Techstars, the startup investor in Africa, held its second pan-African Demo Day in partnership with Lagos-based innovation program, the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator Demo Day.
The three-month accelerator program saw 12 startups present to Techstars’ vast network of investors, mentors, senior operators, and ecosystem leaders, unveiling achievements and future plans whilst vying for strategic partnerships and commercial collaboration.
The startups included 24Seven, Beauty Hut, Eight Medical, GetEquity, JumpnPass, One Plan, PBR Life Sciences, PressOne Africa, Rana, Surge Africa, Swoove and Veend. The startups went through a three-month program, received $120,000 each in investment, plus comprehensive training and mentorship and access to more than 300 perks, valued at over $4 million in savings, and will benefit from lifetime access to the Techstars worldwide network.
According to Oyin Solebo, Managing Director of ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator, “At Techstars, we are committed to empowering entrepreneurs through our accelerators, venture funds, and network of investors, corporates, and mentors across various cities. We firmly believe that entrepreneurs are the driving force behind a better future for all, and our mandate is to ensure they succeed. As the world’s most active pre-seed investor, we are also proud to have become the most active startup investor in Africa.”.
Adetayo Bamiduro, Co-founder of Max.ng, the first African startup selected for a Techstars program emphasised the profound impact Techstars has had on his startup since selection in 2015, and also shared meaningful insights on the startup’s learnings, milestones and the growth opportunity that Africa offers.
ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator cohort mastered articulating and executing their business models, also honing their pitching skills along the way. The program boosted their capabilities, propelling them into the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey and the event now sets the stage for follow-on investment and innovation in the months ahead for the cohort.
The third cohort intake will be later on this year, applications will open mid-May. Startups can register here.