iDICE Startup Bridge Founders Lab 2026: Up to ₦10,000,000 for Nigerian Founders

If you've been sitting on a business idea, building a prototype in your spare time, or testing an early MVP without the structure or funding to push it further, the iDICE Startup Bridge Founders Lab was built for you.

What Is It?

iDICE Startup Bridge is a national entrepreneurship platform under Nigeria's Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, a Federal Government initiative implemented by the Bank of Industry (BOI), co-financed by the African Development Bank and other global development partners.

The Startup Bridge runs two tracks:

-Founders Lab — for founders at idea, prototype, or early-MVP stage

-Growth Lab — for post-MVP startups with existing traction, ready to scale

This post focuses on Founders Lab, a 12-week, mostly-virtual capacity-building programme designed to help early-stage founders take the first real, structured step in building a digital or tech-enabled business — moving from a raw idea to a validated problem, a working MVP, and a practical business plan.

Who Is It For?

Founders Lab is designed for people who:

-Have an idea, prototype, or early MVP in the digital or tech space

-Plan to operate their business in Nigeria

-Want structured support to understand their market, customers, and business model

-Can commit real time to a 12-week learning and execution programme

-Eligibility criteria (Nigeria-wide):

-Business must be at the idea or market-validation stage

-Business will operate from any of Nigeria's 36 states, or the FCT (Abuja) — open nationwide, not restricted to any single state or region

-Founder must be between 18 and 35 years old

-Must be able to commit fully to the 12-week programme, including learning sessions, assignments, evaluations, and Demo Day activities

Funding & Support

-Funding is performance-based, not guaranteed on enrollment. Founders who successfully complete the programme and meet all requirements may become eligible for:

-Non-equity grant funding of up to ₦10,000,000 to support MVP development and early execution

-Mentorship from experienced founders and ecosystem experts

-A chance to pitch at a Founders Lab Demo Day for additional grant support

-A pathway to the National Startup Bridge Demo Day, with exposure to broader funding and partners

-Access to regional hubs, peer learning, and a direct pathway into Growth Lab for high performers

Note: Founders Lab is not a guaranteed-funding programme or a pitch competition — it's a structured learning and execution track, with funding tied to actual progress made during the cohort.

Deadline

26 July 2026, per the current application call. Cohorts for Founders Lab run periodically, so if you miss this window, stay connected to official iDICE Startup Bridge channels for the next round.

How to Apply

Apply directly 👇

https://accelerator.vester.ai/apply?programCode=nDC1MhZl

For updates, follow iDICE Startup Bridge on Instagram (@idicestartupbridge), X (@iDICEStartup), or LinkedIn.