The Federal Government launched the Startup Support and Engagement Portal on Tuesday.
The portal is a key requirement for the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act.
The Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced the launch on his X account.
He wrote, “The startup portal will drive the identification and aggregation of Nigerian startups, venture capital companies, hubs and innovation centers in order to facilitate engagement and support for ecosystem players.”
According to the minister, the launch of the portal will help initiate the process of setting up the startup consultative forums.
The forums are essential for selecting representatives to the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
This, he said, is “in order to facilitate discourse and consensus among Nigerian ecosystem players.”
The minister has invited all Nigerian startups, venture capital companies, hubs and innovation centers to register.
The National Information Technology Development Agency also urged all Nigerian startups, VCs, angels, hubs, and innovation centers to visit the portal, register, and explore the resources available to them.
Criteria to enroll:
Startups must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible:
- Be a limited liability company registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).
- Be a company existing for less than 10 years from the date of incorporation.
- Have objects that are focused on innovation, development, production, improvement, and commercialization of a digital technology innovative product or process.
- Be a holder or repository of a product or process of digital technology or the owner or author of a registered software.
- Have at least one-third of local shareholding held by one or more Nigerians as founder or co-founder of the startup.
- Satisfy the conditions set out in the Act, in the case of a sole proprietorship or partnership.
- Be a tech-enabled business that uses existing tools, platforms, libraries, and frameworks to make a company or a solution more efficient or effective.
Below is a step by step guide for startups to register:
- Visit http://startup.gov.ng
- Scroll down the page to reveal the options for “Startups”, “Angel Investors”, “Venture Capitalists or Accelerators’, “Innovation Hubs” & “Incubators”.
- Select “Startups”
4. Enter the following details:
- RC Number (Unique CAC identification number)
- Company Name
- Year of Incorporation
- Industry (type)
- Media
- Start Up description
- Company Email
- Company Address
- Company website
- Founder’s Full Name
- First Name + Last Name
- Founder’s Email Address
- Founder’s Phone Number
- Founder’s means of Identification (BVN or NIN)
5. Submit