Following a long process of sorting through applications, reviewing business plans and listening to some of the most amazing pitches from the Niger Delta region, FocusHub finally announces the acceptance of two startups into its incubation program. The overall vision is to catapult Niger Delta based startups into successful and sustainable businesses, ensuring that their seemingly “ordinary” ideas become avenues for impacting the region positively.
The process began with a call for applications on October 1st 2015 which saw a large number of startups sending in their ideas for incubation. It was quite an uphill task narrowing it down to six teams who pitched their ideas to a team of business and technology experts in January, 2016. The list was eventually narrowed down to the final two even though most of the startups showed real promise and looked to be heading in the right direction. The startups who were eventually accepted into the 6 months incubation programme are RoupaBox and Plasticle.
ROUPABOX – The startup, co-founded by three enterprising young men, is an e-commerce thrift shop that wants to bring online, the offline second-hand clothes (okrika) market in Nigeria but with a twist. They would be giving Nigerians the opportunity to sell those clothing items they no longer require.
PLASTICLE – This startup does not only want to save the environment but is doing so by collecting waste plastic materials and converting them into materials that will assist young children study better.
FocusHub will not just be providing assistance to the businesses but ensuring that the entrepreneur himself is developed so he/she can be able to create businesses that win. The hub would be providing mentorship and coaching, office space, networking, intellectual property advice, while assisting the startups connect with organizations that provide seed funding. There are plans to accommodate more of the successful startups, and other future applicants, however the hub is currently self-funded and as such can only accommodate a very select few at this time.
FocusHub was founded by Godson Ohuruogu and Ikechukwu Uche – two extremely talented individuals who are passionate about helping young entrepreneurs succeed.
