The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with Tech Revolution Africa to launch the 2026 DNICE Builders Festival, an initiative aimed at connecting Nigerian startups with investors and venture capital firms. The festival, scheduled to take place from November 10 to 12 at the BAT International Conference Centre in Abuja, will provide a platform for startups to showcase their products and services to potential investors. The programme is designed to foster an environment where local innovation directly services institutional needs.
The DNICE Builders Festival will feature a Deal Room where investors will have the opportunity to meet Nigerian technology founders and discuss potential investment opportunities. The festival's model begins with problem identification, where participating institutions submit operational and technology challenges. Startups with relevant products are then identified and matched with these challenges. The process will culminate in live Deal Room sessions at DNICE 2026, providing a unique opportunity for investors to engage with startups.
The programme is targeting a ₦3 billion investment and pilot contract pipeline and is open to investors across different stages of the venture financing market. Investors can register through the official Builders Festival investor registration page, which lists pre-seed, seed, Series A, Series B, and growth or debt financing among the investment stages available to participating investors. This provides investors with a range of options to support startups at various stages of development.
According to Dr. Aristotle Onumo, NITDA's Director of Special Duties Directorate, Office of the DG, the objective of the programme is to bridge the historic disconnect between large-scale public or private enterprises and the domestic tech ecosystem. The festival will provide a platform for startups to access funding and for investors to identify promising investment opportunities. The programme is expected to bring together venture capitalists, angel investors, financial institutions, investment firms, and other funding partners.
Tech Revolution Africa co-founder David Ogebe has encouraged investors to pay attention to the problem a startup is solving alongside the pitch being presented. The challenge vault currently features problems submitted by institutions across sectors, including financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, logistics, education, and government operations. This approach ensures that startups are solving real-world problems, increasing their potential for success.
The startups selected for the festival are required to have existing products and evidence of market activity. Nigerian registered startups must be at MVP stage or beyond and have at least one live user, active pilot, or paying customer. Selection will also consider market traction, team resilience, and product maturity. This ensures that only high-quality startups are presented to investors, increasing the chances of successful investments.
The DNICE Builders Festival is expected to be a major event in the Nigerian tech ecosystem, providing a platform for startups to access funding and for investors to identify promising investment opportunities. With a target of ₦3 billion in investments, the programme has the potential to drive growth and innovation in the Nigerian tech sector. Investors interested in participating can register through the official Builders Festival investor registration page.
Key points
- The programme targets ₦3 billion in investments and pilot contracts.
- The festival will feature a Deal Room where investors will meet Nigerian technology founders.
- Startups must have existing products and evidence of market activity to participate.
