SMEDAN Zero to 100 Pitch Competition 2026

About

Nigerian small businesses with a CAC registration and SMEDAN ID can pitch for a share of ₦30 million in grants at SMEDAN's 2026 GROW Nigerian conference, with ten shortlisted applicants invited to Lagos.

Benefits

• 🏆Grand prizes
  Three winners share a ₦30 million pool: ₦15 million for first place, ₦10 million for second place and ₦5 million for third place, conditional on winning.
• ✈️ Shortlist travel
  Ten shortlisted businesses receive an all-expense-paid trip to Lagos to pitch, conditional on being shortlisted.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: Nigerian small business with a CAC registration number
• Mandatory: valid SMEDAN ID, obtainable through portal.smedan.gov.ng
• Mandatory: follow SMEDAN's official social accounts and @grownigerianhq on Instagram
• Mandatory: post a public pitch video of 1.5 to 2 minutes on Instagram only, tagging @smedangov and @grownigerianhq and using #MSMEConference2026 #SMEDANPitchCompetition #GrowNigerian
• Mandatory: submit a pitch deck with the application
• Optional: upload a SMEDAN certificate if available

Participation Commitments

• Apply through conference.smedan.gov.ng/pitch with a CAC registration number, a valid SMEDAN ID and a pitch deck
• Follow SMEDAN's official social accounts and @grownigerianhq on Instagram
• Post a public 1.5–2 minute pitch video on Instagram only, tagging @smedangov and @grownigerianhq and using #MSMEConference2026 #SMEDANPitchCompetition #GrowNigerian
• Shortlisted applicants must attend and pitch in Lagos on 9 November 2026
• The final pitch and prize presentation take place on 10 November 2026
• The National MSME Conference runs from 8 to 10 November 2026 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos

Target Sector

Sector agnostic, Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other

Target Location

Nigerian small businesses; no applicant residence restriction is stated. The conference and pitch final are held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, and ten shortlisted applicants receive travel to Lagos.