the B2MC-Nigeria 2021-22 Programme.
The Nigerian government is showing impressive interest in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.
Recently, the government and other stakeholders have held massive collaborations. Obviously, the focus of these collaborations is based on ways to tap into the booming tech community of the country. The recently concluded Bridge to MassChallenge Nigeria boot camp is one of such.
What is Bridge to MassChallenge?
MassChallenge is indeed a global network for innovators working to solve massive challenges. Its B2MC boot camp seeks to foster innovations and job opportunities and promote socio-economic development.
Using its partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency, it hosted several national startup competitions. These competitions helped to increase entrepreneurial activities within the country.
Additionally, they helped to develop and execute innovative ideas and digital technologies.
For example, B2MC Nigeria Bootcamp process shortlisted 30 startups in December 2021. Afterwards, three of these startups were winners of the B2MC-Nigeria 2021-22 Programme. These winners have continued to prosper in their areas of expertise.
Bridge to MassChallenge: Winners At The Boot Camp
The three (3) victorious startups in 2021 were Negs Empire, Dozzy Agricultural Enterprise, and Maximus Recycling Solutions.
Negs Empire:
Nwakuba Ezinne is its founder. Negs Empire is an agritech venture that seeks to improve food security. To achieve this, it uses the bee-keeping method. For this reason, they invest heavily in crop and honey production.
Similarly, they target localities and try to remedy food scarcity by increasing food production output. They also plan to reduce the rate of inaccessibility of pure honey by packaging them in affordable pack sizes.
Dozzy Agriculture:
Founded by Nnadozie Ukaegbu, Dozzy agriculture is also an agritech venture. Its focus is on closing the market gap between the high level of fish consumption and the low level of fish production. The startup aims to increase sustainable fish seed productivity and processing.
Maximus Recycling Solutions:
Johnson Obute, founder of this envitech startup has proposed a solution to help you gain from your waste.
It uses web technology to provide a reliable supply of raw and recyclable materials. Being a money-making venture, it is no surprise that this startup won. Will you turn down a brand that gives you money in exchange for your waste bin?
NITDA is certainly committed to leveraging Nigeria’s growing innovation ecosystem to create wealth and prosperity. It is expected that more of such funding programs will be organised by the Nigerian government.
Conclusion
In a press statement, Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, stated that the engagement is to strengthen the Nigerian innovation ecosystem by providing exposure and access to global business networks.
She also states that the program will make funding opportunities and extensive knowledge very accessible to participants which will give Nigerian founders equal opportunities for their startup ventures to compete globally.
The program kicked off with an in-depth discussion of innovations in the ecosystem with assessments that featured relevant stakeholders’ groups. Government agencies, universities, venture capitalists and angel investors, entrepreneurs, corporates, media, and influencers were present.
Following this, they held two series of immense boot camps. The participating startups had access to classes with a curated curriculum on global best practices focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, the startups also had access to MassChallenge’s global network and custom-made mentoring and coaching offered by renowned mentors.
