Enterprise Hubs kick-starts monthly open day for start-ups, entrepreneurs

Enterprise Hubs, Nigeria’s first integrated resource centre dedicated to entrepreneurs, has kicked off a monthly open day tagged ‘Ventures Day’. The first of the series took place at its Victoria Island centre located at 22, Water Cooperation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island on Friday, November 8, to the thrill of over 50 attendants made up of start-ups, entrepreneurs and guests.

The event which was streamed live on Instagram included a tour of the co-working facilities, a real-time demo of Enterprise Hubs’ integrated operating portal Six Solutions System and climaxed with a long advertised ‘Enterprise Talk’ on the theme ‘Micro-finance and Entrepreneurs: Opportunities and Options’ which explored the wide range of opportunities for both investing profitably in micro-finance sector and raising working capital through micro-finance institutions.

The speaker, Adolphus Abraham, a seasoned former commercial banker, now managing director of Rigo Micro-finance Bank, provided an insight and responses into questions raised by the audience.

One of the most unique features of the event was the ‘Venture Pitch’’ – a live window which Enterprise Hubs provided for five innovative entrepreneurs to showcase their products in various sectors, ranging from agriculture to quantum computing to a video streaming application.

Based on the audience feedback, the pitching opportunity compared well in favourability with the one-on-one matchmaking, which took place well into the evening at the Enterprise Hubs outdoor garden. Entrepreneurs struck actual transactions at the event, including two who landed potential financing offers for their innovations and ventures.

As a way of lightening the mood, attendees watched a short ‘Ice Breaker’ video which was an excerpt from a television programme whose focus was about pitching business ideas to potential venture capital providers. It was used to illustrate the importance of preparation and knowing exactly what entrepreneurs need to secure funding and to succeed for the long term.

While commending the guest speaker after the event, Nkechi Arinze, executive director, Pedestal Africa Limited, owners of Enterprise Hubs, confirmed that the Open Day Ventures Day would henceforth be a monthly event to be held on the first Saturday of every month to enable more entrepreneurs and start-ups avail themselves of the marketing, learning and capacity building features of the programme.