EMPOWERMENT
Top 28 Incubators and Accelerators in Nigeria that can help your business succeed fast
Nigeria’s entrepreneurs are driving innovation and economic growth, but access to resources, mentorship, and funding is critical to their success. This is where startup incubators and accelerators play a vital role.
These programs provide invaluable support and guidance to early-stage companies, helping them to refine their ideas, develop their products or services, and scale their businesses. From long-term incubators offering office space, mentorship, and access to resources, to more intensive, structured accelerators providing seed funding opportunities and coaching from experienced entrepreneurs and investors, Nigeria’s startup ecosystem has a range of options for budding entrepreneurs.
In this article, we dive deeper into the similarities and differences between incubators and accelerators and showcase 28 of the top programs available in Nigeria. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, these resources can help you navigate the challenges and unlock the potential of your startup.
TopNaija presents to you the top 28 startup incubators and accelerators in Nigeria.
1. Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB):
CcHUB is a highly regarded technology incubator in Nigeria, with a strong reputation for supporting the country’s tech community through various programs. Their Pre-Incubation program is a highly sought-after six-month initiative that offers mentorship and assistance to entrepreneurs as they develop tech solutions for societal problems. Startups can receive up to $25k in funding and free office space for 12 months in the Incubation program.
CcHUB’s Accelerators are highly regarded 12-week programs that are specifically designed to help startups achieve sustained growth by refining their product development, financial management, investment readiness, and business modeling skills.
2. Greenhouse Capital:
GreenHouse Capital is a highly respected platform that connects startups, corporates, and investors to drive innovation in Africa, with a specific focus on fintech and fintech-enabled startups. The platform collaborates with corporate partners to offer highly regarded accelerator programs designed to jumpstart businesses. GreenHouse Capital invests in promising founders with a strong vision and a high level of resilience in the fintech and fintech-enabled space. They have a proven track record of supporting startups, having hosted ten accelerator programs to date, and have built a reputation as a platform that offers invaluable support to startups.
3. Wennovation Hub:
Wennovation Hub is an established innovation accelerator in Nigeria, boasting over ten years of experience. They have a proven track record of supporting numerous startups, providing them with mentorship and resources to help them achieve success. With office spaces in Ikeja, Abuja, Ibadan, and Barbados, Wennovation Hub provides a conducive environment that offers all the necessary tools to inspire business ideas. Their programs are highly selective, offering only the most promising startups the opportunity to participate.
4. Google for Startups Accelerator Africa:
The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa is a highly selective virtual program for high-potential Seed to Series A tech startups in Africa. The program is open to startups based in Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
The program supports growth-stage startups that leverage advanced technologies and pairs them with relevant Google and industry experts to solve their top challenges. In addition, they offer a program specifically for women-led tech startups up to Series A stage in Africa or building Africa-centered solutions with technology, providing tailored content and mentorship to help them achieve success. The Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has built a strong reputation for supporting startups and providing invaluable resources to help them scale and achieve their goals.
Founded in 2020 and obsessed with changing the African narrative, Platform Capital is an Investment and Advisory firm committed to partnering with entrepreneurs who are passionate about sustainable, inclusive, long-term growth and transformation across the African continent. The Lagos-Nigeria-based private equity firm seeks to invest in the education, healthcare, energy, financial services, food value chain, logistics & mobility, industrials, technology, media, telecom, and oil & gas sectors. Their guidance and support have enabled businesses like Bookings Africa, Koniku and many more to improve their business models, scale and develop partnerships in across continents.
6. Mest Africa:
MEST Africa is a highly respected network of hubs and a technology entrepreneur training program that offers incubation for African tech startups. Established in Ghana in 2008, the program comprises three components, including a one-year entrepreneurship training program, Incubation & Seed Fund, and a year-long training program for Entrepreneurs-in-Training.
MEST Africa’s incubation program provides successful candidates with seed funding and full support to launch their businesses with the goal of scaling across African markets. With hubs in Cape Town, Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra, MEST Africa offers critical skills training, funding, and support to Africa’s tech entrepreneurs. Applications are currently open. Apply HERE.
7. Enspire:
Enspire is a technology-centric incubation program for early-stage startups, with a focus on building viable businesses. Established in 2013, it has supported over 200 startups in various economic sectors in Nigeria. Enspire offers a quarterly ideation program that provides mentorship and guidance to develop minimum viable products for a maximum of 20 startups. As a major initiative of the Abuja Technology Village Free Zone Company (ATV), Enspire is committed to promoting economic growth through innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialisation. It is located in Abuja, Nigeria, and has built a strong reputation for providing invaluable support to startups.
8. Venture Garden Group:
Venture Garden Group is a major technology holding company in Africa that seeks to enhance efficiency in high-impact sectors across the continent. The group provides capital, technology platforms, and business advisory services to companies with innovative solutions.
Through incubation and investment in technology firms, the group offers the resources necessary for product development and faster scaling. With a focus on the African market, Venture Garden Group has built a strong reputation as a leader in supporting startups and driving innovation.
9. Itanna:
Itanna is a highly regarded enterprise that supports entrepreneurship and technology through acceleration, investment, and mentorship. Led by Honeywell Group, it operates a four-month accelerator program from its Enterprise Factory in Lagos, Nigeria. The program is designed to prepare cohort companies for business by providing powerful expert insight, product testing for market fit, and investment support. Tech startups participating in the program receive initial investment and hands-on advice from experts and mentorship from leading global tech entrepreneurs and industry experts. Itanna has built a strong reputation for supporting startups and helping them to achieve success in the Nigerian market.
10. L5labs:
L5lab is a highly respected technology incubator that specialises in creating mobile and internet opportunities in Africa. Established in 2009 by Chika Nwobi, L5lab invests in promising tech-related companies at the seed stage and develops international partnerships to expand successful business models into West Africa and other regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. The incubator provides strategic management support, CEO mentoring, financing, office space, and administrative support services to its portfolio companies. Jobberman, Decagon, and Cheki are among the notable startups that L5lab has invested in, and the incubator has built a strong reputation for supporting startups and driving innovation in Africa.
11. Startup Wise Guys:
The SaaS Acceleration Program: Africa by Startup Wise Guys is a highly regarded accelerator program that offers tailored guidance and support from experienced mentors and experts to help startups overcome obstacles in the company-building process and improve their go-to-market strategy.
Key benefits of the program include up to €65K investment for up to 12% equity, access to weekly 1:1 support in areas such as sales, marketing, and pitching, and the opportunity to join a network of over 600 founders, 350 mentors, and 200 investors, as well as access to top industry experts. Startup Wise Guys has built a strong reputation for supporting startups and providing invaluable resources to help them succeed.
12. Seedstars:
Seedstars is a global company that operates in emerging and frontier markets across regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Central-Eastern Europe, and Asia. With headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Seedstars operates in over 90 countries and maintains 15 offices worldwide. Their acceleration program, Seedstars Acceleration, is aimed at helping companies achieve a functional prototype, obtain their first paying customers, and establish product market fit. The program features 1:1 mentoring for tailored support, as well as weekly workshops, bootcamps, KPI sessions, and social activities. Seedstars has built a strong reputation for supporting startups and driving innovation in emerging markets.
13. FasterCapital:
FasterCapital is a highly regarded global online incubator that supports startups in Nigeria. They offer work per equity and provide technical and business development. They also help startups build an MVP or a prototype and offer product design services. FasterCapital helps enhance the startup’s pitch deck, business plan, and financial operating model and assists with fundraising efforts. They support startups in raising capital from various sources and have a network of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and regional partners in Nigeria, making them an invaluable resource for startups looking to succeed in the Nigerian market.
14. Startupbootcamp:
One of the largest networks of multi-corporate backed accelerators helping startups scale internationally, Startupbootcamp is a highly respected corporate-backed accelerator that launched in Africa in 2017. It runs world-class accelerator programs and provides access to a global network of corporate partners, investors, and mentors.
Its programs include the ASIP accelerator for startups disrupting various sectors and iNOVO, which focuses on early-stage startups in Nigeria addressing challenges from Covid19. Startupbootcamp has built a strong reputation for supporting startups and driving innovation in Africa’s tech ecosystem.
15. Future Hub:
Future Hub is an incubator and investment fund that invests up to $300,000 for 5% equity in pre-Seed/Seed stage startups with industrial expertise. They offer incubation, acceleration, and support to entrepreneurs, focusing on disruptive tech-enabled business models across various sectors.
Future Hub supports African entrepreneurs and startup teams targeting the African continent with resources, knowledge, capital, and network from China. They also provide an extensive network of partners, investors, and mentors to help startups scale and achieve their goals.
16. Pioneer:
Pioneer is a global accelerator program that empowers innovative entrepreneurs who lack the resources to build successful companies. The three-month remote program offers guidance from an advisor and a small cohort of individuals to help startups develop their network and find product-market fit.
Participants also receive a free trip to San Francisco, incorporation assistance, and perks in exchange for 1% equity. Pioneer offers an optional $20,000 investment with no fees. You can apply here to become a part of the Pioneer community.
17. LeadPath Nigeria:
LeadPath Nigeria is a venture capital and acceleration firm that invests in early-stage tech startups in Nigeria. They provide funding, mentorship, and access to networks to help founders grow their businesses. Their program focuses on startups in the fintech, agritech, healthtech, and logistics sectors.
18. Founders Factory Africa:
Founders Factory Africa is a venture development company that partners with corporate investors to build and scale early-stage tech startups in Africa. They provide a six-month acceleration program that includes mentorship, access to experts, and hands-on support in product development, marketing, and fundraising.
19. Pacer Ventures:
Pacer Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in African startups in the seed and early-stage phases. They provide funding and resources to help startups achieve product-market fit and scale their businesses. Pacer Ventures is focused on startups in the fintech, healthcare, and logistics sectors. They also offer mentorship and networking opportunities to their portfolio companies.
20. Mastercard Start Path:
Mastercard’s Start Path program is a multi-faceted startup engagement program that helps raise capital, promote inclusivity, and connect entrepreneurs with the payments ecosystem. With over 250 startups having participated since 2014, the program offers a range of tracks to support fintech startups at various stages of development. These include Start Path Emerging Fintech for later-stage fintech companies, Start Path Crypto for innovative crypto firms, Start Path In Solidarity for underrepresented fintech founders, Start Path Open Banking for open banking and finance startups, and Start Path Small Business for scaling solutions for SMEs.
21. Techstars:
Techstars is a globally recognised accelerator program that invests in early-stage companies through mentorship-driven programs. They offer a $120K investment, hands-on mentorship, and access to a lifelong network. With a diverse portfolio of companies from different industries and locations, Techstars provides access to capital, mentoring, and infrastructure support. The ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator Program specifically invests in early-stage fintech and proptech companies in Africa.
22. Orange Corners:
Orange Corners is a program that strengthens the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Nigeria by enabling young entrepreneurs to develop their business concepts and become successful. The program offers a 6-month incubation program for young entrepreneurs, while serving as a bridge between them and the private sector. A collaboration between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a local service provider, the initiative provides benefits to all partners involved.
23. Village Global:
Village Global is an early-stage venture capital firm that boasts backing from notable entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos. Their accelerator program offers three months of personalised support, weekly mentorship, white-glove fundraising, access to potential customers and talent, and expert-led masterclasses.
Participants receive a $150k investment on a SAFE for 7% ownership, as well as access to a lifelong community of peers. The founders who participate in the program come from various locations worldwide, including Silicon Valley, Nigeria, India, and Colombia. The application link is available for those interested in applying.
24. Village Capital:
Village Capital is a company that empowers early-stage entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses. They focus on businesses that provide solutions for social, economic, and environmental challenges. Village Capital has a wealth of experience, having run over 150 accelerators. They provide unique tools to founders to help increase their efficiency, sustainability, impact, and inclusiveness. Village Capital has supported some of the most successful companies including top Fintech Piggyvest, leading EdTech startup Afrilearn, and many more. Apply HERE.
25. DFS Lab:
DFS Lab is an organization that invests in the digital commerce industry in Africa. Pre-seed African startups are invited to apply for their accelerator program. The program offers up to $50,000 in funding and additional support to companies working on advancing digital commerce in Africa. Post-investment, DFS Lab provides tailored growth plans for each team, office hours, mentor matching, and cohort-wide meetings.
26. Injini:
Injini is an African-based edtech accelerator and think tank that offers programs and conducts research to assist visionary founders who aim to enhance educational outcomes throughout the continent. It is a registered non-profit organization with a single mission of enhancing educational outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Injini achieves this by supporting stakeholders to improve education quality, accessibility, and relevance across the region.
27. Adaverse:
Adaverse is a venture fund and accelerator that supports blockchain founders in Africa, Asia, and other regions. It is a collaborative initiative between EMURGO and Everest Ventures Group that provides funding, mentorship, and tech infrastructure to scale Web 3 solutions. Adaverse has a preferred ticket size of $300k on average, with funding ranging from $50k to $750k. The company has global offices and teams located in Nigeria, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London. With its strong focus on blockchain technology and its network of resources and support, Adaverse is a valuable partner for startups looking to develop and scale their Web 3 solutions.
28. The Bulb Africa:
The Bulb Africa is a platform for African tech talents leveraging technology. They help startups scale, mold young Africans into tech experts and provide communities to foster growth and career advancements. They also incubate, accelerate, and co-invest in startups that can proffer efficient solutions capable of transforming the continent. Their goal is to provide exceptional learning experiences to equip African tech creatives with the skills required to compete in the fast-changing world of technology.
According to a report by the African Development Bank, Nigeria has the largest number of tech hubs in Africa, with over 90 innovation spaces. This growth is being driven by a combination of factors, including a large and youthful population, increasing internet and smartphone penetration, and a growing interest in entrepreneurship.
These startup incubators and accelerators in Nigeria play a critical role in supporting entrepreneurship by providing mentorship, funding, and resources to help early-stage companies grow and succeed. Whether an entrepreneur is looking to develop a new product, scale an existing business, or secure funding, there are many excellent programs available in Nigeria to help them achieve their goals.
