Grace Ashiru
SIA Startup Foundry 3.0 has launched its latest cohort, bringing together 56 early-stage startups from Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia for a one-month intensive bootcamp focused on business model refinement, product development and market validation.
The program, which kicked off on April 7, will narrow participants down to 10 finalists for a physical demo day, with six ventures ultimately selected for funding support.
The composition of this year’s cohort signals a maturing pipeline: 58% of participating startups are at the seed stage, while 70% were established within the last two years.
There has also been a notable sector shift. Unlike last year’s cohort, which leaned heavily toward green energy and sustainability, this year’s founders are building more technology-driven solutions across a broader range of verticals.
The Foundry program is designed to help early-stage founders turn ideas into investable businesses at a time when access to capital across the region remains constrained.
