The Business Growth Initiative for Startups (BGIS), funded by UK International Development, empowers women-led, growth-stage startups in Nigeria with targeted mentorship, resources, and strategic support to scale sustainably. Selected participants join a fully funded nine-month program (January–August 2025), with post-program monitoring until November 2025.
Eligibility
Open to Nigerian growth-stage startups with proven business models, operational traction, and alignment with program objectives. Selection prioritizes scalability, market impact, and regional diversity.
Program Highlights
- Tailored Expert Support: Personalized mentorship and actionable strategies to address core challenges.
- Capacity Building: Masterclasses, 1:1 consultancy, and workshops on leadership, branding, and business strategy.
- Visibility & Networking: Media exposure, events, and connections to global industry leaders.
- Sustainability Focus: Post-program monitoring and performance tracking to refine long-term growth.
Structure
Hybrid (virtual/in-person) sessions ensure flexibility and collaboration. Startups from all Nigerian regions are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Submit your application via the [online portal](link) by March 17, 2025.
Act now to elevate your venture with world-class resources and a transformative network.
#Opportunities #SME #startup #AfricanStartups #SmallBusinessGrowth #Business
Apply Now For Pitch2Win 2025: Elevate Your Startup with Funding, and Investor Connections.
Calling all visionary African founders! Founders Connect is back with Pitch2Win 2025, a high-stakes competition designed to catapult early-stage startups into the spotlight. Whether you’re based in Lagos, Nairobi, this is your chance to secure funding, amplify your visibility, and forge connections that could redefine your startup’s trajectory.
Why Pitch2Win?
Pitch2Win isn’t just another pitch competition—it’s a launchpad for innovation. Here’s what’s on offer:
- $2,500 in equity-free grants (no strings attached!)
- Exclusive perks worth over $40,000 (think scaling tools, PR, and cloud credits)
- A shot at $10,000 in investment from the African Impact Initiative
- Direct access to top-tier investors like Ingressive Capital
But the real prize? Visibility. Founders Connect bridges the gap between ambitious entrepreneurs and the mentors, partners, and investors who can turn their ideas into reality.
The Prize Pool: More Than Just Cash
Winners don’t just walk away with funding—they unlock a treasure trove of resources:
- $25,000 in fee-free processing on Paystack
- 1 year of Intercom Pro (plus 50% off in year two)
- 6 months of Notion + AI (over $6,000 in value)
- Up to $10,000 in AWS credits
- 6 months of free PR with Reneé PR
Add strategic mentorship, investor face time, and continental bragging rights—it’s a startup’s dream package.
Who Should Apply?
Pitch2Win is looking for scrappy, tech-driven startups ready to scale. Priority goes to:
- Founders solving Africa-specific challenges
- Ventures with measurable traction (active users, revenue, or both!)
- Women-led teams (equity matters!)
- Startups under 3 years old, with less than $1M raised and sky-high growth potential
Bonus: While semi-finals and finals are in Lagos or Nairobi, applications are open to all African startups, as long as you’re ready to pitch in person if shortlisted!
Eligibility Checklist
- Tech-enabled (beyond just a website)
- Launched product with traction
- Less than $1M in external funding
- At least one founder working full-time
- Available to pitch live in Lagos or Nairobi
How to Apply
Ready to step into the ring? Deadline: February 28, 2025.
1. Click here==> https://www.foundersconnec... to submit your application.
2. Polish your pitch.
3. Prepare to transform your startup’s future.
Final Thought:
Pitch2Win isn’t just about winning—it’s about joining a community of innovators shaping Africa’s tech landscape. Whether you snag the grand prize or walk away with connections, this is your moment to shine.
Founders Connect: Empowering Africa’s next generation of disruptors.
#Pitch2Win2025 #AfricanStartups #FoundersConnect #ScaleWithPurpose #startup #Africa
Google Offers Free Python Crash Course For Beginners to Help You Upskill in 2025.
The digital age waits for no one, and Python has quietly become the lingua franca of innovation—fueling AI breakthroughs, decoding big data, and building the apps we can’t live without. But what if you could master this skill without spending a dime? In 2025, Google throws open the gates to programming literacy with its Free Python Crash Course, a game-changer for aspiring coders. Forget dry textbooks and pricey bootcamps; this is your shortcut to joining the tech revolution.
Why #Python ?
Because the Future Speaks in Code
Python isn’t just popular—it’s inescapable. By 2025, its dominance spans industries:
- AI & Automation: Python scripts train chatbots, optimize supply chains, and even pilot drones.
- Data Goldmines: analysts use Python libraries like Pandas to turn raw data into boardroom decisions.
- Career Rocket Fuel: LinkedIn’s 2024 survey shows Python skills boost hiring odds by 68% for non-tech roles too—marketing, finance, healthcare.
But here’s the kicker: Python’s elegance hides its power. Its syntax reads like plain English, letting beginners automate tasks within weeks. One student, Priya (a former teacher), automated her school’s attendance system using Python after just 15 hours of study. “It felt like learning to cast spells,” she laughs.
Inside Google’s Python Playground: No Experience Required
Google’s course isn’t another YouTube tutorial dump. It’s a structured ramp from “Hello World” to real-world projects. Think of it as a coding gym, where you’ll flex new muscles:
Phase 1: Syntax Bootcamp
- Variables, loops, and logic gates—the ABCs of programming.
- Manipulate data with Python’s toolkit: lists, dictionaries, and strings.
Phase 2: Automate Your World
- Write scripts that scrape websites, organize files, or send automated emails.
- Build a mini-project, like a quiz app or budget tracker.
Phase 3: Object-Oriented Thinking
- Craft reusable code with classes and objects.
- Peek into advanced topics like APIs or data visualization.
And the best part? You’ll learn by doing. “The course had me coding a weather app by Week 3,” shares Arjun, a 2024 alumnus now interning at a Bangalore startup.
Why This Course Beats the Rest
- Google’s Stamp: Lessons are vetted by engineers who’ve built tools like Colab and TensorFlow.
- Learn Anytime, Anywhere: Binge it over a weekend or squeeze in modules during lunch breaks.
- Zero Cost, Infinite ROI: Unlike platforms that upsell certificates, Google’s focus is pure skill-building.
Your Roadmap to Python Fluency
1. Code Daily, Even Mini-Sessions: 20 minutes to 2 hours once a week.
2. Break Things: Got an error? Celebrate—it’s a clue, not a crisis.
3. Join the Tribe: Swap tips on Discord or Reddit’s r/learnpython.
4. Build, Then Build Louder: Start small (a meme generator) then dream big (a stock predictor).
Ready to Code Your Future?
Enroll now.
==> https://tinyurl.com/Gpytho...
#Google #Scholarship #FreeCourse #Course #Tech #Technology #Education
Sam Altman has rejected Elon’s offer to buy OpenAi and Elon calls him a scam.
So it’s okay for Elon to call Sam Altman “Scam Altman”?
Most top Tech people around the world are doing everything possible to reduce the concentration of Tech power in Elon’s hand. This is also a discussion in my PhD class group.
Anyone who is truly immersed in Tech and Global Tech Politics and relates with the likes of Yann of Meta, Andrew Ng etc will agree that Elon has insulted almost every top AI scientist just to dominate the AI race.
This is not the industry we want to build. Some of us have worked to build careers in this industry over the years and in this industry, money doesn’t matter as much as BUILDING DOES. We respect the real scientists who are truly inventing and innovating - and we also value money bags who buy what is built. Both are relevant but neither should disrespect the other because of money.
Sam is not a scam.
Sam is a hardworking AI founder.
Because of Sam, my startup, gemsbokGPT has made millions in turnover.
Because of Sam, we are now building an AI powered medical platform for the Transhuman Coin community .
Sam is not a scam just because business between Elon and Sam didn’t go as expected. If he’s a scam, arrest him and save other victims. Calling him a scam in public only shows that Tech Politics is becoming more prominent than Tech Innovation.
Tech politics is good. We need politics to swing power in the industry. But without innovation, we shall have no industry.
©️ Charles Awuzie
(Do not comment if you know nothing about tech, innovation and the politics in the industry. Just go be buy a tech course from https://www.gemsbok.academ... so you can join the conversation in future)
#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ElonMusk #SamAltman #X #Tech #Technology
