UnwindFest targets Nigeria’s startup survival challenges with Founders Rant

UnwindFest by YellowLyfe will convene founders and business leaders in Lagos this month to examine what it takes to build and sustain companies in one of Africa’s most volatile operating environments.

The platform’s 10th flagship gathering, Founders Rant X, is scheduled for May 13 at Alliance Française Lagos, bringing together more than 150 founders, chief executives and operators for closed-door conversations on scaling, funding and day-to-day execution challenges.

The event comes as Africa retains the world’s highest rate of entrepreneurship, with more than one in five working-age adults engaged in starting or running businesses.

Yet access to capital remains constrained, with only about 20 percent to 33 percent of small businesses able to secure formal financing, highlighting a persistent gap between ambition and funding.

Read also: Africa’s startup investors shift toward local capital as exits gain ground

Organisers say the forum is designed to move beyond promotional narratives to address the operational realities founders face, from hiring and pricing decisions to navigating macroeconomic uncertainty.

Sessions will include keynote addresses, panel discussions and open exchanges aimed at sharing practical insights among peers.

Paul Onwuanibe, founder and chief executive officer of Landmark Africa, is set to deliver the keynote on scaling businesses and the future of entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Other speakers include Katharina Link, alongside Kehinde Ogundare, Damilola Teidi-Ayoola, Fola Olatunji-David and Kelechi Nwaozuzu.

Investor interest in African startups has risen sharply over the past decade, with funding climbing from less than $200 million in 2015 to an estimated $3 billion by 2025, driven by sectors such as fintech, media and enterprise technology.

Read also: Big deals mask shrinking seed funding across Africa’s startup ecosystem

Even so, business sustainability remains fragile, with many ventures failing within their early years due to capital constraints, operational inefficiencies and market volatility.

Small and medium-sized enterprises continue to anchor the continent’s economies, with more than 44 million SMEs contributing significantly to employment and innovation, according to industry estimates.

“Founders Rant was created because too many founders are building without enough honest context about what others are actually experiencing,” said Seyi Olaniyan, convener of UnwindFest.

“This edition is about deepening those conversations… and making sure founders are better equipped to navigate what they are building in real time,” he said.

Backed by partners including Cleva Banking, Tech Pression, Red Media Africa and Condia, the event reflects a broader push to strengthen peer learning and practical support systems for entrepreneurs navigating Nigeria’s complex business climate.