LAGOS – The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has held a pre-selection session to shortlist tech innovators who would participate in its final pitch during its annual flagship tech event.
The event, DBN Techpreneur Summit with the theme: ‘Catalysing Tech Innovation: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Regenerative Growth,’ held recently in Lagos, a statement by the bank said was in furtherance of its strategic role of stimulating the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.
The statement hinted that the Techpreneur Summit 2024 sought to promote and showcase investor-ready technology innovations within Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, while also providing access to a pipeline of investors and subsequently funding to qualified techprenuers.
Dr. Tony Okpanachi, the Managing Director, DBN, said that there were over 100 tech companies on the longlist of entries received for the pitch at the expiration of the timeline for submission of ideas.
He stated that last weekend, Saturday, June 29, 2024 to be precise, a panel of evaluators consisting of respected industry leaders held the pre-selection session to assess each submitted entry in line with the criteria and guidelines set for the participating innovators.
Okpanachi stated that at the end of the pre-screening, a total of 20 tech innovators drawn from across fintech, health tech, transport, IOT and other segments scaled the hurdles to the final pitch stage.
Okpanachi, explained it was a very important stage to narrow the space for the best among equals to be determined, adding that it was also a cost and time-saving mechanism for both the innovators and evaluators.
He said: “Pre-selection of innovators provides feedback on the viability and potential of the innovation, and enhances the innovator’s pitch and overall chances. It boosts confidence for the competing teams.
“Streamlining the selection process also reduces stress and anxiety for innovators that make the shortlist, thereby helping them to focus on the best ways to achieve success at the pitch and in their presentation.’’
Okpanachi affirmed that by supporting MSMEs and tech innovators to grow and scale up, DBN plays a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of micro and medium enterprises, as well as the tech industry in Nigeria and empowering them to contribute significantly to the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.
The bank, he noted, also contributed significantly by driving inclusive economic growth and improved quality of lives for Nigerians.
Affirming the importance of the screening session, Mrs. Comfort Aruosa-Osemwegie, the Managing Director of Addium Capital, stated that it was aimed at making the tech founders ready for potential investors, who would also be attending this year’s techpreneur summit.
She disclosed that through a partnership between DBN and Addium, a private equity and venture capital firm, an exclusive deal room would hold within the summit and would serve as a platform for techpreneurs to meet with potential investors directly.
She said: “On July 10, tech founders will have access to at least 50 curated investors during the summit. We are curating the summit in unique ways whereby the tech startups can sit with prospective investors that are coming to the event. This was the reason we had the pre-screening on 29th of June. We had hundreds of startup founders pre-screened.
“The idea is, we wanted to ensure they are investors-ready; so, when we bring them to investors on the 10th of July, we are bringing in deals. We call them deals or startups that actually are ready for investment. We took the proposals through screening to ensure we pick or get to find the best fit for the investors we are bringing in.”