Antler Selects 24 Founders in First Nigerian Accelerator Cohort
TLDR
- Antler, the global early-stage investment network, has kicked off its first accelerator cohort in Nigeria under Partner for Africa Anil Atmaramani
- The Lagos-based, eight-week in-person sprint focuses on building companies from scratch with founders
- Antler invests $100,000 for a 10% stake in selected ventures, with follow-on support possible up to Series C
Antler, the global early-stage investment network, has kicked off its first accelerator cohort in Nigeria under Partner for Africa Anil Atmaramani. The Lagos-based, eight-week in-person sprint focuses on building companies from scratch with founders who have lived experience of the problems they aim to solve.
The inaugural cohort drew over 7,500 applications, with just 24 founders—less than 1%—selected. Participants bring domain expertise in fintech, AI, food security, and edtech. Antler invests $100,000 for a 10% stake in selected ventures, with follow-on support possible up to Series C.
By week four, unmatched founders are paired with co-founders, and by the programme’s end, top-performing teams receive pre-seed funding. Antler’s approach emphasises “founder–problem fit” over polished products, targeting operators, experts, and repeat founders.
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Key Takeaways
Antler’s Nigeria accelerator departs from typical pitch-focused programmes by starting at the inception stage—no co-founder or company required. The firm blends local execution with global reach, operating in 30+ countries and offering both equity and tailored debt options for scaling companies. With Lagos hosting 73% of Nigeria’s startups and ranking among the world’s top 100 startup ecosystems, Antler’s presence adds a resource-rich platform for high-potential founders. Applications are now open for the second Nigerian cohort and the Kenyan cohort. This model could reshape early-stage funding in Africa, backing ventures grounded in local realities but built to compete globally.
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