The basic criteria for applying to the competition include: a seed-stage company, less than two years of existence, below $500,000 funding and availability of MVP.
A statement from the trio said Seedstars World is looking for smart startups that solve regional issues and/or develop profitable products for the global market.
further says that applications can be done by invitation through key incubators, accelerators and investors in the market. It may also be done through the open pre-application on www.seedstarsworld.com/event/seedstars-lagos-2015/.
Applications are open until July 12. Marcello Schermer, regional manager for Africa, Seedstars World, said: “We are really happy to partner with Startup Week in Nigeria as it is one of the largest and most important events for entrepreneurship in the country. We believe partnerships are essential elements to drive the growth of an ecosystem and we couldn’t have found a better partner for this. Together with Startup Week Lagos, we can promote entrepreneurship and elevate Nigerian startups to a global stage.”
Simeon Ononobi, co-founder, SimplePay, an online payment system and winner of Seedstars Lagos in 2013, said: “It’s a great competition and really an eye opener. For me, Seedstars was a great step in the right direction, as I did not only get funds but also acquired the required expertise and exposure my business needed.”
“I would encourage any and every startup to make sure it joins in on the greatness that is Seedstars and not be left out. If you get into the community, you get to meet other people of like minds and trust me it’s an adventure you want to be part of. Today I have friends from over 20 countries that want to help my business expand into their respective countries,” Simeon said.
One of the organisers, Olumide Olayinka said: “We are committed to supporting Startups/SMEs and entrepreneurs with investment opportunities, mentoring and tools to make great ideas come to life. With an annual GDP of over 500 billion dollars, Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy and is set to experience significant growth over the next couple of years as predicted by economists across the globe. Lagos Startup Week hopes to bring together major industry players and create a platform to harness opportunities and encourage growth of the startup ecosystem in Nigeria.”
Lagos Startup Week is a week-long event made up of various sessions, keynotes, panels, pitches & meet-ups where entrepreneurs gather to learn from local and visiting entrepreneurs as they share their experiences and get ready to take on the continent’s next challenge. More details can be found on:www.lagosstartupweek.com
