The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has announced 25 startups as winners of the inaugural South East Venture Capital Program (SEVCP) Pitch Competition aimed at boosting innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth across the South-East region.
The announcement was made on Wednesday following the conclusion of the programme’s Finals Day and Investment Ceremony held in Enugu.
According to the Commission, the startups emerged after a rigorous accelerator and evaluation process involving investors, ecosystem leaders, business executives and industry experts.
The programme featured startups operating in sectors such as healthcare, artificial intelligence, clean energy, agriculture, fintech, logistics, legal technology, mobility, education technology and infrastructure innovation.
SEDC explained that the programme was divided into two categories the Incubator Track and the Accelerator Track.
The Incubator Track supported early-stage startups with venture readiness and foundational business support, while the Accelerator Track focused on more mature startups with scalable business models and stronger market traction.
Ten startups emerged under the Incubator Track, while 15 startups were selected under the Accelerator Track.
Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mark Okoye II, said the Commission remained committed to supporting indigenous entrepreneurs capable of building scalable businesses that would drive industrialisation, create jobs and attract investment to the region.
He described the South East Venture Capital Program as a long-term economic development strategy designed to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of the South-East and strengthen the pipeline of investable businesses in the region.
“The South East Venture Capital Program is not merely a startup competition but a long-term economic development strategy designed to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of the region,” he said.
Okoye added that the selected startups would receive financial support, investor access, mentorship, technical support, business advisory services and post-programme growth opportunities.
He also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to collaborating with venture capital firms, development institutions, innovation hubs, academic institutions and corporate organisations to deepen entrepreneurial opportunities and innovation-driven economic growth in the South-East.
The startups selected under the Incubator Track are Health Vault NG LTD, VIBET BIO, Wattmuse Energy, KoboTrac, Simsak, Growdex, Farmi AI LTD, CNG Protect, Linia Finance and Keke Ride.
Those selected under the Accelerator Track include Ondigo Technologies Limited, Skilladder, KIRA AI LIMITED, RapidMedicare Limited, SmartAirs, Bra-X, Stur Africa, Nigenius, SpaceOps, FLOF CO, Case Radar, Smart Transport Grid Ltd (STRAG), 8Bit Digital Systems Limited, CLIMAX GREEN (AGROFUXION) and Afiari.
The Commission noted that the initiative marked the beginning of a broader strategy to promote innovation-led growth, enterprise development and regional prosperity through investment in technology, talent and entrepreneurship.
