The Business Growth Initiative for Startups (BGIS), a high-impact technical assistance program designed to support women-led, growth-stage ventures in Nigeria, has officially launched with an inaugural cohort of 15 dynamic founders.
Funded by the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub an initiative of the Digital Access Programme (DAP) and implemented by Spurt! and Ubulu Africa Development Foundation (UBDEV), the BGIS program delivers specialised support tailored to help women entrepreneurs scale with structure. The programme addresses critical barriers faced by female founders in accessing strategic expertise, visibility, and catalytic partnerships required for business growth.
Tailored Support for Women Who Scale
Over a 4-month journey, BGIS will provide structured training, customised business advisory, visibility across digital media, and access to a network of mentors, partners, and investors. The initiative responds to growing evidence that while women-led startups in Nigeria demonstrate resilience and innovation, they remain disproportionately underfunded and underserved at growth stage.
This cohort of 15 startups spans fintech, edtech, food and health tech, legal and cultural AI, and SaaS collectively representing the kind of locally grounded, innovation-driven solutions needed to power inclusive growth.
Meet the BGIS 2025 Cohort:
- Rukayat Bello, Co‑Founder & CEO of Regxta
- Olapeju Umah, Co‑Founder & CEO of MyFoodAngels
- Omolara Olarerin, Co‑Founder & CEO of PocketFood
- Yvonne Williams, Co‑Founder & COO of Lingawa
- Ejide Akinbiyi, Founder & CEO of MaterialsPro
- Jennifer Esiaba, Founder of Mariam Grey
- Ngozi Nwabueze Nwasiewemua, Founder of PocketLawyer
- Rebecca Adedire, Founder of GuestsnHosts
- Olajumoke Oduwole, Founder of Alajo
- Folake Kofo-Idowu, Founder & CEO of Iyewo
- Olapeju Aregbesola, Founder of Ploutos Page
- Folake Edun, Co‑Founder & CEO of TownTalk
- Morayo Ojikutu, Founder of IM Flow
- Simisola Williams, Founder of Beyond Fitness
- Teniola Tunde-Oni, Co‑Founder & CEO of PharmaRun
A New Model for Inclusive Venture Support
BGIS fills a unique gap in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem targeting scale-stage female founders who are often left out of mainstream accelerators or funding networks. By combining technical assistance with storytelling, network building, and local expertise, it creates an enabling environment where high-potential women-led ventures can grow on their own terms.
The BGIS Growth Mixer
In July, the initiative will host a BGIS Growth Mixer, a gathering to spotlight the cohort to ecosystem enablers, potential partners, and media. The event will serve as both a platform to recognise the journeys of these women and a call for continued investment in inclusive innovation in Nigeria.
“At the heart of BGIS are the incredible women founders who are building solutions for Nigeria’s future. These leaders have demonstrated both vision and grit, and what they need now is targeted support to break through to the next level. Our role is to give them the platform, networks, and expertise to scale on their own terms. BGIS is about amplifying these women’s voices, so their impact can reach far beyond their ventures and drive truly inclusive growth across our ecosystem,“ said Kristin Wilson, Programme Management Lead.
