BM & AI Startup Training for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in Nigeria (5th Expert Dispatch)

A startup capacity-building program for aspiring entrepreneurs held in Abuja, Nigeria.

The project was commissioned by KOICA, with a consortium led by Soongsil University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation serving as project management consultant (PMC). MAINCONTENTS Co., Ltd. handled participant recruitment and selection, BM training, and mentoring and IR consulting.

Program Overview

• The program was part of an initiative to build a startup ecosystem around the ACE Center, supporting innovation-driven growth for young people and SMEs in Nigeria.
• 120 aspiring entrepreneurs (four cohorts of 30) were selected for one week of BM (business model) training and one week of AI training, totaling 60 hours over 10 days.
• Recruitment drew strong interest, with more than 3,800 applicants.
• Training took place at the eGovernment Training Centre in Abuja and was delivered through team project-based learning (PBL), hands-on practice and mentoring.

Curriculum

• BM training covered problem definition, customer discovery, business model development, marketing and financial strategy, fundraising, and pitch deck writing.
• AI training gave participants hands-on practice using generative AI and no-code tools to turn their ideas into mobile MVP prototypes.
• MAINCONTENTS Co., Ltd. delivered BM lectures, close one-on-one mentoring for each startup team, and mock investment reviews (Mock IR).

Outcomes

• At the Internal Demo Day, each team presented its prototype and received expert evaluation.
• Results from the training will feed into future startup competition entries and incubation programs.