New accelerator targets Africa’s funding gap with investment-ready startup pipeline

New accelerator targets Africa’s funding gap with investment-ready startup pipeline as Adesina Assets launches Adesina Lab, a three-month virtual accelerator designed to help African entrepreneurs build stronger, investor-ready businesses.

The programme aims to equip founders with practical execution skills, mentorship and direct access to funding at a time when investors are becoming more selective about the startups they back.

For many African startups, getting funding is not the biggest challenge. The real problem is becoming ready for investment. Many founders have good ideas but struggle to build businesses with the structure, strategy and traction that investors expect.

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It is this gap that Adesina Assets hopes to address with the launch of Adesina Lab, a three-month virtual accelerator designed to help African entrepreneurs build stronger businesses and improve their chances of raising capital.

The programme, which has opened applications for its first cohort, is aimed at founders who have moved beyond the idea stage and are looking to scale their businesses. It combines weekly coaching, practical business execution, founder assessments and mentorship from experienced business leaders.

Unlike many startup accelerators that focus heavily on classroom learning, Adesina Lab says its approach centres on implementation. Participants are expected to apply lessons immediately to their businesses, with the goal of developing market-ready products, stronger marketing strategies and sustainable systems for growth.

“Great businesses are not built in classrooms,” said Opeyemi Adesina, founder and chief investment officer of Adesina Assets, explaining the hands-on coaching model behind the initiative.

The programme is delivered entirely online over three months, making it accessible to entrepreneurs across Africa regardless of location.

One of its biggest attractions is access to funding. Adesina Lab said qualifying startups will be considered for investment, with a minimum cheque size of $10,000, creating a direct pathway from mentorship to capital.

The accelerator is open to founders at the idea, early traction and growth stages, provided they are ready to execute and expand their businesses.

The launch comes at a time when venture capital funding in Africa has become more selective. While investors continue to back promising startups, they are placing greater emphasis on businesses with proven revenue models, strong governance, disciplined financial management and clear paths to profitability.

This shift has created demand for programmes that prepare founders for investor scrutiny rather than simply helping them refine business ideas.

Many African startups fail to secure funding not because innovation is lacking, but because founders struggle with financial planning, market positioning, governance structures and execution. Accelerators that focus on these fundamentals are increasingly becoming an important part of the continent’s startup ecosystem.

By combining practical coaching with the possibility of direct investment, Adesina Lab hopes to bridge the gap between entrepreneurship training and access to capital.
Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open ahead of the programme’s official public launch.