The iDICE Startup Bridge has officially opened applications for Founders Lab Cohort 2, providing early-stage Nigerian entrepreneurs with the opportunity to access up to N10 million in non-equity funding. The 12-week programme is designed for founders aged 18 to 35 who are at the idea, prototype, or pre-minimum viable product (MVP) stage and are building digital or technology-enabled businesses.
Programme Structure and Benefits
Participants will undergo structured training, mentorship, and hands-on business development guidance. The programme focuses on validating business ideas, understanding customer needs, refining or developing MVPs, and creating financial projections and execution plans. By the end of the cohort, founders are expected to have a validated problem-solution fit, a defined target market, a product roadmap, and a clear business strategy.
Sessions will be conducted primarily online, with physical workshops available at partner hubs across Nigeria. Outstanding participants who meet all programme requirements may become eligible for non-equity funding of up to N10 million. The organisers emphasised that funding is performance-based and not automatic, depending on attendance, milestone completion, business viability, execution readiness, and compliance with documentation. Crucially, no equity is required in exchange for the funding.
Founders who complete the cohort may also gain access to further ecosystem support and structured funding pathways, including the iDICE Growth Lab, subject to readiness.
Eligibility and Application Process
Applications are open to founders between 18 and 35 years old whose businesses are at the idea or market validation stage. Applicants must intend to operate within Nigeria and commit fully to the 12 weeks of learning sessions, assignments, evaluations, and Demo Day activities. The programme targets entrepreneurs who need structured capacity-building before approaching larger investors.
Satisfying basic eligibility criteria does not guarantee a spot, as applications are reviewed competitively. Assessors evaluate each submission based on clarity of the problem addressed, market potential, team capability, readiness to execute, and alignment with programme goals.
Related Government Initiatives
In a related development, the Nigerian government has announced programmes to empower market women, small-scale traders, and artisans with zero-interest loans of up to N100,000 through MarketMoni and TraderMoni. MarketMoni provides interest-free loans for working capital, inventory restocking, and business expansion, with zero collateral, a 3-month moratorium before repayment, and nationwide coverage across all six geopolitical zones.
