Yea! It is the first day of the Lagos State Tech Ecosystem Tour, and ReDahlia is glad to receive dignitaries meeting with industry experts in our co-working space. The Lagos state Tech Ecosystem Tour will happen for 3 days.
Today, we receive the Head, Startups (Lagos Innovates), Tosin Faniro-Dada and Tubosun Alake, Lagos State Government Special Adviser on Innovation and Tech.
The Tech Ecosystem Tour will cover selected hubs and tech companies. The aim of this tour is to intimate founders, investors, and business owners on diverse Lagos Innovation programs and how they can benefit from it. This body has put together several innovative programs that can improve the Lagos tech ecosystem. This way, startups, and business owners can also improve the state of their business.
ReDahlia Workspaces is in partnership with Lagos Innovate. You can visit our space to use the workspaces voucher provided by Lagos Innovate and also enjoy other offers we provide.
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Lagos Innovates Program
Speaking on the reason for the innovation office in Lagos, Tubosun Alake, SA on Innovation and Tech notes “the Innovation and tech office is Lagos state way of recognizing that this is an industry. Also, it is the Governor’s way of reaching out to the tech ecosystem and see how we can turn it into the industry of tomorrow. We also discovered that the real treasure is in our young people, the way they innovate and solve problems. So we decide to start innovating and creating local solutions to the local problems we have. This way, the Innovate office was created to domicile our wealth locally”.
Also, stating the reason for the Lagos Innovate, Head, Startups (Lagos Innovates), Tosin Faniro-Dada disclosed; “The Lagos Innovate program came after a survey of the ecosystem from owners of hubs, founders, accelerators, and investors to pinpoint the major challenges faced in the business ecosystems.
From this survey, we categorized the major challenges into four; Infrastructure, talent, capital, and mentorship. To solve this problem, we created the Workspace Voucher Programs, Talent Development Program, and Idea Hub.”
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The Workspace Voucher Program
The Workspace Voucher Program supports the highest potential founders and/or startups in Lagos State at the very early stages of their ventures (ideation) by facilitating access to well-equipped workspaces and learning.
“We give founders vouchers to go to any of our partner coworking spaces. For example, having our Workspace voucher allows you the opportunity to use ReDahlia Workspaces for 3 to 12 months once you have the voucher. Then, at the end of the month, ReDahlia sends us an invoice and we pay ReDahlia directly.” Says Tosin
Also, the initiative is to help defray the cost of accessing high-quality infrastructure. Lagos innovate will cover 30% to 75% on average of membership costs at any of their partner hubs for 3 to 12 months, and the value of the award varies by the growth stage of your business.
In addition, to ensure that this benefit goes to the most promising founders and highest potential startups, the application and allocation processes are competitive and merit-based.
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Talent Development Program
The Talent Development Program is done in partnership with Honeywell Group. It trains people in tech skills through student loan programs, and thereafter provides them with jobs. Basically, the program supports capacity development by facilitating access to tech-focused entrepreneurship content and programming. After going through the program, you start paying back the loan after a 3 month grace period.
Lagos Innovates acknowledges that creating investor-ready startups is vital to the overall growth of the system. Also, there are several training partners that train people in different fields: data science, python programming, front end, and back end program e.t.c.
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Idea Hub
The Idea Hub is for people with ideas who wishes to be paired with mentors to help them validate their ideas. This way, you submit your idea online and pick one of the online mentors who then help you take your idea further. Lagos Innovates has provided several online mentors who can help make your business dream achievable.
In addition, Lagos innovates is also involved with networking and connecting startups with the right opportunities. If you need a contact that will impact your business, and Lagos Innovates has access to the contact, they will gladly make an introduction for you.
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Other Innovation Opportunities
Basically, the Lagos Innovates industry has created plans to empower people in the innovation system. There are several programs for tech startups that entrepreneurs can leverage.
“Lagos state has set up the Lagos State Science and Research Innovation Council. This council is set up by law to allocate a percentage of Lagos state capital budget into innovation and research projects. This council can then channel the funds into innovation initiatives, projects in universities, research institutions, e.t.c Also, the government is building infrastructural facilities that will help improve the tech ecosystem in the State.” Says Tubosun
Lagos Innovates is an initiative of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. It offers a suite of tech startup-focused programs created for the highest potential entrepreneurs who want to build the next unicorn out of Lagos. It began two years ago and has supported 120 startups.
The portal to apply for Lagos Innovates voucher will be open in the 2nd week of March 2020. Also, you can follow Lagos Innovate on social media to get important information on how you can benefit from their offers.
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