We are pleased to announce that 209 startups have advanced to the next stage of the SEVCP Pitch Competition — the maiden edition of a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship across South East Nigeria.

Following a rigorous first phase that attracted 1,086 applications, the selected cohort comprises:

• 128 startups from the Accelerator Track
• 82 startups from the Incubator Track

These startups will now proceed to the next phase of the competition.

About the SEVCP

The South East Venture Capital Program (SEVCP) is a government-backed initiative established to identify, support, and accelerate high-potential startups within the region.

The program is designed to:

• Promote the development of technology-driven enterprises
• Facilitate access to capital and growth opportunities for founders
• Strengthen the innovation ecosystem across the South East
• Position the region as a competitive hub for entrepreneurship and investment

To effectively support startups at different stages of growth, the program operates across two tracks:

• Incubator Track — focused on early-stage startups developing and validating minimum viable products
• Accelerator Track — focused on startups with existing traction, active users, and revenue

The pitch competition serves as a key entry point into the program, enabling the identification of startups with strong potential for scale and impact.

Selection Process

All applications were subjected to a structured and merit-based evaluation process. Each submission was assessed based on:

• Clarity and relevance of the problem being addressed
• Strength and viability of the proposed solution
• Evidence of execution (including MVPs, traction, or validation)
• Market opportunity and scalability potential
• The role and depth of technology within the product

Only startups that met a minimum threshold of 60% (3.0/5) progressed to this stage.

For a detailed overview of the evaluation methodology, please refer to the full article here.

Significance of Advancement

Startups advancing to this stage have demonstrated:

• Strong alignment between problem and solution
• Evidence of active development and execution
• Credible potential for growth and scalability
• Meaningful integration of technology

Their selection reflects both the quality of their submissions and their potential contribution to the region’s innovation landscape.

Next Phase: Video Pitch

The selected startups will now participate in the Video Pitch Phase, where founders will present their ventures directly.

This phase is designed to further assess clarity of thought, depth of understanding, and the capability of founding teams to effectively articulate their value proposition and progress.

Competition Prizes

As the competition progresses, participating startups will compete for the following:

• $20,000 prize for the Accelerator Track
• $5,000 prize for the Incubator Track

In addition to financial support, participants will gain increased visibility and access to ecosystem opportunities that support long-term growth.

Grand Finale

The competition will culminate in a Grand Finale scheduled for the 25th and 26th of May, where top-performing startups will present their solutions before a live audience.

Stakeholders across the ecosystem, including investors, operators, policymakers, and members of the public, are invited to attend.

Register to attend the Grand Finale here

Acknowledgement

We extend our sincere appreciation to all founders who submitted applications. The volume and quality of submissions reflect the growing entrepreneurial capacity within the region.

We also acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our ecosystem partners — Genesys Tech Hub, Startup South, and The Garage — who supported and managed the evaluation process during this first phase. Their expertise, diligence, and commitment were instrumental in ensuring a fair, structured, and high-quality review process.

Looking Ahead

The SEVCP Pitch Competition continues with the evaluation of video submissions as we move toward identifying the most promising startups within this cohort.

We remain committed to supporting innovation and enterprise development across South East Nigeria.