The Founder Institute Lagos hosted Ambassador Peter Ryan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, and Hesus Inoma, Founding Partner at i13 Ventures, in a high-level engagement focused on fostering partnerships and strengthening Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
The meeting, held at the Founder Institute Lagos office at Ikeja, was an opportunity to discuss collaborative pathways between Ireland’s innovation network and Nigeria’s growing community of founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
Representing the Institute on behalf of the Managing Director, Ifedy Eze, were Wande Adelamo (Director, FI Lagos) and Egwu Nnanna Echem (Entrepreneur-In-Residence, FI Lagos). Both reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to building an inclusive, globally connected environment for early-stage founders in Nigeria.
The roundtable also brought together portfolio founders from the Founder Institute Lagos alumni network, including:
Dare Ojo Bello – Founder, Dellyman
Biobele Oyibo – Founder, Earlybean
Tito Philips – Founder, Naijapreneur
Ayodeji Agboola – Founder, Akowe
Seth Usanga – Founder, Padimi
Boluwatife Arewa – Co-founder, Scrapays
Jerry Igwilo – Founder, Wynk
Olusola Olanipekun – Founder, Fuelcredit
The engagement provided a platform for meaningful conversations on innovation diplomacy, venture collaboration, and how programs like Founder Institute Lagos can continue to empower founders to build impactful, sustainable startups for both local and global markets.
Speaking after the event, Wande Adelamo noted:
“At Founder Institute Lagos, our goal is to deepen partnerships that connect Nigerian founders to global capital, mentorship, and opportunities. Collaborations like these reaffirm that Lagos is not just Africa’s startup hub, it’s a launchpad for global innovation.”
About Founder Institute Lagos:
The Founder Institute is the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, helping entrepreneurs validate ideas, build traction, and prepare for funding. The Lagos chapter supports founders across Nigeria and West Africa through mentorship, structured programs, and global network access.
Learn more at fi.co/lagos.
