Nigeria’s tech scene is brimming with potential, but early-stage startups often face hurdles in securing funding and gaining recognition.
Last year, after a rigorous selection process, 15 finalists moved to the final round of Pitch2Win where the top 2 winners — Pharmarun and Akowe received $10,000 and $3,000 cash prizes, respectively.
Techcircle, in collaboration with Freakout, SGverse and SGgrow, announces the return of Pitch2Win for its fourth edition and the stakes are higher than ever.
Following the success of last year’s competition, Pitch2Win is set to host this year’s edition on 12th of June, 2024, where 10 promising startups will have the chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges and investors.
The selected startups will vie for a grand prize of $10,000 equity-free funding and an all-expense-paid trip to IVS2024 Kyoto, Japan’s largest crypto conference, offering invaluable networking opportunities and exposure to global trends.
Oo Nwoye, founder of Techcircle commented, “Pitch2Win is a mechanism for identifying high-growth-potential startups that are still in their early stages, enabling them to access funding, gain invaluable exposure and receive mentorship necessary for scaling.”
The event attracts over 300 attendees, including investors, policymakers, accelerators, entrepreneurs, industry experts and founders.
As with previous editions, the event will be attended by leading investors from Japan and Singapore, including Hiro Mashita, SgVerse & SgGrow Founder; Yuzuru Honda, Founder & Global CEO of FreakOut Holdings Inc.; representatives from IVS Event and other investment companies scouting for interesting early-stage startups in Nigeria.
Pitch2Win has forged a reputation for discovering innovative startups, introducing game-changing technologies, and fostering discussions crucial for early-stage startups – and this year will be no different.
Past participants like Reliance Health, LifeBank, Edves, Lendsqr, and Figorr (formerly Gricd) have collectively raised over $50 million, with Reliance Health, the winner of the maiden edition of Pitch2Win, alone raising $46 million in two funding rounds. Curacel, Reliance Health, and Plumter have all gone to YC after participating in Pitch2Win. Pharmarun, winner of Pitch2Win 3, also secured a $50,000 grant from an initiative sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In an interview with Forbes Africa Ibrahim Adepoju, co-founder of Tyms, a finance and accounting automation software, said Pitch2Win was instrumental in helping the startup close its pre-seed round and raise $115,000 within two weeks after the event. Kehinde Olateru, CEO of ZeroComplex AI, another finalist at Pitch2Win 3, secured pre-seed funding after catching the eye of Olumide Soyombo, founder of Voltron Capital and one of the judges.
“Winning Pitch2Win last year was a game-changer for Pharmarun,” said Teniola Adedeji, Pharmarun’s CEO. “Platforms like this are crucial because they showcase founders to the right investors, connect us with industry experts for valuable feedback, and ultimately help us accelerate our growth.”
Eligibility for Pitch2Win 4:
- Visionary innovators
- Early-stage technology-enabled startups
- Nigerian-based innovators
- Available to attend the physical event scheduled for the 12th of June, 2024, in Lagos.
Founders who meet these criteria are encouraged to apply by filling out this form. The application deadline is 5th May 2024.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities and how to be part of this event, visit https://www.techcircle.ng
For live updates on Pitch2Wlin, follow Techcircle Twitter (X), Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram
