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The Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) is set to provide N9.2 million in seed funding to three Nigerian startups, as it expands efforts to help technology ventures move from innovation and market validation to sustainable growth.
The funding will be awarded at the second edition of the Innovators Makers Challenge (IMC) Conference and Innovation Exhibition, scheduled to hold on September 24, 2026, in Lagos.
The initiative comes as Nigerian startups continue to grapple with limited access to capital, market opportunities and the business capacity required to scale technology-driven solutions.
Three Startups to Share N9.2m
The funding will be determined through the IMC Quest Pitch Competition, which will feature five growth-stage startups selected from the IMC Bootcamp.
Following their pitches before a panel of judges, the top three ventures will receive the seed capital.
The overall winner will receive N7 million, while the first and second runners-up will receive N1.2 million and N1 million, respectively.
TTSWG said the support will not end with the cash awards. The three winners will also participate in a structured six-month post-competition incubation programme designed to strengthen their businesses and improve their prospects for sustainable growth.
Focus Shifts From Ideas to Scalable Solutions
According to TTSWG, the 2026 edition of IMC has been designed to go beyond identifying promising ideas by supporting ventures that have demonstrated market validation and measurable economic, social or environmental impact.
Bankole Oloruntoba, lead consultant at the TTSWG Secretariat, said the latest edition represents a significant expansion of the programme, which was first launched in 2023.
He said the initiative would support innovation across sectors including HealthTech, FinTech, AgriTech, ClimateTech, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, education, infrastructure, creative industries and digital governance.
Bootcamp to Prepare Founders
Ahead of the final pitch, selected participants will undergo a three-day IMC Bootcamp covering areas such as business development, team building, finance and pitching.
The programme will also feature the Go-to-Talent Competition, targeting Nigerian innovators and entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years, alongside growth-stage startups, small and medium-sized enterprises and technology and sustainability ventures.
Participants will also have access to Business Clinics, where they can receive legal and business consulting support to address operational challenges that could limit their ability to scale.
More Than 20 Ventures Expected at Exhibition
The accompanying Innovation Exhibition is expected to showcase more than 20 startups, technology companies, research projects and development organisations working on solutions to sustainability and development challenges.
The exhibition will cover areas including EnergyTech, water technology, waste management, ClimateTech, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, manufacturing, smart cities, logistics and mobility.
Education, digital governance, civic technology, creative industries and infrastructure will also feature prominently at the event.
The first IMC edition in 2023 attracted more than 300 in-person participants and 759 registrants, with 17 innovations showcased.
Industry Players Back Innovation Drive
The 2026 conference is sponsored by IHS Nigeria, with Hydrogen, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre (LBSSC) and MTN listed among its partners.
The programme will also include the launch of the Telecommunication and Technology Citizenship Awareness Roadmap (TATCAR) 2023–2026, which is expected to highlight updates and best practices for responsible growth within Nigeria’s telecommunications and technology ecosystem.
By combining seed capital with incubation, mentorship, business advisory services, exhibition opportunities and access to investors and industry leaders, TTSWG is positioning IMC 2.0 as a bridge between Nigerian innovation and the capital and institutional support needed to scale.
For early-stage ventures, the programme could provide more than immediate funding, offering founders a pathway to strengthen their businesses, validate their solutions and build connections within Nigeria’s expanding technology ecosystem.
