Ibukun Amosu

18/11/2025

₦50,000,000 EQUITY-FREE GRANT

The Federal Government of Nigeria just launched the NEXT MOONSHOT INITIATIVE – Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG).

If you're a student in ANY Nigerian University, Polytechnic, or College of Education with a big idea in:
Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics
Medical Sciences

This is YOUR shot.

What you get:
💰 Up to ₦50 MILLION cash grant (0% equity)
🏢 Incubation + office space
🧪 Access to labs, tools & cloud credits
💡 Direct mentorship from top founders
🤖 Powered by Google Gemini AI

PLUS: Every applicant gets 1 YEAR of free Google Gemini Pro + premium courses, even if you don’t win the grant.

Build Nigeria’s next unicorn—from your hostel, lab, or classroom.

⏳ Applications close soon!

👉 Apply Now: https://svcg.education.gov.ng/

05/11/2025

𝐻𝑒𝑦 𝑁𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎! 🇳🇬 Don’t miss your chance to join the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐈 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 — where innovation meets impact! 💡

Are you a 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 passionate about solving real-world problems with 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? This is your stage to shine and represent Nigeria on the African stage! 🌍

Organized by 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐍𝐄𝐓) to empower young innovators, students & researchers across the country.

🏆 $𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞 for 5 top teams
📅 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐬: Nov 10–28 | 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬: Dec 3–4
📍 Hosted across 6 regions nationwide

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬:
🧠 AI in Health
🔐 AI in Security
🌱 AI in Green Economy
💡 General Innovative AI Solutions

👥 Teams of up to 3 (𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟏 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞)

⏰ 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: Nov 6, 2025

👉 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: community.deepfunding.ai/hackathon/nigeria-national-ai-hackathon-2025/

03/11/2025

This Week's Rounds of Startup & Funding Opportunities for Founders & Entrepreneurs in Africa

Funema Founder Fellowship
💵 Over $1M in funding + investment readiness program
🎯 Eligibility: Founders across Africa
🗓️ Deadline: TBD
🔗 Apply: https://www.funema.co/best/entrepreneurs/founders-fellowship

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
💰 Up to $300K + capacity building & mentorship for social/environmental projects
🎯 Eligibility: Early-stage nonprofit or for-profit impact ventures (Africa, Europe, India, USA)
🗓️ Deadline: Rolling (year-round)
🔗 Apply: https://www.drkfoundation.org/apply-for-funding/what-we-fund/

Accelerate X Fuzé Challenge
🚚 Empowering Transport & Logistics startups and tech-enabled businesses in East Africa, by Yiri - Africa Global Logistics and Digital Africa
🎯 Eligibility: Startups in Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania
🗓️ Deadline: TBA
🔗 Apply: https://kw20qfzcb92.typeform.com/to/ETfzilDK
🌐 Learn more: https://acceleratexfuzechallenge.com/

216 Capital Venture Accelerator
💶 €50,000 funding + 6-month investment-readiness program (Plug and Play Africa)
🎯 Eligibility: Pre-seed tech startups in Tunisia
🗓️ Deadline: November 9, 2025
🔗 Apply: https://216capital.vc/venture-accelerator

100x Impact Accelerator by London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
🧭 £150,000 grants + access to global impact network
🎯 Eligibility: For-profits or non-profits tackling climate, inequality, healthcare, migration, democracy, or education
🗓️ Deadline: November 10, 2025
🔗 Apply: https://100ximpactaccelerator.submittable.com/submit/337452/cohort-2026-27-application-form-round-1

Break In by Dedalus Labs
🤖 Investor access + technology support + 3-week residency in San Francisco (fully funded)
🎯 Eligibility: AI startups worldwide
🗓️ Deadline: November 10, 2025
🔗 Apply: https://www.dedaluslabs.ai/breakin

Pitch2Scale Africa Competition
💼 $10,000 funding + visibility + mentorship by 234Finance
🎯 Eligibility: Startups in Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Energy, Hospitality & Tourism, or Creative Economy
🗓️ Deadline: November 15, 2025
🔗 Apply: www.234finance.com/mmc

Techstars Accelerators (Spring Programs)
💵 $200,000 Funding + mentorship from the Techstars network. Global accelerators across multiple hubs
🌍 Eligibility: Early-stage startups
🗓️ Deadline: Nov 19, 2025
🔗 Apply: techstars.com/accelerators

👉 Tag a founder
🔁 RT to spread

30/10/2025

🚀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚!

The 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐈 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 is here — your chance to build 𝐀𝐈-𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 that address real-world problems and shape the future of innovation in Nigeria 🇳🇬

💡 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞: $1,000 USD for the top 5 teams
🌍 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: North-Central, North-West, South-West, South-South, South-East & North-East
🗓️ 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐬: Nov 10–28, 2025
🏆 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥: Dec 3–4, 2025

Open to 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 in tertiary institutions (teams of 3, incl. at least 1 female member).

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬:
🤖 AI in Health
🛡️ AI in Security
🌱 AI in Green Economy
💭 General AI Innovations

The winning team will represent 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 at the 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭, powered by 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (by SingularityNET).

🕓 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: Nov 6, 2025

🔗 Apply here: https://community.deepfunding.ai/hackathon/nigeria-national-ai-hackathon-2025

29/09/2025

“Gatekeeping” has become a dirty word, especially in the tech and startup world. We associate gatekeepers with arrogance, exclusivity and power hoarding…people standing at the door saying, “You are not good enough to be here."

But let’s be honest: not all gatekeepers are bad. In fact, we need them.

Gatekeeping, when done right, protects focus, filters for quality and keeps unserious noise out of high-value spaces.

Without it, every founder group, investor circle, accelerator or hiring process would be flooded with chaos.

In this article, I discuss why we still need them, despite their bad reps.

Have you experienced gatekeeping in tech or startups: good or bad?

What do you think healthy gatekeeping looks like?

Have a full read here: https://medium.com//not-all-gatekeepers-are-bad-some-keep-the-ecosystem-healthy-7565bbe34870

PS: Subscribe to my Medium page

“Gatekeeping” has become a dirty word, especially in the tech and startup world.

22/08/2025

UNICEF Remote Internship Program

$1,700 Stipends

Requirements:
Enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or PhD programme, or have graduated within the past two years.
No prior professional work experience is typically required

Apply: https://www.unicef.org/careers/internships

19/08/2025

Hello job seekers, don’t ever introduce yourself like this in an interview.

16/08/2025

RemoStart is bringing together founders, builders, investors, AI enthusiasts, and policymakers for Africa’s most anticipated AI & entrepreneurship event.

📅 Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
📍 Location: Lagos
🎟 Strictly by invitation

Connect with the brightest minds building Africa’s AI-powered future. This year’s edition will deepen conversations, spark collaborations, and unlock real value for Africa’s growth.

What to expect:
✨ Keynotes from AI trailblazers
💡 Panels on AI’s impact across key sectors
🤖 AI product showcases
💼 Investor lounge
🛠 Hands-on workshops
🤝 Networking & dinner

🎯 Register now – limited spots available:

🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-preneur-age-of-intelligence-august-30-2025-lagos-tickets-1526644567999

11/08/2025

🔥 This Week’s Top Startup Funding, Fellowship & Accelerator Calls for African Founders & Entrepreneurs

Antler Residency Lagos (October Cohort)
💰 $100K+ pre-seed to turn big ideas into real companies.
Eligibility: Idea stage or MVP
📅 Deadline: Rolling
📌 Apply here: https://www.antler.co/apply-new

SheScales Africa – Opolo Global Innovation
💡 6-week investment readiness program for female founders shaping Africa’s future.
Eligibility: Tech or tech-enabled products
📅 Deadline: August 19, 2025
📌 Apply here: https://shescales.opolo.global/

Reckitt Catalyst Accelerator
💸 US$30K equity to scale underrepresented founders improving access to healthcare or WASH.
Eligibility: Africa, Asia, LATAM, U.S.
📅 Deadline: August 17, 2025
📌 Apply here: https://www.reckitt.com/our-impact/fairer-society/social-impact/

AfriLeap Capital Fund
💸 Equity & catalytic capital for early-stage African startups
Eligibility: Pre-seed & Seed-stage companies, sector-agnostic
📌 Apply here:
https://afrileapcapital.com/apply-for-funding/

Female Funding Fit Programme – The French Embassy / WomHub
💶 €10K catalytic funding for tech-enabled female founders.
Eligibility: Businesses in South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi
📅 Deadline: August 21, 2025
📌 Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgABbKyu5RbxctRNzOiOt8Rvh0CWtqNTvyBv_pLkxjPngusQ/viewform?fbzx=3711243703784682573

MEST AI Startup Program 2026
🎓 12-month fully funded AI entrepreneurship program with up to $100K pre-seed investment.
Eligibility: African founders building AI-driven products in West Africa
📅 Deadline: August 22, 2025 (Rolling review)
📌 Apply here: https://mestaistartupprogram.smapply.us/prog/mest_ai_startupprogram_class_of_2026/

Call: OPEN START Program – Open Startup & CEED Morocco
⚡ For African startups building fintech, AI, or deep-tech solutions.
Eligibility: Early to growth-stage startups.
📅 Deadline: August 25, 2025
📌 Apply here: https://www.f6s.com/open-start/apply

Changemakers Innovation Challenge – ACT Foundation
💡 Grants for youth using technology & innovation to create social impact.
Eligibility: Mobile health, farm automation, telemedicine, ed-tech, microfinance
📅 Deadline: August 22, 2025
📌 Apply here: https://changemakers.actrustfoundation.org/

Women in Africa Deal Accelerator (Phase 2) – BCG
🚀 Helping women-led businesses raise capital & scale.
Eligibility: FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, RetailTech, Agriculture Services, Health & Social Care, Childcare & Early Education, Hospitality & Domestic Services
📌 Apply here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Cy_7LSFNaEKVWXKSYUTJGIxzxvqSW-ZMg9D9nVTUPe9UNTNONFZZT1dPMVpMM1I1SFc5N05WTkFEUi4u&route=shortur

Founder Institute Abuja Startup Accelerator
🌍The world’s largest pre-seed accelerator helping founders move from idea to traction.
Eligibility: Idea or early-stage entrepreneurs.
📅 Deadline: Rolling (Fall 2025 cohort open)
📌 Apply: https://fi.co/apply/abuja

💡 Tag someone who should apply.
🔁 Repost to keep others informed.
📩 Follow me for weekly drops liker

11/08/2025

Relationships are investment. Don’t expect a return when you have not invested in one.

11/08/2025

This weekend, I had the privilege of being invited as a Special Guest at TheData Immersed(TDI) Tech Summit 1.0 – “The Next Digital Revolution: Tech, Ethics, and Society.”

The speakers and panels were truly top-notch — kudos to Anne Nnamani for putting together such a remarkable event.

We explored thought-provoking topics, including:
- Bridging the gap between academia and AI
- Boosting online visibility as a global talent
- Moving beyond talent to making lasting impact
- Data protection and privacy in the digital age

One of the highlights for me was the keynote session by Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare. These quotes stuck with me:

“Data is life.”
“The future is self-learning.”
“Remove frustrations as early as possible in your startup building journey.”
“Co-founder relationships are an important one, build them early.”

Truly an inspiring and insightful experience. Here’s to building, learning, and shaping the future responsibly.

09/08/2025

More to achieve 🎉

Today marks 4 years since The Intern Place was born, around 11:20 PM to be exact.

We haven’t fully launched version 2 yet; we’re still building, still learning, still refining.

The mission remains the same: to connect job seekers to internships and entry-level opportunities, and help companies hire efficiently — now powered by AI.

Deep gratitude to everyone who has believed in us, supported us, and shared in this vision.

The internship recruitment space still has a long way to go. We must create a consistent, sustainable pipeline of young, talented professionals entering the workforce.

We’re on that journey and we’re just getting started. 🚀