By Paul Chimodo
StartupSouth, a leading entrepreneurship support organisation in Nigeria’s South-South and South-East regions, says startups linked to its network have raised more than $10 million in funding over the past decade.
Founder Uche Aniche disclosed this as the group prepares for its 10th annual conference in October. He said StartupSouth has been able to channel resources, training, and investment opportunities to hundreds of founders building tech and creative businesses.
Beyond supporting founders to secure external funding, the organisation has also directly invested over $500,000 through its South-South-East Angel Network. According to Aniche, the programme was set up to fill a funding gap for early-stage businesses in regions that often struggle to access venture capital.
Some of the startups that have emerged from the ecosystem include:
- A company that secured more than $3 million, with Google among its backers.
- Another that raised over $650,000 through the All On initiative, backed by Shell (now Renaissance Africa).
- Sitemap, which has attracted more than $400,000, participated in Silicon Valley programmes, and worked with both the Lagos State Government and federal housing projects.
Despite these achievements, Aniche raised concerns that around 90% of early-stage startups supported by StartupSouth eventually relocate from Port Harcourt to other cities such as Lagos or Abuja in order to grow. He said the organisation is now working on strategies to make the South-South and South-East more attractive for long-term business growth, including improved infrastructure, local funding access, and stronger community ties.
StartupSouth has also made its mark on the policy side. It was one of the advocacy groups that pushed for the Nigeria Startup Act 2022, a landmark law that provides incentives and creates structures for the country’s innovation-driven businesses. The Act also established the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which coordinates startup-related policies nationwide. StartupSouth is pushing for more states, including Rivers, to adopt the law at sub-national level to strengthen local ecosystems.
The upcoming StartupSouth X Conference is expected to be its biggest gathering yet. Organisers project more than 5,000 participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers and development partners. The programme will feature over 100 speakers, 60 sessions, and is expected to draw in representatives from at least 100 state and national government offices. StartupSouth estimates that its outreach from the event could reach as many as 20 million people.
Over the years, StartupSouth has worked with global organisations such as Google, Meta, Ford Foundation, MainOne, Sterling Bank, Zoho and the Bank of Industry. These partnerships, Aniche said, have allowed the organisation to reach thousands of startup founders and build a pipeline of businesses contributing to Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
