The Sola and Ibukun Adeyinka (SIA) Foundation, a Lagos-based non-profit dedicated to promoting social and economic inclusion in Africa, has awarded $10,000 to winners in its inaugural SIA Startup Foundry program.
Aligned with its mission to nurture African entrepreneurship, the program provided essential resources for growth to 40 businesses. Sola Adeyinka, co-chair of SIA Foundation, expressed pride in the passionate innovators who participated, stating that the program embodies the foundation’s commitment to Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit and fostering a thriving business ecosystem.
Participants underwent an intensive four-week boot camp covering critical business topics, receiving mentorship and guidance from experts in various fields. Following a rigorous selection process, five exceptional businesses – OJ Technologies (winner), Greenera Technologies (first runner-up), Verd Foods (second runner-up), Natal Cares (second runner-up), and Dash Studios (second runner-up) – were awarded grant funding to fuel their businesses.
Oluwajoba Oloba, co-founder of The Nest, emphasized the program’s potential for profound and lasting impact on both winners and participants, fueling economic growth and charting a course towards a more prosperous Africa.
Gift Muoneke of Grace Darko of Verd Foods, a beneficiary of the grant funding, commended the program for teaching scalable business strategies, while Uche Udekwe, founder of Natal Cares, highlighted the importance of resilience and community support in the startup world. The partnership between the SIA Foundation and The Nest underscores their shared vision and collective efforts in driving sustainable change across the continent.
