The Nigerian federal government has created the iDICE Startup Bridge, a structured two-track project that offers idea-stage entrepreneurs subsidies of up to ₦10 million ($7,215) and equity investment of $100,000 for post-MVP firms.
Applications for the first cohort are currently open. The iDICE Startup Bridge, implemented by the Bank of Industry and funded by the African Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and the Islamic Development Bank, is part of the broader Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) program, a federal initiative linked to Nigeria's digital economy agenda.
The program is the federal government's most ambitious early-stage startup support project in years, and one of the few aimed at innovators outside Nigeria's typical tech hubs.
By focusing on all 36 states and the FCT, it indicates a purposeful effort to expand Nigeria's innovation pipeline beyond Lagos and Abuja, where the vast majority of Nigerian startup financing has historically been concentrated.
"Founders Lab is a bridge that connects potential to proof, and proof to capital," explained Cindy Ezerioha, Head of Founders Lab at iDICE Startup Bridge. "Each cohort will support 125 aspiring entrepreneurs, with the goal of ensuring progress from concept to validated business models."
This program is designed for people who have unique ideas, early prototypes, or unanswered questions about how to take their first big move."
iDICE, a federal government project launched in 2023 with $617.7 million in funding, aims to boost investment in Nigeria's digital and creative sectors.
It made its first company investment in late 2025 with Ventures Platform, one of Africa's most active seed-stage venture capital organizations.
The iDICE business Bridge is the government's most recent effort to improve early-stage business support through structured training, coaching, and access to funding.
Each year, 250 participants will receive capacity-building support and coaching. The top 100 founders who complete programme objectives will receive grants of up to ₦10,000,000 ($7,215) to support product development or venture launches.
The Growth Lab, which is set to launch later, will focus on post-MVP firms that have demonstrated traction, revenue potential, and operational maturity.
Selected firms will get $100,000 in equity investment, as well as assistance in scaling operations, strengthening governance, and refining their fundraising strategies. The program will also give a direct channel to institutional investors, allowing follow-on funding.
Startups that get additional investment from qualified external investors may be eligible for match funding.
"This programme, created under the iDICE umbrella, gives young entrepreneurs across the country a real opportunity to build or scale, and we are confident in its ability to reshape early-stage enterprise development and innovation outcomes over time," said Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chairman of the iDICE Steering Committee.
The Bank of Industry, the implementing agency, has distributed ₦636 billion to Nigerian firms across several sectors, marking its greatest yearly payout. ₦43 billion was allocated to projects in the creative and digital sectors.
"We are pleased to replicate our success over time with the iDICE Startup Bridge," stated Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Bank of Industry's Managing Director and CEO. One of the program's early tests will be to see if that volume capacity translates into the high-touch mentorship and investor connectivity that early-stage founders require.
Applications for the Founders Lab close on April 20, 2026, and will be considered using a merit-based selection procedure in accordance with established criteria. Interested startups may apply at www.idicestartupbridge.ng.
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