By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), in collaboration with Clichers Management Chambers, has launched an accelerator programme, the first digital idea/startup accelerator program by a Nigerian university.
According to the organisers, the event has a mission to provide entrepreneurs within its university community opportunities to develop and create great startups.
This move will help build and support the next big student entrepreneurs. With a commitment to develop and breed global entrepreneurs, the FUTA idea/start-up digital accelerator program is open to all small businesses, startups, and student entrepreneurs with great ideas.
The free virtual accelerator will welcome 150 top student entrepreneurs from the institution. Founders selected for the program will undergo six weeks of intensive digital training to help build and scale their ideas for the future.
Open to all student-owned small businesses, startups, and excellent entrepreneurs with revolutionary startup ideas, interested entrepreneurs can apply for admission to the FUTA digital accelerator on a rolling basis between August 23 to September 20, 2020.
According to the organisers, the program is free and no equity or obligations are asked.
Interested parties, however, have to be either an undergraduate and postgraduate students of FUTA, while those selected will have the opportunity to interact with more than 30 global mentors and coaches.
Speaking on its impact, they noted that the program is aimed at identifying and developing the best entrepreneurial ideas among students. The program will equip qualified student entrepreneurs with state-of-the-art skills and opportunities to thrive in their endeavours.
The program is going to be fully digitized as all sessions will be conducted online. Different topics and themes will be treated each week and will be taught uniquely by experienced and successful entrepreneurs.
Some of the benefits range from: “Access to live virtual accelerator program for 6 weeks, access to the exclusive Clichers management founders community with over 70 founders from around 5 countries, and access to N500,000 in free management consulting credits including access to lawyers, accountants business developers, and finance experts.
In addition, participants will be inducted into a 6-month incubation program with a free workspace, the program will culminate in a Demo Day, where a select few entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to virtually showcase their products, pitch ideas, and get National exposure for their brands.
Interested student entrepreneur can register for the initiative on http://Bit.ly/FUTAideaAccelerator.
