Spark Lab – Pilot Edition

Lagos | July–October 2026

The Challenge

Young entrepreneurs in Nigeria lack access to early-stage funding, business mentorship, and practical training & networks-

As a result, many brilliant fledgling ventures fade away for lack of support

We see talented youth with big ideas hustling hard – but without early support, too many promising startups never get off the ground.

Eligibility

  • Young person led ventures that are already operational
  • Strong preference for grassroots startups led by tradespeople
  • We especially welcome artisans and hand-work entrepreneurs

No matter how small your current business, if you've started something real, Spark Lab is here to help you grow it.

Why Now? The Opportunity in Nigeria

  • Nigeria has 62% youth unemployment or underemployment (NBS, 2023)
  • Over 80% of startups fail within 3 years —largely due to lack of early mentorship and seed capital (SMEDAN/World Bank).
  • Less than 10% of accelerators support the informal sector or non-tech startups.
  • These challenges present a huge opportunity… one that Spark Lab is seizing to empower young entrepreneurs now.

How We Measure Success

  • 75% of participants launch or scale within 6 months
  • ₦10M+ in business revenue generated across cohort
  • 3–5 new jobs created per venture
  • 50% of founders are women or non-tech artisans

Selection Process

Launch of the program

open call for applications. Young innovators and entrepreneurs submit their ideas and ventures. Outreach and information sessions to guide potential applicants .

Applications reviewed

Applications reviewed and shortlisted. Selection of the most promising applicants. Finalists notified and onboarded into the Spark Lab .

Intensive capacity-building

and mentorship program. Training in business development, leadership, impact measurement, and storytelling. Ongoing support from experts and access to resources.

Intensive capacity-building

capacity-building and mentorship program. Training in business development, leadership, impact measurement, and storytelling. Ongoing support from experts and access to resources. .