One of Nigeria’s leading platforms for the empowerment of entrepreneurs and startup founders, #StartupSouth, has announced that its 2018 annual startup conference (#StartupSouth4) will hold on November 2, 2018, in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.
This year’s conference will mark the fourth consecutive year the annual conference will be taking place since its inception in 2015.
According to a press statement issued exclusively to Nairametrics, the theme of this year’s conference is “Nichely, Strongly, Global – an exploration of how cities within the region can go niche, amplifying their positions of strength to compete favourably in an interconnected globlised world.”
#StartupSouth4 will witness the gathering of some of Nigeria’s brightest startup founders and incubators, leading entrepreneurs, early-stage investors, and even policymakers, who will all meet in the eastern heartland (Owerri) to connect, learn from one another, and possibly secure investment opportunities.
Specifically, this year’s conference will provide a unique opportunity for startups to connect with investors, strategic partners, leading incubators/accelerators, and professional service firms all from within and across the regions. Participants should expect the following:
- Fireside chats with Successful Startup Founders, Policy Makers and Investors from across the world
- Pitch Sessions
- Third party content/panel programming
- Networking, and
- Post conference party and a boat cruise at the beauteous Oguta Lake.
A lineup of guests expected at #StartupSouth4 include Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Governors and Representatives of State Governments of the South-South and South-East region, and the Director General of the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). Also expected at the conference are heads of corporations and the organised private sector.
Commenting on the arrangements for the conference, the convener of #StartupSouth4, Mr Uche Aniche, said that the conference will bigger and better compared to the previous ones.
#StartupSouth4 promises to be the biggest of the #StartupSouth conferences so far, going by the quality of partnerships already secured, confirmed speakers and special guests. We are expecting over 2000 people.
“The main objective is to educate, connect and attract investment to Startups and Founders in the regions.” – Aniche
There will be pre-conferences (#Foretaste), which will involve the touring of ten different cities within the South-South and South East region. This is scheduled to start on July 20, 2018, beginning with the city of Port Harcourt.
#Foretaste will enlist a set of exciting activities leading up to the main event featuring Business Townhall meetings, Panel Session, interviews, Product presentation by partners, gifts and more.
#StartupSouth was started in 2015, with a special focus on entrepreneurs and startup founders in the South-South and South East parts of Nigeria. The last edition (#StartupSouth3) held in the city of Aba, after which two startups went on to raise $40,000, with another startup raising a follow-on seed of more than $20,000. Cumulatively, over $350,000 has been raised by #StartupSouth alums so far. More startup founders are currently at different levels of funding negotiations.
Interested entrepreneurs who wish to participate in the 2018 #StartupSouth conference can REGISTER HERE.
