The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) is set to hold its annual flagship tech event, DBN Techpreneur Summit 2024, at the Continental Hotel, Lagos.
The tech event, scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 10th July, starting at 8.0am, aims to highlight and promote investor-ready technological advances within Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape, giving qualified techpreneurs access to a pipeline of investors and funding. The theme for this year’s summit is ‘Catalyzing Tech Innovation: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Regenerative Growth.’
In furtherance of the DBN’s strategic role of stimulating the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, the DBN has held a pre-selection session to shortlist tech innovators who will be participating in the final pitch during the summit.
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DBN MD/CEO’s remark
Dr Tony Okpanachi, the Managing Director and CEO of the Development Bank of Nigeria discussed the importance of the pre-selection process and stated that it was a crucial step in identifying who was the best among equals. He also added that it was a time- and money-saving method for both the innovators and the evaluators. According to him, pre-selection gives innovators a chance to raise their chances of winning the pitch competition.
Simplifying the selection process, in his opinion, helps innovators who make the shortlist feel less stressed and anxious and allows them to concentrate on how to succeed in their pitch and presentation.
He went on to say that by helping MSMEs and tech innovators expand and build their businesses, as well as the tech sector in Nigeria, the DBN plays a critical role in helping MSMEs reach their full potential.
According to Okpanachi, DBN helps to propel inclusive economic growth and raises the standard of living for Nigerians by enabling MSMEs to make a major contribution to the real GDP growth of the nation.
According to Mrs Comfort Aruosa-Osemwegie, Managing Director of Addium Capital, the screening session’s goal is to prepare the tech founders for possible investors who will also be present at this year’s Techpreneur Summit. She said an exclusive Deal Room will be held during the summit as a venue for techpreneurs to interact with potential investors directly, thanks to a partnership between DBN and Addium, a private equity and venture capital firm.
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The pre-selection process
The pitch competition received entries from more than 100 tech startups. Leaders in the business served as the panel of examiners at the pre-selection event in June, where they evaluated each proposal according to predetermined standards.
Twenty digital entrepreneurs from various industries, including fintech, health tech, and transportation, made it to the final pitch round after going through this procedure.