{"id":349696,"date":"2026-03-20T20:24:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/349696\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T20:24:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:24:14","slug":"how-to-apply-as-fg-opens-portal-for-idice-startup-bridge-applications-over-7k-grant-up-for-grabs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/349696\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Apply as FG Opens Portal for iDICE Startup Bridge Applications, Over $7k Grant Up for Grabs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The federal government has launched the iDICE Startup Bridge to support early-stage entrepreneurs with grants and mentorshipFounders Lab invites applications for training and funding, enhancing startup viability across all statesGrowth Lab to follow, aimed at scaling startups with early market traction and access to equity investment<\/p>\n

Pascal Oparada is a journalist with Legit.ng, covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy for over a decade.<\/p>\n

Nigeria\u2019s federal government<\/a> has opened applications for the iDICE Startup Bridge programme, a new initiative designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs across the country with grants, mentorship and access to investment capital.<\/p>\n

The programme aims to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s growing startup ecosystem by supporting innovators in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, particularly those outside established technology hubs.<\/p>\n

\"PresidentPresident Bola Tinubu-led FG invites Nigerians to apply for iDICE scheme, over $7,000 up for grabs.
\nCredit: State House
Source: Facebook<\/p>\n

Under the scheme<\/a>, idea-stage founders can access grants of up to N10 million (about $7,215), while startups that already have working products and early customer traction may receive up to $100,000 in equity investment to expand their businesses.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Read also<\/p>\n

New Opportunity: FG launches iDICE Startup Bridge, offers N10m grants to startups, deadline emerges<\/p>\n

<\/a>Programme targets early-stage innovators<\/p>\n

The iDICE Startup Bridge operates under the federal government\u2019s broader Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, an initiative focused on accelerating growth in Nigeria\u2019s digital and creative sectors.<\/p>\n

The scheme is implemented by the Bank of Industry<\/a> and financed through partnerships with international development institutions, including the African Development Bank, Agence Fran\u00e7aise de D\u00e9veloppement and the Islamic Development Bank.<\/p>\n

Officials say the programme is designed to broaden Nigeria\u2019s innovation pipeline and encourage entrepreneurship beyond traditional tech centres such as Lagos and Abuja, where most startup funding has historically been concentrated.<\/p>\n

By targeting founders<\/a> across the country, the government hopes to uncover new ideas, support emerging talent and create stronger pathways for startups to attract funding and scale their operations.<\/p>\n

Founders Lab opens for applications<\/p>\n

The first pathway of the programme, known as the Founders Lab, officially opened for applications on March 16.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Read also<\/p>\n

Nigeria\u2019s maritime sector records historic growth amid sweeping port reforms<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

It is a 12-week capacity-building programme designed for idea-stage entrepreneurs who want to turn business concepts into viable startups. <\/p>\n

Participants will receive structured training, mentorship and practical guidance from experienced facilitators to help them validate ideas, build business models and develop minimum viable products.<\/p>\n

Each year, the programme will train about 250 entrepreneurs. After the training phase, the top 100 founders who complete the programme and meet key milestones will receive grants of up to N10 million to support product development or launch their ventures.<\/p>\n

Applications for the Founders Lab will close on April 20, and participants will be selected through a merit-based evaluation process aligned with the programme\u2019s criteria.<\/p>\n

Growth lab to support scaling startups<\/p>\n

A second pathway under the programme, called Growth Lab, will be introduced in a later phase.<\/p>\n

Unlike the Founders Lab, which focuses on early-stage ideas, the Growth Lab is designed for startups that already have minimum viable products and have demonstrated early market traction.<\/p>\n

Selected startups will receive up to $100,000 in equity investment along with technical support aimed at scaling operations, strengthening corporate governance and refining fundraising strategies.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Read also<\/p>\n

No more feature phones? MTN, other telcos eye N55K smartphones for millions in Nigeria by 2026<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The programme will also connect participating startups with institutional investors and may provide match funding opportunities for companies that secure additional capital from external investors.<\/p>\n

Part of Nigeria\u2019s $617.7m digital economy drive<\/p>\n

Launched in 2023 with total funding of $617.7 million, the iDICE initiative represents one of the largest government-backed efforts to stimulate investment in Nigeria\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n

The programme recorded its first startup investment in late 2025 through Ventures Platform, a seed-stage venture capital firm operating across Africa.<\/p>\n

Nigeria\u2019s Vice President, Kashim Shettima<\/a>, who chairs the iDICE Steering Committee, said the initiative is designed to provide stronger opportunities for entrepreneurs nationwide.<\/p>\n

According to him, the programme aims to give young innovators across Nigeria a clear pathway to build sustainable businesses and scale their ideas into viable enterprises.<\/p>\n

For the Bank of Industry, the initiative also aligns with its broader financing activities across multiple sectors of the Nigerian economy.<\/p>\n

The bank disclosed that it disbursed N636 billion to businesses across different industries in its latest financial year, the highest annual disbursement in its history, per a report by BusinessDay.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Read also<\/p>\n

Up to N10m grant: Gov Abiodun unveils youth empowerment blueprint in Ogun state<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Of that amount, N43 billion was directed toward projects in the digital and creative sectors.<\/p>\n

\"FGVice President Kashim Shettima to chair the iDICE scheme.
\nCredit: State House
Source: Twitter<\/p>\n

Olasupo Olusi, managing director and chief executive officer of the bank, said the institution hopes to replicate that level of impact through the iDICE Startup Bridge programme as it continues to support emerging entrepreneurs and innovation across Nigeria.<\/p>\n

How to Apply for FG\u2019s N300,000 FarmerMoni<\/p>\n

Legit.ng earlier reported that the federal government of Nigeria<\/a> has opened the GEEP (Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme) FarmerMoni portal<\/a> for 2025\/2026, offering interest-free and collateral-free loans of up to \u20a6300,000 to smallholder farmers nationwide.<\/p>\n

The programme, which was released on the GEEP website, aims to support farmers in procuring seeds, fertilisers, and equipment for the new farming season.<\/p>\n

Officials say the scheme is designed to boost agricultural productivity, improve rural incomes and strengthen food security across the country.<\/p>\n

Source: Legit.ng<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The federal government has launched the iDICE Startup Bridge to support early-stage entrepreneurs with grants and mentorshipFounders Lab…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":349697,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[114,293,85,46],"class_list":["post-349696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entrepreneurship","tag-business","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-il","tag-israel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/349696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=349696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/349696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/349697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=349696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=349696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=349696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}