Nigerian innovation hub Labspace and Ghana’s Hapaspace officially launched the Venture Boost Accelerator Program on August 21, 2025, at the conference “From Local to Global: Lessons from African Founders.”
The Conference for the Venture Boost Accelerator Program is a high-impact event designed to empower African startups for global success. It serves as a stepping stone to launch and raise awareness for the Venture Boost Accelerator Program, educating African startups on preparing for global accelerators, funding, and scaling.
Why it matters
The accelerator is designed to equip early-stage African startups with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to gain entry into global programs like Y Combinator, Techstars, and Founder Institute.
The details
- The program includes three months of deep learning sessions, mentorship, and networking with investors and ecosystem leaders.
- Participants who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Recognition and recommendations to top accelerator programs like YC, Techstars, and Founder Institute.
- Sessions are capped at 20 participants per cohort, targeting early-stage founders in Ghana, Nigeria, and across Africa.
- The initiative emphasizes capacity-building, fundraising readiness, and scaling strategies for startups.
Target Audience
- Development partners, government agencies, and tech communities.
- Early-stage startup founders in Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, and broader regions).
- Investors, mentors, and representatives from innovation hubs.
Context:
- A Harvard Business School study found that startups in accelerators raise 50–170% more capital and enjoy stronger long-term survival rates than those that don’t.
- Organizers say the program is both an incubator and skills-development platform, designed to address Africa’s urgent need for upskilled entrepreneurs.
What they’re saying:
“This is more than an accelerator program; it is a vision of two cross-border organizations with a shared goal of nurturing startups to do exploits,” organizers noted.
The big picture
The Venture Boost Accelerator reflects a growing push by African innovation hubs to bridge local founders with global opportunities, fostering cross-border collaboration while preparing entrepreneurs to compete on an international stage.
About the hubs:
- Labspace (Nigeria): A women-led technology and innovation hub focused on capacity-building and solutions for the education sector.
- Hapaspace (Ghana): A Kumasi-based hub supporting youth in building startups and STEM skills.
Between the lines: Beyond training, the program seeks to create ecosystem linkages among founders, investors, mentors, and development partners across Africa.
For more info: comms@theventureboost.org | info@theventureboost.org
