The winners of the KOPETECH EAST grant have been announced, at a highly anticipated startup pitch organized by Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo @Nedokonkwo, Founder and CEO of NedComOaks. The competition, which took place in Anambra, saw the emergence of Blessing Ijeoma, Umezinwa Maryjane, Onuigbo John, Eze Victor, and Campus Hub as winners of the first edition for the Eastern region.
Blessing claimed the top prize of $5000 after impressing the judges with her startup, the Hour Spent Company. A total of N4 Million was further split among the 4 runners-up. One of the winners at the KOPETECH EAST event is Umezinwa Maryjane, the founder of Emjay Soap, who lost her sight in 2009 while in secondary school. Her company aims to provide high quality soaps at little cost, while addressing the exposure of people to harmful substances often found in locally-made soaps.
Celebrating the best of indigenous ideas from the East, KOPETECH EAST is acting as the driving force for developing the tech space in the region, providing talented entrepreneurs with financial, infrastructural and institutional support to start and grow their businesses into successful ventures.
Speaking during the event, the founder of KOPETECH Dr Kennedy Okonkwo said: “Enterprise remains one of the focal points of economic and financial liberation. Building a successful business helps to empower others to achieve their own freedom. With KOPETECH East, we are unleashing the creativity and innovation that abounds in our young entrepreneurs who are buzzing to build successful businesses.
The initial stage of the Programme will see winning tech start-ups get not only financial aid, but also receive free fully-furnished office spaces equipped with high-speed internet and constant power supply. They will also get free access to HR, legal and administrative services, as well as ample time to spend on one-on-one mentorship with Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo.”
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