The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has opened applications for the SEVCP Pitch Competition, offering startups between $5,000 and $20,000 in equity funding alongside mentorship and structured support. The programme targets high-potential businesses across the South East, connecting them with investors, ecosystem partners, and growth opportunities.
The SEVCP Pitch Competition serves as the flagship initiative of the South East Venture Capital Program and acts as a key pipeline for identifying startups for the South East Venture Capital Fund (SEVCF). It is designed to discover promising, technology-enabled businesses and provide them with the capital and guidance needed to scale effectively.
Selected founders will go through a multi-phase process where they will pitch their ideas to investors and ecosystem leaders. This process offers not just visibility, but also access to potential investment of up to $2 million, disbursed in tranches. The Finals Day is scheduled for April 8, 2026, followed by the Investment Ceremony on April 9, 2026, both taking place in Enugu, Nigeria.
The programme is structured into two categories to accommodate startups at different growth stages. The accelerator category offers $20,000 in funding for startups with a live product and measurable traction, ready to scale. The incubator category provides $5,000 in funding for early-stage startups still refining their product, customer base, and business model.
Beyond funding, participants will gain access to mentorship from experienced founders, investors, and industry experts. They will also benefit from investor exposure through engagements with venture capital firms and angel investors, as well as connections to regional innovation hubs and future funding opportunities. In its pilot phase, the programme will select 30 startups.
Applications are open from March 16 to March 27, 2026, targeting startups operating in or serving the South East across sectors such as AgriTech, FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, clean energy, manufacturing, logistics, and digital platforms.
Interested applicants can apply via sedc.gov.ng/programs/sevcp.
