The Itanna Team
It has been an exciting 2 months at Itanna and this week, we are conducting the second round of interviews for startups to join Lagos’ newest tech accelerator; Itanna. We launched the programme towards the end of last year, searching for fintech startups to join our inaugural cohort. We wanted to attract entrepreneurs or tech founders who were ready to take their MVP to the next stage of its journey. Itanna, which literally means “to ignite”, is a partnership between the Honeywell Group and the African Economic Revolution Fund (AERF) – two entities who wanted to collaborate on a long-term project that connects innovation, entrepreneurship and social impact.
This partnership came about in a joint bid to make a positive, tangible, and business-focussed impact on the African tech ecosystem – starting with Nigeria and starting with fintech.
By coming together to create Itanna, AERFand Honeywell Group bring a wealth of experience and knowledge. As a team, we have collectively raised close to $100bn in capital for African firms and institutions, and built thriving businesses through our 50 year track record.
What Itanna can Offer
Through the combined skills and network of AERF and Honeywell Group, Itanna is going to be doing things differently. We will be helping to take startups beyond the MVP stage and will accelerate their growth using all the tools in our arsenal including:
- 5-month programme in a collaborative community working space
- $20,000 investment from Honeywell Group and AERF in all participants
- $100,000 investment from Honeywell Group and AERF in the top 2 graduates
- Hands-on mentorship and expertise from both Honeywell Group and AERF
- Introductions to and guidance from Honeywell Group key decision makers
- Hands-on advice from the AERF experts
- Mentoring from leading entrepreneurs and industry experts in Africa
- The opportunity to pitch your business to Honeywell Group and AERF’s networks of investors
Although our first cohort is open to any fintech applications; we have a specific focus on blockchain technologies, mobile and virtual registrars, credit scoring, data analytics, online lending, investTech, ‘Bots, payments and remittances.
Abundance of Talent is Overwhelming
When we made our initial call for applications last November, we had done our homework through conversations with stakeholders across the continent. They confirmed the talent was there, and supported our belief that Itanna would be able to help them take their product to the next level; but we would only know for sure once applications started coming in.
As we conduct our second round of interviews this week, we have been impressed by the quality of startups who have applied to Itanna. These have been quite extraordinary – and we haven’t even closed applications yet – that’s 31st January. We are still looking for amazing entrepreneurs to apply.
So, if you truly believe you are a part of an elite group of the finest fintech minds on the continent, apply now.
