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Every weekday since the beginning of the year, we have profiled several startups from a pool that pitch to us on a daily basis. This has been deliberate as our primary goal is to nurture startups in Africa.
What we have learnt over these past months is that many startups seem to be struggling in the areas of funding, mentorship and market entry strategy.
Interestingly, we have discovered a growing interest in the startup and tech space among some of the most successful indigenous business owners. However, because they lack understanding of the space, they prefer to watch with uncertainty from a distance. Techpoint has taken the bull by the horn by reaching out to some of these people and securing their commitment to fund startups in Nigeria.
Introducing Techpoint Build, an annual event aimed primarily at fostering increased local investment into the local startup ecosystem. Learn more.
This Week on Techpoint
Watch a video version of this newsletter or read on below
The hard thing about hardware in Nigeria. Building hardware technology is hard all around the world, but even harder in Nigeria. But there may be solutions to these problems hampering the industry. Read.
Why the Silicon Valley model does not work for Nigerian tech startups. Here's why Nigerian startups need to unlearn everything they have learnt from Silicon Valley. Read.
How relevant is a computer science degree to a career in ICT? With the rise in other learning alternatives for ICT-related studies, many people who are interested in pursuing ICT careers often find themselves wondering if a formal degree in computer science is worth it after all.
Techpoint's Onyinye Uche attempts to answer the question.
The ₦13,000 smartphone Google promised us. We received a review unit of the Freetel ICE 2 which Google promised in July. The question is, how much smartphone can you really get for just ₦13,000?
Congratulations to Victor Ekwealor, Techpoint Senior Editor, who was recently awarded the best journalist in Business and Economy reporting at the PwC Media Excellence Awards 2017. You can send him your best wishes over here.
Startup Weekly
Every weekday at noon (WAT), we feature up and coming startups attempting to break into the market.
This week's featured startups
- Handiwork — access competent artisans or get enlisted as one
- Transthat — access travellers who deliver items from overseas to Lagos
- Baffuponline — order fashion products for men
- Hotels and Perks — discover hotels, parks and businesses closest to you
- Research Shelf — access educational materials and collaborate with fellow students online
Popular used goods online marketplace, Efritin has shut down operations fully. Read.
Opportunity Weekly
Every Wednesday at 5PM (WAT), we publish a curated list of exciting opportunities, ranging from funding, acceleration programmes to entrepreneurship training.
Opportunities this week:
- Up to $600 up for grabs in Wikimedia Commons photo contest.
- Andela wants to teach you Android/web development and product design for free
- Young entrepreneur? Your company could win funding at the second AfricaConnekt.org Competition
- Apply to participate in the Digital Africa startup challenge
- $50,000 in funding available from the Y Her Accelerator programme
For more information on the above opportunities, please go here.
Got a relevant opportunity you would like to share with our readers? Please fill this form.
