🌟Upcoming Event: Community Pitch + Blitz AMA🌟
- Community Pitch: Cut to Shape & Blitz AMA event announcement
- Founder spotlight
- Ecosystem pulse
🎤 Pitch. Learn. Grow.
We’re thrilled to announce our next community event – Community Pitch: Cut to Shape & Blitz AMA!
First part of the event is a live session will give you the chance to hear Owolabi, co-founder of Cut to Shape, a startup that personalizes clothing design using AI and incorporates sustainability, pitch his innovative idea.
About the Startup - CuttoShape
Cuttoshape is revolutionizing African fashion with an AI-powered platform that enables perfect-fitting, custom-made African-inspired clothing for the global diaspora. Using just a smartphone, customers can get precise body measurements, browse designs from skilled African tailors, and order personalized garments that celebrate their cultural heritage. This innovative marketplace connects fashion designers with clients worldwide, streamlining the process of creating bespoke African-inspired fashion. By merging AI technology with traditional craftsmanship, Cuttoshape is making culturally rich, perfectly tailored clothing accessible to Africans everywhere.
The second part of the event is the Stick around for the Blitz AMA, where we'll answer your questions about the Blitz platform and gather input from the community on features that will help African founders find the right funding opportunities for growth.
Event Details
📅 Date: Thursday, October 31
⏱️ Time: 11:30 AM CDT
📍 Location: Discord
🎤 Host: Ukeme Daniel, CEO of The Beta Collective
📆 Save to your Calendar
Why Attend?
- Live Startup Pitch: Hear from Owolabi as he pitches Cut to Shape and get real-time feedback from the community.
- Blitz AMA: Ask your questions about Blitz, including how it supports African founders in accessing funding and growing their businesses.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with The Beta Collective team, fellow innovators, and entrepreneurs in a collaborative and engaging space.
🗓️ Mark your calendar and don’t miss this interactive session!
🌟Founder Spotlight: Tomiwa Igun - Pioneering Clean Energy in Nigeria🌟
This month’s Founder Spotlight shines on Tomiwa Igun, the Co-founder and COO of SunFi, a clean energy platform focused on solving Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
His Story:
Tomiwa’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t straightforward. With a background in business consulting, he initially struggled with rigid thinking, which kept him tied to traditional career paths. However, after collaborating with partners like Femi Adeyemo, Tomiwa saw the immense potential for entrepreneurship to create impact. He eventually left his secure job at BCG to co-found SunFi, a bold step toward addressing Nigeria’s unreliable electricity supply.
Current Projects:
At SunFi, Tomiwa is working tirelessly to expand access to clean energy in Nigeria by making solar power solutions affordable and reliable for consumers. SunFi is actively scaling its operations, focusing on innovative solutions that allow more Nigerians to switch to sustainable energy.
Lessons Learned:
- Flexibility is Key: Tomiwa learned that being open to different career paths, like entrepreneurship, can unlock impactful opportunities.
- Partnerships Matter: Collaborations with like-minded individuals have been crucial to SunFi’s success.
- Calculated Risks Pay Off: Leaving a stable job was a significant risk, but it was a necessary step in his journey to make real change
🌍 Ecosystem Pulse: Key Updates in the African Startup Scene
Upcoming Events:
- GEC+ Africa 2024 Entrepreneurship Regional Pitching Competition: A significant pitch event offering a $50,000 prize for startups, to be held in Cape Town this month on the 23rd and 24th after a series of regional roadshows.
Major Ecosystem Updates:
- African startups had a standout third quarter in 2024, raising an impressive $600 million in funding, as reported by Africa the Big Deal. This marks a 100% increase from the $300 million raised in Q2, making Q3 the highest-funded quarter of the year so far. The funding includes equity, debt, and grants (excluding exits), and it also represents a 20% year-on-year growth compared to the $500 million raised in Q3 2023. Read more here
Government Policy Shifts:
- The Lagos State Government is aiming to secure $2 to $3 million in investments for Nigerian startups at the 2024 GITEX Global event in Dubai. This follows the success of startups at the 2023 edition, where multiple firms raised significant funds, including one that won $100,000 and another in talks for $1.5 million. The government's initiative involves showcasing startups in sectors like ag-tech, digital identity, AI, and robotics to attract global investors. Selection criteria for the startups included product market fit and team strength. Read more here
Stay tuned for more exciting updates next month as the African startup scene continues to evolve and make waves globally!
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"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment" - Jim Rohn
