Ibadan pitch event puts startup founders before investors

Ibadan startup event puts 10 Nigerian founders before investors as Ighodalo Labs backs innovation

Ighodalo Labs is bringing 10 startup founders closer to potential investors through a pitch event in Ibadan, Oyo State, as efforts to strengthen Nigeria's startup ecosystem continue to extend beyond Lagos and Abuja.

The initiative, known as The Founders Buffet, is designed to give selected entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their business ideas, engage with investment professionals and receive practical feedback that could help them build sustainable companies.

Scheduled for November 7, 2026, the Ibadan startup event is expected to bring together approximately 80 participants, including startup founders, investors, business leaders and representatives of organisations supporting entrepreneurship.

Unlike events that focus mainly on competition and publicity, The Founders Buffet places emphasis on the practical requirements of building a successful business. These include understanding unit economics, developing products that solve real problems, improving distribution and demonstrating business traction.

Investors and industry leaders expected at the event

The 10 selected founders are expected to interact with investment professionals and experienced players in Nigeria's business and technology sectors.

Among the confirmed participants are Overcomer Fasan and Chinenye Nwigwe, Investment Associates at VestedWorld; Taiwo Lawal, Investment and Legal Analyst at Microtraction; and Ryan K. Uche-Tasie, Intelligence Analyst at Lagos Angel Venture Associates (LAVA).

Other expected participants include Yemi Ajao, Group Chief Investment Officer at Odu'a Investment Company, and David Adeleke, founder of Zeeh Africa and convener of The ISF Forum.

Representatives from SWIT and She Leads Africa are also expected to participate.

Their involvement is expected to give founders access to different perspectives on investment readiness, business development, legal considerations and the challenges of growing early-stage companies.

For entrepreneurs, opportunities to meet these professionals can be valuable. Beyond the possibility of attracting investment, direct conversations with experienced industry players can help founders identify weaknesses in their business models, understand market expectations and develop useful professional relationships.

Why Ibadan matters to Nigeria's startup ecosystem

The choice of Ibadan is significant because Nigeria's technology ecosystem is gradually expanding beyond its traditional centres of activity.

Although Lagos remains a major destination for technology companies, venture capital firms and startup accelerators, other cities are developing communities of entrepreneurs and innovation-focused organisations.

Ibadan has several advantages, including its large student population, established academic institutions and growing network of innovation hubs.

The University of Ibadan provides an important foundation for research, technical knowledge and entrepreneurial development. Innovation organisations such as LPI Innovation Hub and L.E.G.I.T Innovation Hub also contribute to the city's emerging technology and business community.

These institutions can help connect people with technical skills and business ideas to the resources needed to develop commercially viable products.

However, access to investors, experienced mentors and established business networks remains an important consideration for founders outside Nigeria's biggest commercial centres.

Events such as The Founders Buffet could help address this gap by bringing investors and entrepreneurs into the same room without requiring founders to depend entirely on opportunities in Lagos or Abuja.

More than a networking opportunity

Ighodalo Labs' initiative reflects the importance of building stronger relationships between startup founders and the people who can support their businesses.

The event is supported by organisations including VestedWorld, Microtraction, LAVA, Odu'a Investment Company, She Leads Africa, Nesta Co-Workspace and L.E.G.I.T Innovation Hub. Technext is its exclusive technology media partner.

Desmond Aghughu, studio lead at Ighodalo Labs, said the initiative is intended to help founders demonstrate real business traction while building relationships with potential partners across the startup ecosystem.

The names of the 10 selected startups were still undergoing the organisers' screening process in the available pre-event report.

Ultimately, the significance of the Ibadan startup event will depend on what happens after the pitches. Useful investor feedback, stronger business relationships, mentorship and potential partnerships could provide lasting value for participating founders.

For Ibadan, the gathering also represents an opportunity to strengthen its position in Nigeria's technology landscape. The city does not necessarily need to replicate Lagos' startup ecosystem to become relevant. Instead, connecting its own entrepreneurs with capital, knowledge and business opportunities could help it develop a stronger and more independent innovation community.