iDICE Startup Bridge Funding Opens for 100 Nigerian Startups
Quick Reads
- The Nigerian government has launched the iDICE Startup Bridge programme under the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) initiative.
- The programme offers two tracks: Founders Lab for early-stage startups and Growth Lab for growth-stage businesses.
- The best 100 founders completing Founders Lab will each receive a ₦10 million grant. This totals up to ₦1 billion ($735,000) in funding.
- Growth Lab, launching later in 2026, will offer $100,000 in equity investment with the potential for an additional $125,000 in matched funds.
- The programme is administered by Ventures Platform and targets founders outside major startup hubs for broader geographic representation.
iDICE Startup Bridge funding is now open to startup founders across Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Nigerian government launched the programme under the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) initiative. Consequently, both early-stage and growth-stage founders can apply.
The programme runs through two tracks. First, Founders Lab is a 12-week programme for idea-stage and prototype founders. It offers mentorship, structured learning, and workspace access. At each cohort’s end, the top 100 founders receive ₦10 million grants. Overall, the programme can disburse up to ₦1 billion in total grants. Meanwhile, Growth Lab, launching later in 2026, will offer $100,000 equity investments. Additionally, it will provide governance support and access to follow-on funding.
Development finance institutions back the iDICE programme. Specifically, these include the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Islamic Development Bank. Furthermore, Ventures Platform administers the programme and manages several iDICE-linked investment funds.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima chairs the iDICE Steering Committee. He said the programme gives young entrepreneurs opportunities to build or scale businesses. Moreover, he expressed confidence in its ability to reshape early-stage enterprise development.
Meanwhile, Cindy Ezerioha, Head of Startup School at iDICE Startup Bridge, explained the programme’s focus. Specifically, it targets founders who do not meet typical venture fund requirements. According to Techpoint Africa, Founders Lab will run two cohorts annually. Furthermore, the programme expects at least 250 startups to participate in 2026.
Paystack, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Pitchwise support the programme. Additionally, founders will receive internet and workspace stipends. Meanwhile, hub owners across Nigeria will host participants. In turn, they will help ensure geographic and gender representation. Startups that receive grants can compete for additional capital. Subsequently, they can access it through a national pitch competition. Therefore, for founders outside Lagos and Abuja, iDICE Startup Bridge offers a structured path to early-stage capital.
