Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s most innovative banking service provider, is set to adopt a focused approach that removes barriers and galvanizes the critical sector of the economy with the launching of its innovation accelerator programme tagged, “HB LAB”.
The maiden edition of HB LAB is a 12-week program, expected to provide technology startups with the enabling environment, resources, and support required to innovate and accelerate impactful solutions with the potential to radically improve financial Inclusion/Intermediation, agriculture and other related problems affecting critical sectors of the economy.
Speaking on the HB LAB, the MD/CEO of the bank, Ifie Sekibo explained that in Nigeria, technology startups still account for a relatively small share of all businesses, but they have an outsized impact on economic growth, because they provide better-paying, longer-lasting jobs than other start-ups, and they contribute more to innovation, productivity, and competitiveness.
He disclosed that the team with the most compelling solution will be awarded a $25,000 grant alongside access to workspace and IT infrastructure for solution testing and development for a defined period.
According to him, the HB Innovation Lab Programme is open to product development teams and technology-driven startups across Nigeria.
Sekibo stated that the critical areas of focus are Fintech, agriculture, education, digital security, and power.
Interested and qualified participants are encouraged to visit here.
