Every Nigerian startup hub and accelerator, ranked

You've just incorporated your startup in Lagos. Your co-founder is in Kano. Your first question isn't about product—it's about where to sit down and actually build. Should you join a hub? Pay for a desk at a coworking space? Apply to an accelerator? And if you do, which one won't waste your time or burn through your pre-seed capital on rent?

This is the problem most Nigerian founders face in their first six months. The ecosystem has grown significantly since 2020, but it's fragmented. There's no clear map of which spaces offer what, which accelerators actually get founders funded, and which are just expensive coffee shops with "innovation" in their name. We've spent years working with founders across Lagos, Kano, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, and we've seen which hubs and accelerators genuinely move the needle. This article gives you the unfiltered ranking—who to apply to, what to expect, and what each space is actually good for.

The tier system: how we ranked them

We evaluated every major Nigerian startup hub and accelerator across five criteria:

1. Funding access: Do portfolio companies actually raise? What's the average pre-seed ticket size and follow-on rate?
2. Network quality: Are the other founders, mentors, and investors worth your time?
3. Operational support: Do they help with incorporation, tax, hiring, or just give you a desk?
4. Cost-to-value: Is the fee or equity stake justified by what you get?
5. Stage fit: Do they back idea-stage founders or only Series A companies?

We've split this into four tiers: Tier 1 (must consider), Tier 2 (strong alternative), Tier 3 (sector-specific or early-stage), and Tier 4 (niche or emerging). Every founder's journey is different, but this ranking reflects where the most consistent exits, funding, and operational wins happen.

Tier 1: The ecosystem anchors

CcHub (Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu)

CcHub is the oldest and most connected hub in Nigeria, founded in 2011. If you're in Lagos and haven't heard of them, you're not paying attention. They run the physical space in Yaba, host regular demo days, and have direct relationships with most of the major VCs in West Africa.

What they offer: Desk space, mentorship, demo day access, and a network that includes Flutterwave, Paystack alumni, and current founders across fintech, logistics, and edtech. They've recently expanded to Ibadan and Enugu, which matters if you're building outside Lagos.

Cost: Membership tiers start around ₦30,000–₦50,000 per month for hot desks, up to ₦150,000+ for dedicated desks. No equity stake.

Best for: Founders who need a physical community, want to stay independent, and are raising within 12–18 months. If you're bootstrapping and need a cheap desk, the value drops. If you're pre-revenue and want to be around other founders building in parallel, CcHub is still the default.

Gotcha: The space gets crowded, especially during demo day prep. Wifi can be inconsistent. If you need quiet focus time, book a private room.

Ventures Platform (Lagos, multiple sectors)

Ventures Platform runs one of the most active accelerator programs in Nigeria. They've backed over 100 companies since 2016, and their portfolio includes some of the most funded startups in the country: Kuda, Mono, Treepay, and others. They take 8–10% equity in exchange for $20,000–$50,000 in initial capital, mentorship, and demo day access.

What they offer: A structured 12-week program, weekly founder education (legal, fundraising, product), direct intros to angels and VCs, and operational support. Their demo day is one of the most attended in Lagos, with investors from Europe, US, and within Africa.

Cost: Equity only (8–10%). No monthly fees for accepted founders.

Best for: Founders with a working prototype or MVP, some early traction, and a clear go-to-market plan. If you're still in the idea stage, they'll pass. If you're already Series A-ready, you're overqualified.

Gotcha: The program is competitive. Acceptance rate is around 5–8%. If you apply and get rejected, feedback is minimal. Apply only when you have something to show.

FATE Foundation (Lagos, Abuja, with national reach)

FATE (Future Africa Tech Entrepreneurs) runs Nigeria's largest accelerator by cohort size. They've backed over 500 startups since 2017, which means they're either incredibly effective or volume-heavy. The truth is somewhere in between. They take 7–8% equity and provide $10,000–$30,000 in initial capital.

What they offer: 12-week program, mentorship from experienced founders and operators, access to corporate partners (including CBN-regulated fintech platforms), and a strong alumni network. Their strength is in helping founders navigate regulatory frameworks—crucial for fintech and payments companies.

Cost: Equity only (7–8%). No monthly fees.

Best for: Fintech, agritech, and logistics founders who need to understand Nigerian regulation. If you're building a B2B SaaS for global markets, FATE is less relevant.

Gotcha: With 500+ portfolio companies, follow-on support is thin. You get what you put in. The mentorship is only as good as your mentor match.

Tier 2: Strong alternatives with clear niches

The Nest Africa (Lagos)

The Nest Africa is a newer player (launched around 2018) but has built a strong reputation in agritech and climate tech. They run a 12-week program, take 6–8% equity, and provide $15,000–$40,000 in capital.

What they offer: Deep expertise in agricultural value chains, connections to agribusiness corporates, and mentors who actually understand farm-to-table logistics. If you're building in agritech, this is your best bet in Nigeria.

Cost: Equity only (6–8%).

Best for: Agritech, climate tech, and impact-focused founders. If you're building a fintech app with no agriculture angle, skip this.

Co-creation Hub (Abuja, Lagos)

Co-creation Hub focuses on civic tech, social impact, and digital inclusion. They're grant-heavy (not just equity-based), which means you can get funding without diluting equity.

What they offer: Grants (₦2–₦10 million for early-stage), mentorship, and connections to NGOs and international donors. They also run the Abuja hub, which is valuable if you're not Lagos-based.

Cost: Grants (no equity), though some programs include optional equity tracks.

Best for: Founders building for underserved populations, civic engagement, or digital inclusion. If you're raising from VCs for a traditional SaaS business, this isn't the fit.

SLICES (Lagos, Ibadan)

SLICES is a newer accelerator focused on enterprise software and B2B SaaS. They take 5–7% equity and provide $20,000–$50,000 in capital.

What they offer: Mentorship from B2B founders and operators, connections to enterprise customers, and a focus on unit economics and sales. They're smaller than Ventures Platform but more focused.

Cost: Equity only (5–7%).

Best for: B2B SaaS founders who need enterprise customer connections. If you're building consumer or mobile-first, look elsewhere.

Tier 3: Sector-specific and early-stage programs

Anterra Capital (Lagos, across Africa)

Anterra is a VC firm that also runs a pre-seed program. They focus on agritech and climate tech across Africa. The program is smaller and more selective than the Tier 1 accelerators.

What they offer: $50,000–$100,000 in capital (higher than most), mentorship from investors, and connections across Africa. If accepted, you're likely to raise a follow-on round.

Cost: Equity (typically 5–6%).

Best for: Agritech and climate founders who are further along and ready for institutional capital.

Launch Africa (Lagos, pan-African)

Launch Africa runs a 4-week bootcamp and then a 12-week accelerator. They're more selective and focus on founders with prior exits or strong backgrounds.

What they offer: Intensive founder education, investor intros, and a strong alumni network across Africa. Their network includes some of the biggest African VCs.

Cost: Equity (typically 5–7%).

Best for: Repeat founders or founders from strong backgrounds who are raising Series A or large pre-seed rounds.

Ingressive for Good (Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt)

Ingressive for Good focuses on developer communities and tech talent. They're less of a traditional accelerator and more of a community builder, but they do offer some funding and mentorship.

What they offer: Community, events, mentorship, and some grant funding for developers building tools. They're strong if you're hiring engineers or building developer tools.

Cost: Mostly free; some programs have optional equity tracks.

Best for: Founder-engineers who need to hire or build developer communities.

Tier 4: Emerging, niche, and location-specific options

Yaba Hub (Lagos)

Yaba Hub is a coworking space with some accelerator features. It's cheaper than CcHub and more casual.

What they offer: Desk space, community events, and occasional mentorship. It's more of a working space than an accelerator.

Cost: ₦20,000–₦40,000 per month for hot desks.

Best for: Bootstrapped founders who just need a desk and community. If you're raising, CcHub or an accelerator is better.

Kano Innovation Hub

If you're building outside Lagos, Kano Innovation Hub is the strongest option in Northern Nigeria. They offer desk space, mentorship, and connections to Kano-based businesses and investors.

What they offer: Physical space, community, and local network access.

Cost: ₦15,000–₦30,000 per month.

Best for: Founders based in Kano or Northern Nigeria who need a local community.

Port Harcourt Tech Hub

Port Harcourt Tech Hub serves the South-South region. It's less developed than Lagos hubs but growing.

What they offer: Desk space, mentorship, and connections to oil and gas, maritime, and local businesses.

Cost: ₦10,000–₦25,000 per month.

Best for: Founders in Port Harcourt building for oil, gas, or maritime sectors.

How to choose: a decision tree

Here's a practical framework for deciding where to go:

The application process: what actually works

If you decide to apply to an accelerator, here's what founders tell us actually matters:

1. Have a working product or clear prototype: Accelerators want to see something, even if it's rough. A Figma prototype or MVP beats a 50-slide deck.

2. Show early traction: Even 100 users, 10 paying customers, or strong pre-launch waitlist signals that you can execute. Accelerators are betting on your ability to move fast.

3. Be specific about your ask: Don't apply to FATE if you're building B2B SaaS for Germany. Don't apply to SLICES if you're an agritech founder. Accelerators reject misaligned applications instantly.

4. Have a founding team: Solo founders get accepted, but co-founder teams are preferred. If you're solo, make sure your background is exceptional.

5. Know why you're applying: Generic "we want to join your accelerator" essays get rejected. Explain what specific mentors, investors, or resources you need.

When you're raising pre-seed in Nigeria, accelerators are often your first institutional capital source. They also introduce you to angels and VCs, which compounds over time.

Location matters: Lagos vs. Kano vs. Abuja

The majority of accelerators and hubs are in Lagos, which creates a gravitational pull. But location strategy matters. If you're building for the Northern market, being in Kano gives you customer access that Lagos doesn't. If you're building fintech for Lagos, being in Yaba or Lekki puts you near banks, investors, and other fintech founders.

Read our breakdown of Yaba vs. Lekki: where Lagos founders should base in 2026 for a detailed analysis of where to set up your office.

The real cost of accelerators

Accelerators take 5–10% equity. On a $100,000 pre-seed round, that's a meaningful stake. But the value isn't just the capital—it's the investor intros, the operational support, and the credibility signal. When you tell an investor you're backed by Ventures Platform or FATE, doors open faster.

However, equity dilution compounds. If you give 8% to an accelerator, 10% to angels, 15% to seed investors, and 20% to Series A investors, you've given away 53% before you've built a real business. Understand this tradeoff before you apply.

What's changing in 2026

The ecosystem is shifting. More accelerators are going remote or hybrid, which means you don't have to be in Lagos to participate. More programs are focusing on underrepresented founders—women, non-Yoruba founders, diaspora returnees. And more accelerators are taking smaller equity stakes (5–6% instead of 8–10%) as competition for quality founders increases.

The CBN's regulatory push around fintech and the NDPR's data protection requirements mean accelerators that help with compliance are gaining value. If you're in fintech, FATE's regulatory expertise is increasingly critical.

FAQ

Q: Do I have to join an accelerator to succeed? A: No. Many successful Nigerian startups (Paystack, Flutterwave early days) bootstrapped or raised directly from angels. Accelerators are a shortcut to network and capital, but they're not required. Evaluate based on your stage and needs.

Q: What's the acceptance rate for top accelerators? A: Ventures Platform and FATE accept roughly 5–8% of applicants. Co-creation Hub and The Nest Africa are slightly higher (10–15%). Acceptance depends on your product maturity and team background.

Q: Can I apply to multiple accelerators at once? A: Yes, but strategically. Apply to 2–3 that genuinely fit your stage and sector. Don't spray applications everywhere. Accelerators talk to each other.

Q: How long does the application process take? A: Most accelerators take 4–8 weeks from application to decision. Some (like Launch Africa) are faster. Plan accordingly if you're time-sensitive.

Q: What if I'm rejected? A: Ask for feedback. Most accelerators won't give it, but try anyway. Build more traction, refine your pitch, and reapply in 6 months. Rejection is common and not a signal that your idea is bad.

What to do next

1. Map your fit: Use the decision tree above to identify 2–3 accelerators that match your stage, sector, and location.

2. Build your application: If you don't have a working product yet, build one. Even a rough prototype dramatically increases your odds.

3. Explore coworking alternatives: If you're not ready for an accelerator, check out The 12 best coworking spaces in Lagos for founders in 2026 to find a space that fits your budget and community needs.

Your location and the people around you matter in year one. Choose deliberately.