The Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) is launching the Southeast Venture Capital program, a flagship initiative to inject N70 billion into eastern Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
The Venture Capital Initiative is open to businesses at both early and advanced stages, under the incubator and accelerator categories. Early-stage startups are primed to win $ 5,000, while advanced startups will win $20,000 if they clear all the hurdles.
The initiative is the first material venture of the SEDC after many months of strategic ideation and stakeholder engagement.
The Southeast Venture Capital Program in Numbers
- 10: The number of tech categories eligible for the program. They include Manufacturing and Industrial Tech, Agritech and Food Systems, Fintech and Financial Inclusion, Commerce and Logistics, Healthtech, Clean Energy, Edtech, Creative Economy, Proptech, Digital Economy and Saas. Every other tech category outside these categories is not eligible.
- 1,086: The number of initial applications received by the Southeast Venture Capital Program.
- 209: Number of Startups have advanced to the next stage of the SEVCP Pitch Competition
- 128: Number of Accelerator startups that made it to the next stage.
- 82: Number of incubator startups that made it to the next stage.
- Monday, May 25, 2026: Finals date.
- Tuesday, May 26, 2026: Investment Ceremony.
- 60%: Pass mark for selection to the next stage.
- $20,000: Prize money for accelerator startups in the program.
- $5,000: Prize money for incubator startups in the program.
- N70 billion: Amount of Pool money from the SEDC for the entire SEVCP.
- 10: Number of members of the advisory committee featuring experts from various fields.
