You’ve got this startup idea that’s been ringing in your head. You’ve thought about it, researched it and even begun work on it, but now you’re stuck and don’t know what next to do. Or maybe you’re very certain that your idea would save lives or could be the next big thing in tech but you need funding and mentorship. Look no further, register for the maiden edition of the Aso Villa Demo Day and stand a chance to get the mentorship, feedback and funding you need.
Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD2016) is a startup Pitch event organized by the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is one way this current administration plans to stimulate Nigeria’s tech ecosystem by discovering and supporting the brightest and most innovative tech ideas.
The event will kick off with the main Pitch event which would hold on June 23rd 2016 at the Landmark Event Centre. There, 70 selected participants will pitch their ideas to an experienced panel of judges who will then select “50 of the most innovative startup” to go on to the main exhibition event in Abuja on July 28th at the State House Conference Centre at the Presidential villa Abuja.
You don’t need to pay to pitch your idea (it’s FREE) and you don’t have to have a perfect or ‘complete’ idea to be eligible. You’ll however have to be Nigerian, be between the ages of 18 – 40 years old and must register on the AVDD website here in order to be considered for the Pitch event in Lagos. And should you visit the AVDD website but still need some more info, you can send enquires to mail@avdd.gov.ng
Why the age restriction though?
I just had to voice my opinion about this. Like, I get that this may well be a Youth Empowerment initiative of some sort but then again, I think the age restriction is just limiting. Young people all over the world come up with really terrific ideas and its sad to see that just because a Nigerian child isn’t 18-years old he or she will be denied the opportunity to pitch their own idea on such a platform. If you ask me Mr. president, I think you should remove the age restriction, if not this edition then from the next.
The internet is littered with stories of really young people who’ve come up with wonderful tech solutions and it would be wise for us to encourage all age groups to come up with tech solutions or ideas to the mirades of challenges facing our nation.
But having said that, I celebrate you guys for putting something like this together and I hope its well managed.