The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), via the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), has partnered with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to launch iHatch.
iHatch is a startup incubation programme aimed at increasing the number of innovation-driven enterprises by Nigerian youths.
Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, Hadiza Umar, said the incubation program will provide an opportunity for startups that have innovative business ideas along with a prototype of their products or services.
iHatch is a 5-month free intensive incubation program designed to help Nigerian entrepreneurs perfect their business ideas through a series of coaching, lectures, and boot camps, to generate viable and scalable business models.
NITDA said participating startups will receive free offline and online interactive training from experienced coaches and mentors from over the world. Other benefits include free co-working space for the duration of the programme and investment opportunities.
“iHatch seeks to establish a programme that will accelerate the process of taking ideas to impact, hence providing the much-needed jobs for our teeming youths, and also nurturing that entrepreneurial spirit in them, which will catalyse the Nigerian digital economy to the next level,” said Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director-General of NITDA.
Objectives
- Support entrepreneurs that use creative commercial services and products to address social challenges.
- Create a model incubation program and expand it to other states in Nigeria.
- Strengthen the technological ecosystem by centering support on selected IT sectors.
- Establish connections between the startups and investors/corporations.
- Boost the number of successful businesses to improve employment rates.
Who can apply
- Individuals/groups with an innovative business plan with a product or prototype that would aid in developing the Nigerian economy.
- Individuals/groups willing to establish legal company and begin business operations in Nigeria.
- Participants must be at least 18-years-old.
- Sectors: All sectors- Agritech, Fintech, Healthtech etc
Application for Cohort 1 of 2022 is open from 6 January to 31 January 2022.
