Facebook, CcHub partner on Nigeria’s first FbStart accelerator programme

Facebook in partnership with Co-Creation Hub has launched the start of FbStart Accelerator programme in Nigeria.

The partnership is starting with 11 students and five Startup teams and the six-month Bootcamp aims to aid innovative and visionary teams in creating solutions with advanced technologies.

The research and mentorship-driven accelerator programme will provide the teams with access to product and industry experts to gain valuable insight as well as deeper knowledge of how to optimise value-driven products and solutions, which leverage on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

The FbStart Accelerator Programme, announced earlier this year during the opening of Facebook’s first hub space on the continent, will be the focal point for the boot camp.

The programme is specifically designed for two categories of participants, students and startups. While the student teams will be provided with equity free funding of between $5,000-$15,000, having the option to work virtually to transform their ideas or research into working prototypes, the Startup teams will be provided with $20,000 in equity-free funding and like student teams will have access to technical and business mentors from the Facebook and the CcHUB network.

Commenting on the start of the FbStart Accelerator programme, Developer Programmes Manager at Facebook, Mr Emeka Afigbo said: “We believe technology provides expansive opportunities to engage young, creative Nigerians, the use of cutting-edge technologies as a basis show that Africans can leverage these technologies to build solutions that are both locally and globally relevant. I’m excited to see how these teams will develop and learn throughout their time with us, and ultimately what the will build and create.”