In a city where “hustle” is the local dialect, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has just separated the dreamers from the disruptors. After an 8-week gauntlet of high-stakes mentorship and late-night pivoting, the Lagos Innovate Idea Hub 12.0 has crowned three startups as the new vanguard of the Lagos tech ecosystem.
From a pool of thousands of hopefuls, 20 were chosen to enter the ‘Idea Hub’ furnace. By Demo Day, that number was whittled down to the final six. These weren’t just pitches; they were battle-tested solutions for a Lagos that never sleeps.
The Winners: Solving Real Problems, Not Just ‘App’ Problems
The judges didn’t just look for clean code; they looked for the “Lagos Factor”, scale, resilience, and immediate economic impact.
- The Gold Medal: Cubeseed Africa (AgriTech) (www.cubeseed.com.ng)
The Disruptors: Mbanefo Chinonyelum, Akeem Suara, & Elohor Ebieroma.
The Big Idea: In a country where the “middleman” often eats the profit, farmers’ payment is delayed or defrauded, buyers face product scarcity, poor quality, and limited access to credit. Cubeseed Africa is the digital equalizer, a market infrastructure. In partnership with Sterling Bank, cubeseed is creating a high-trust marketplace for bulk protein supply. They are connecting commercial livestock farmers directly to bulk buyers like restaurants, hotels, coldroom operators, etc. They ensure farmers get paid instantly and a guaranteed market, while buyers get reliable, high-quality protein on credit; they aren’t just selling meat; they are fueling food security by building confidence in agricultural trade.
- The Silver Streak: Lena (EdTech) (www.uselena.com)
The Disruptors: Faruk Bilesanmi,Danny Ombeh & Chris Ombeh
The Big Idea: In a continent where 9 out of 10 children struggle with basic math and literacy despite being in school, and where overcrowded classrooms of 35+ students make personalized learning impossible, Lena is rewriting the rules of African education. Using AI-driven games, Lena transforms curriculum-aligned math, literacy, and science into immersive, story-driven adventures that children actually want to engage with. The platform’s adaptive AI tutor, trained on national curricula, adjusts difficulty in real-time based on each child’s pace and struggles; delivering one-on-one tutoring at scale. What truly sets Lena apart is its mobile-first, offline-friendly design that thrives in low-connectivity environments where competitors fail. They’re building Africa’s future talent pipeline, preparing the continent’s children for the global AI economy one game at a time.
- The Bronze Catalyst: Prodevs (HR Tech) (www.prodevs.io)
The Disruptor: William Nwogbo, Faith Dike N., & Kelvin Ujuagu.
The Big Idea: Hiring tech talent in Lagos is famously chaotic. Prodevs is the specialized engine streamlining the hunt for developers, ensuring that growing companies spend less time “sourcing” and more time “scaling.”
“More Than Just a Program It’s an Economic Engine”
The atmosphere at Demo Day was electric, serving as a reminder that despite global venture capital shifts, the heartbeat of Nigerian innovation is still found in the heart of Alausa and the tech hubs of Yaba.
“Idea Hub 12.0 has demonstrated the incredible talent and innovation present in Lagos State,” said Ifeoluwa Martins. “These startups represent the future of our economy, and we are proud to support their journey from ideation to market success.”
The LSETF’s Lagos Innovate initiative continues to act as the ultimate “finishing school” for startups. Beyond the prestige, the 20 startups underwent a rigorous transformation, refining products, sharpening market-readiness, and building the “thick skin” required to survive the Nigerian business climate.
The Bottom Line for Investors and Stakeholders
LSETF isn’t just handing out certificates; they are de-risking the future. By the time these startups hit the Demo Day stage, they have been vetted, mentored, and polished by the best in the industry. For the Lagos State Government, this is the blueprint for job creation: empowering the few to employ the many.
As these three winners head into the market, one thing is clear: The next Nigerian “Unicorn” might have just taken its first steps in the LSETF Idea Hub.
