L-R:Dimeji Timothy, Country Manager; Nnenna Onyewuchi, Head of Marketing, Carbon; Olumide Olayinka, Partner, Prime Startups; Isioma Utomi, Lead, Women Who Launch; Mr Sinari Daranijo, Member of the Board of Trustees, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF); and UNDP Representative InDrive at the media parley recently.
Prime Startups, organisers of one of Nigeria’s most influential events for the startup ecosystem — Lagos Startup Week (LSW) — has announced the theme for the 2025 edition: ‘Disrupting the Next Decade’.
The event, which kicks off on Thursday, July 10th, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, will also mark the 10th anniversary of the leading startup programme in Africa.
Speaking at a media parley held yesterday at the UNDP Innovation Centre in Ikoyi to unveil the theme and highlight plans for LSW 2025, Olumide Olayinka, Partner at Prime Startups, said:
“As Lagos Startup Week 2025, themed ‘DND – Disrupting the Next Decade’, takes center stage this week, it serves as a timely opportunity to reflect on this powerful journey.”
He continued: “Prime Startups has consistently led the charge in ensuring that African innovation not only gets discovered but grows into a formidable global force — building the future of Africa one scaled company at a time.
Our journey over the last ten years has been about more than just discovering promising startups; it’s about moulding them into resilient, market-leading companies.”
Olayinka emphasized: “We get excited about innovative ideas, but we are passionate about the commercial success that follows — because that’s where true, sustainable impact lies. Every job created, every market expanded, every dollar raised is a testament to the sheer potential of African entrepreneurship and our unwavering commitment to helping it thrive.”
He noted that this philosophy is deeply embedded in Prime Startups’ DNA and drives its year-round founder support, cross-border partnerships, and strategic policy engagement. Their focus remains on building robust operations, expanding market access, and ensuring financial viability to attract serious investment and create lasting value.
Mr. Sinari Daranijo, Member of the Board of Trustees, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), also highlighted the government’s role in enabling this growth, noting how the ripple effects of scaled companies across various sectors significantly impact job creation.
“These businesses foster sustainable careers — from customer service to operations — empowering thousands of young Africans and contributing meaningfully to national and regional GDPs, embodying inclusive growth,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Nnena Onyewuchi, Head of Marketing at Carbon, reaffirmed the company’s strategic partnership with Lagos Startup Week and its commitment to empowering African businesses.
Other key voices included Dimeji Timothy, Country Manager for InDrive, and Isioma Utomi, Lead of Women Who Launch and a founding member of Lagos Startup Week.
Prime Startups’ unique strength lies in its emphasis on commercial outcomes and market expansion. The organisation supports ventures beyond local success, guiding them to global relevance through strategic advice, network access, and market intelligence — all tailored for confident cross-border growth.
This intentional approach has led to increased revenues, expanded market share, and greater investor interest, clearly demonstrating the scalability and global competitiveness of African innovation — and turning African brilliance into real economic dividends.
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