iROKOtv’s Jason Njoku, Bastian Gotter and Nollywood superstar Mary Remmy-Njoku have launched SPARK - a
$1m-backed company to support and develop aspiring Nigerian tech and
Internet entrepreneurs.
Based in Lagos and launched just a few weeks
ago, the new company has attracted attention from around the world,
having featured in US-based black entertainment website BET as well as BBC World radio. It has been praised as a pioneer
in revolutionizing the start-up ecosystem for young, talented Nigerians
looking to make their mark in the country’s emerging tech sector. Continue...
Since
its launch on 8 May, the company has received hundreds of emails from
entrepreneurs looking to join the SPARK network, as well as interest
from investors around the world looking to collaborate with the new
company.
Jason Njoku says:
“Myself, Bastian and Mary meet so many young, talented tech
entrepreneurs who fall at the first hurdle because the culture for
funding start-ups doesn’t exist in Nigeria at the moment. Lagos is the
gateway to the tech scene in Africa. It is currently worth
about $200million. In 3-5 years time, it will be $1billion. We, SPARK,
plan to be behind Nigeria’s first wave of dotcom millionaires”.
Bastian
Gotter says: “The reaction to SPARK has been fantastic and it proves
that now is the time to be investing in the tech market. Following on
from our success with iROKOtv, we
feel that there is no-one in a better position than us to drive forward
the tech start-up sector in Nigeria and this is why we’ve launched
SPARK.”
So
far, SPARK has funded 13 companies, all internet based, supplying
services such as dating, property letting, hotel booking and other
service that more and more Nigerians are going online for. The 13
companies include Hotels.ng, Christians.
Mary Remmy-Njoku says: “Three years ago, no-one thought to come online to watch Nollywood movies and now, it is an every day occurrence for millions of people around the world and in Nigeria. People log in to www.irokotv.com and
they have instant access to Mercy Johnson, Majid Michel, Mama G…..
whoever is their favourite star. They have iROKOtv as their first port
of call for their Nollywood movies.
“The same is going to happen for these SPARK companies; people who are interested in fashion will go online to Giddimint to buy a cool t-shirt, to Hotels.Ng to book a hotel room or to Drinks.ng to
order good priced drinks for a wedding or big occasion. Our SPARK
companies will become an everyday part of Nigerian lives in the next few
years”.
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