Lagos, Nigeria — September 16, 2026 — The iDICE Startup Bridge, an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme and implemented by the Bank of Industry (BOI), has commenced the second cohort of its Founders Lab programme. The programme welcomed 200 selected idea-stage founders from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reinforcing the programme’s commitment to creating access to entrepreneurship support and opportunities for emerging founders regardless of their location.
The new cohort officially began on September 8, 2026, bringing together a diverse group of aspiring technology entrepreneurs selected to participate in a structured programme designed to help them move from early-stage ideas towards stronger, more validated ventures.
The commencement of Cohort 2 builds on the experience of Founders Lab Cohort 1, where participants had the opportunity to access partner benefits like AWS credits and legal support from TLP Advisory, amongst many others. In the masterclass sessions, they got to learn directly from top entrepreneurs like Sim Shagaya of Miva University/Myka and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji of Future Africa, who led sessions focused on turning learning into traction, and building successful ventures.
Participants also engaged with expert-led self-paced courses and learning content from professionals including Dotun Olowoporoku – Managing Partner, Ventures Platform Fund, Fola Olatunji-David – Founding Partner, Kickoff Africa, among others. These learning experiences complemented practical exercises and assessments designed to help participants better understand the problems they were solving, engage potential users, test their assumptions and strengthen their early-stage ventures.
The experience of the first cohort provides a foundation for the new group of founders as they begin their own journey through Founders Lab.
As Cohort 2 begins, the selected founders will embark on a structured journey focused on learning, validation, experimentation and execution, with opportunities to demonstrate their progress and unlock further support as they advance through the programme
About iDICE
The iDICE Startup Bridge is an initiative under the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme, a Federal Government of Nigeria intervention designed to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation within the digital and creative sectors. The iDICE Programme is implemented by the Bank of Industry and co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
The iDICE Startup Bridge operates through two distinct entrepreneurship programmes: Founders Lab, an Incubator for entrepreneurs at the ideation phase, and Growth Lab – an Accelerator for post-MVP ventures ready to scale and raise institutional capital.
For additional information and interview requests, contact info@startupbridge.ng
