The Sola & Ibukun Adeyinka Foundation has officially opened applications for Cohort 3 of its flagship SIA Startup Foundry, a high-impact incubation programme designed to equip early-stage founders with the training, funding, mentorship, and operational capacity required to scale sustainable, investable ventures.

Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to pulse with innovation and ambition, yet thousands of promising founders remain constrained by limited access to capital, structured mentorship, and institutional support. The foundation said the Startup Foundry was established to bridge this gap.

Applications opened recently and will close on March 13, 2026, the foundation stated in a statement on Sunday. Selected startups will participate in an intensive training bootcamp, receive hands-on mentorship from industry leaders, and compete for grant funding of up to $10,000 to be distributed among six promising ventures after a competitive Demo Day.

The SIA Startup Foundry has rapidly emerged as one of Nigeria’s impactful early-stage startup programmes.

Application volume more than doubled between cohorts, rising from 196 to 417 applications, with participation spanning agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and clean energy.

The growth, according to the organisers, reflects increasing trust in the programme’s ability to help founders transition from potential to performance through structured capacity building and capital support.

Mr Sola Adeyinka, Co-Chair of the SIA Foundation, said, “Across Nigeria and Africa, we see thousands of founders with strong ideas and execution energy, but many lack the structured guidance and support required to transform those ideas into scalable businesses.

“The SIA Startup Foundry was built to bridge that gap. Our focus is on merit and potential, helping founders refine their business models, strengthen their operational foundations, and build the capacity required to grow sustainably. We are committed to nurturing founders who can build enduring companies, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.”

Since its inception, the programme has supported dozens of entrepreneurs through an intensive bootcamp covering financial management, sales systems, investment readiness, digital marketing, leadership, legal foundations, and the use of AI tools for business growth.

Participants also gain access to mentors, investor exposure, and a peer network that extends beyond the programme duration.

Previous participants have reported business improvements, including revenue growth, stronger operational systems, new partnerships, and improved investor readiness. The programme has awarded grant funding to multiple startups across diverse sectors, enabling founders to acquire critical equipment, hire staff, expand production, and accelerate growth.

The Startup Foundry is designed for early-stage Nigerian startups seeking seed funding and mentorship, founders with scalable business models and early traction, entrepreneurs committed to building sustainable, growth-oriented businesses and ventures across technology, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, creative industries, and sustainability.

The Lagos-based foundation established the Startup Foundry as part of its broader mission to democratise access to opportunity and unlock Africa’s entrepreneurial potential.

With applications now open for Cohort 3, the foundation is urging Nigeria’s promising founders to seize the opportunity to accelerate their growth and join a growing network of high-impact entrepreneurs shaping Africa’s economic future.