KAAWE
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Kaawe: to read, to educate oneself

Nigeria's sharpest
student founders,
backed to grow
until they stand alone.

Kaawe is a sponsor-funded innovation challenge for exceptional post-secondary student founders across Nigeria. Non-equity cash prizes and growth support, no strings, no equity taken.

Apply as founderFuel the Future

MISSION

Identify and support talented student founders in Nigeria building commercially viable ventures with strong growth potential.

VISION

Channel student innovation toward Nigeria's most acute economic gaps, with capital and growth support for viable homegrown ventures.

Our Inspiration

Kaawe was born from a deeply personal place.

This challenge is my tribute to my maternal grandfather, a man whose presence was truly formidable and inspirational.

Read the story

Economic gaps we have identified.

03 economic gaps

01

$2.3B+

Post-harvest loss each year: food that never reaches a market and value that never reaches a founder.

02

$1.9B

The gender credit deficit limits the capital that women-led student ventures can access on their own.

03

Under-Employed Youth

Graduates with skills and ideas but no runway, leaving talent stranded between campus and market.

How the challenge works.

Phase 01

Application

Founders submit a venture application. No fees, no equity, no catch.

Phase 02

Eligibility screening

Initial review against the eligibility criteria and focus areas.

Phase 03

Committee scoring

A review panel evaluates finalists on seven criteria, from market opportunity to pitch quality.

Phase 04

Awards & recognition

Winners receive non-equity cash prizes, then mentorship and support for 3 months to 1 year after the competition.

Where the challenge focuses.

03 focus areas

01

Education

Ventures that widen access to learning, from tools for students to platforms that skill up teachers.

02

Agriculture / Food

Ventures that cut post-harvest loss and move food from farm to market with less waste.

03

Women Advancement

Ventures that expand opportunity and access to capital for women-led teams.

What winners receive.

Non-equity, always

Cash Awards

Non-equity financial prizes starting from $1,000. You keep full ownership.

Operational Support

Mentorship and hands-on support for 3 months to 1 year after the competition.

Sponsor Exposure

Direct access to industry partners across the sponsor network.

Visibility & Recognition

Public recognition of your venture on the website and social channels.

How applications are judged.

07 pillars

  • 01

    Market opportunity

    Size and target reach.

  • 02

    Innovation

    A distinct approach to the problem.

  • 03

    Revenue potential

    A viable commercial business model.

  • 04

    Execution ability

    Founder and team capability.

  • 05

    Theme alignment

    Education, ag/food, or women advancement.

  • 06

    Validation

    Customer discovery, pilot, prototype.

  • 07

    Presentation quality

    Clarity and pitch structure.

Eligibility

  • Currently attending an accredited higher education institution in Nigeria.
  • Building or leading a venture in our focus areas: education, agriculture/food, or women advancement.
  • A commercially viable business model with clear growth potential.
  • As a founder, you aim high and dream big.

For founders

Apply to Kaawe

Tell us about your venture. Cash prizes and support, no equity.