Yemisi Izuora
Over 1000 investors, startups, hardware/software professionals, business developers, policy makers and other key stakeholders in the startup and technology sector recently converged at the Landmark event Centre in Lagos for the 2018 Techpoint Build event.
The event, which is a brainchild of the Techpoint.ng team was tagged ‘Using technology to accelerate the nation’s economy’.
Sponsored by Union Bank in collaboration with Nokia and Farmcrowdy among others, the event was a platform for stakeholders to critically address and proffer lasting solutions to challenges associated with the Nigerian technology startup sector.
It was also an opportunity for these startups to showcase their innovative ideas to prospective investors and learn what it takes to grow their startups including proper business registration, quality resourcing and access to affordable financing.
The event was inspiring for the audience with lots of innovative solutions on display. For instance, Union Bank used virtual reality to take participants into their newly designed banking halls to showcase the improved ambience, facilities and services available.
They also displayed their new mobile banking app which has unique features like finding an ATM with cash and locating a bank agent who can come meet you to get your deposits. These are features only Union Bank is currently offering. Farmcrowdy also showcased how they are using technology to connect farmers with funding and investors and vice versa.
The lineup of events included panel discussions on hot topics such as ‘Keeping a Business afloat’, ‘Where is the market; Offline or online?’ and ‘Investing in African startups’. Discussants included Lola Cardoso of Union Bank, Olumide Balogun from Nokia, Adebayo Adekanmbi of MTN Nigeria and Jason Njoku of iRoko.
The event also featured pitch sessions where shortlisted startups were given the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of judges. Also part of the conference package was the ‘SME clinic’ which was introduced to provide startups with much needed diagnostic counsel from professionals with the aim of unlocking inherent potential and triggering growth within the sector.
Following the success of this maiden edition, the Techpoint Build event is expected to hold annually as a means of providing a platform to facilitate the growth of technology-driven startups in Nigeria