Nigerian entrepreneurs, business owners, and accelerators, among others, have been encouraged to actively engage in the recently-launched Startup Support portal. The Federal Government launched the Startup Support and Engagement Portal, as a key requirement for the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act. The launch was announced by the Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, on his X account.
He stated; “The startup portal will drive the identification and aggregation of Nigerian startups, venture capital companies, hubs and innovation centres to facilitate engagement and support for ecosystem players. The launch of the portal will allow us to initiate the process of setting up the startup consultative forums to select representatives to the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, to facilitate discourse and consensus among Nigerian ecosystem players”. He, however, invited all Nigerian startups, venture capital companies, hubs and innovation centres to register. Criteria to enrol are:
a. Be a limited liability company registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).
b. Be a company existing for less than 10 years from the date of incorporation.
c. Have objects that are focused on innovation, development, production, improvement, and commercialisation of a digital technology innovative product or process.
d. Be a holder or repository of a product or process of digital technology or the owner or author of a registered software.
e. Have at least one-third of local shareholding held by one or more Nigerians as founder or co-founder of the startup.
f. Satisfy the conditions set out in the Act, in the case of a sole proprietorship or partnership.
g. Be a tech-enabled business that uses existing tools, platforms, libraries, and frameworks to make a company or a solution more efficient or effective
To register:
1. Visit: http://startup.gov.ng
2. Scroll down the page to reveal the options for Startups, Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists or Accelerators, Innovation Hubs and Incubators
3. Select Startups
4. Enter the following details:
a. RC Number (Unique CAC identification number)
b. Company Name
c. Year of Incorporation
d. Industry (type)
e. Media
f. Start-Up description
g. Company E-mail
h. Company Address
i. Company website
j. Founder’s Full Name
k. First Name + Last Name
l. Founder’s E-mail Address
m. Founder’s Phone Number
n. Founder’s Means of Identification (BVN or NIN)
5. Submit the correct form details via registration link.
