The founder of Hotels.ng, Mark Essien, and co-founder of Paga, Jay Anabraba, are among the speakers lined up to speak at the maiden edition of Startup South conference scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on November 28. The aim of the conference is to inspire startups in the region.
The line up also includes the co-founder of Andela, Aboyeji Iyinoluwa; Co-founder of Port Harcourt’s pioneer innovation hub, FocusHub, Godson Ohuruogu; Founder, Foodstantly, Uchay Ariolu; Prinicipal Investment Officer, Singularity Invest, Lexi Novitske. Others are Julia Jacks and Etinosa Omoregie from MoniPulo and BoleKing respectively.
StartUp South is a one-day educational and networking conference for small business owners, investors and their clients who currently operate out of the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
The event is also expected to feature a pitch session, keynote sessions, panel discussions which will culminate at a dinner session to wrap up the program.
In a statement, Uche Aniche, chief convener of Startup South, said: “Startup South is the perfect opportunity for investors to discover innovative startups in the South-South and South-Eastern part of Nigeria.We believe Africans can solve Africa’s problem if they borrow a leaf from the men who built America. We need individuals to solve specific problems and become successful at solving them. Port-Harcourt is ripe for an active Angel Network and it is high time the world knew that.”
Also speaking, a member of the organizing team, Tony Balogun said: “Startup South was born out of the need to project and explore the promise of the region (with emphasis on Port Harcourt) as the next major economic hub of the nation outside Lagos. The plan is to educate and connect people with brilliant ideas to people looking to invest in big ideas.”
