To build a formidable business ecosystem that can stand the test of time, one must first build people into leaders. Then these leaders will hold the touch through the journey of building the desired ecosystem.
Endeavor Nigeria, in a bid to contribute to building the desired ecosystem, has unveiled the inaugural cohort of entrepreneurs for its 10-week Endeavor ScaleUp Program. Endeavor ScaleUp aims to support Nigeria’s most promising and high-impact business leaders by exposing them to an extensive global network.
Seven entrepreneurs from four Nigeria-based startups have been selected to participate in the program. Participants will have access to cutting-edge business supports like mentorship, fundraising support, partnerships and a continual network of impactful entrepreneurs.
The selected ScaleUp entrepreneurs are Ikenna Nzewi and Uzoma Ayogu, CEO and CTO at Releaf, an agritech startup using technology to grow food factories in Africa; Tomilola Majekodunmi, co-founder and CEO at Bankly, a fintech startup providing cash digitisation services through its online/offline channels; John Oke, CEO at Wallet Africa, a fintech startup that helps Africans send and receive money, make card payments and access loans; Julian Flosbach, Moses Nmor, and Chuks Enyi, the three co-founders of BFREE, a leading tech-driven ethical credit manager for emerging markets.
This program will include a series of group workshops facilitated by Endeavor entrepreneurs, board members and mentors, where participating entrepreneurs will be given direct and actionable feedback to support their growth as business leaders.
The workshops will be facilitated by Bolaji Balogun, CEO of Chapel Hill Denham and Vice Board Chairman at Endeavor Nigeria; Ife Orioke, CIO and co-founder of Flutterwave; and Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO and co-founder of TeamApt.
This new cohort will be mentored by the likes of Seni Adetu, former MD/CEO at Guiness Nigeria Plc; Adepeju Adebajo, former CEO of Lumos Nigeria; Anders Einarsson, CEO Food Products International, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; and Felix Ike, co-founder and CTO at TeamApt.
“We are delighted to have these exciting entrepreneurs on our first ScaleUp program, and we have prepared an impactful program that will address their most pressing challenges and support them as they advance to the next stage of their business growth.” Tosin Faniro-Dada, Managing Director and CEO of Endeavor Nigeria said
“One of our core values at Endeavor is our commitment to paying it forward and our Endeavor Entrepreneurs are also eager to support the next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs with their deep knowledge, experience and functional expertise in their respective industries and markets.” Faniro-Dada concluded.
Founded in 1999, Endeavor’s network spans nearly 40 markets and supports more than 2,000 entrepreneurs whose companies generate combined revenues of over $28 billion, have created more than 3.9 million jobs, and in 2020 alone, raised over $4 billion in capital.
In 2018, with a mission to build strong entrepreneurship ecosystems in high-growth markets across the world, Endeavor launched a country office in Nigeria to select and support 4-6 best founders of companies at the scale-up and growth stage. It currently supports 24 entrepreneurs who lead 13 companies including Flutterwave, Carbon, Autochek, 54gene, TeamApt, TradeDepot, Helium Health, Paga, Migo, Daystar Power, HealthPlus, Kobo360 and FilmHouse Group.
