Wema Bank has launched the 2026 edition of its Hackaholics Accelerator Programme, selecting ten Nigerian startups for mentorship, training, and strategic support aimed at strengthening their business models and preparing them for scalable growth. The initiative is designed to help promising founders move beyond early-stage innovation into building sustainable, investment-ready businesses.
The Hackaholics Accelerator is a selective growth programme under the bank’s broader Hackaholics innovation platform. It focuses on helping startups reinforce their operational foundations, refine their products, and position themselves for expansion in competitive markets.
According to the bank, the accelerator represents a strategic step in deepening its support for entrepreneurs beyond idea-stage competitions by providing hands-on development opportunities for emerging startups.
Through the programme, founders will receive structured mentorship, industry guidance, and access to networks that can help transform innovative ideas into viable and scalable enterprises.
The 2026 cohort consists of ten startups selected from the top-performing finalists of Hackaholics 6.0. The selected startups include Farmslate, Ploy, Stocmed, Feest (Chao), Varsityscape, MamaAlert, Sane, Cyclex, Kieva, and Loocomo.
Speaking on the programme, the managing director and chief executive officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said the accelerator reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting founders beyond the early stages of innovation.
He explained that the Hackaholics platform has evolved into more than just a competition, becoming a channel for identifying and nurturing entrepreneurial talent across Nigeria.
“Over the past six years, Hackaholics has grown into more than a competition; it has become a platform that reveals the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial potential that exists across Nigeria,” Oseni said.
“With this second edition of Hackaholics Accelerator, we are taking the next step by supporting founders beyond the ideation stage and into the process of building sustainable businesses. The startups selected for this cohort represent some of the most promising solutions emerging from the Hackaholics ecosystem, and we are committed to helping them refine their models, strengthen their foundations, and scale their impact.”
Also speaking, the chief transformation officer of Wema Bank, Babatunde Mumuni, noted that the accelerator will guide founders through a structured development process designed to strengthen their operations and position them for long-term growth.
He said the startups chosen for the programme already demonstrate early traction, market presence, and strong potential for expansion.
According to him, the accelerator will provide intensive mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to industry networks that can help founders deepen their market reach and build sustainable companies.
As part of the programme, participating founders will undergo intensive training sessions facilitated by industry experts across key areas of business growth, including product development, operational strategy, and scaling.
The Hackaholics initiative has grown significantly over the past six years, becoming one of Nigeria’s prominent platforms for youth-driven innovation and entrepreneurship. The platform has attracted more than 15,000 applicants and supported hundreds of digital solutions across sectors such as health, education, finance, and logistics.
Through the initiative, Wema Bank has disbursed more than $400,000 in funding to young innovators and startup founders across Nigeria.
