Where startup journeys truly begin
We transform ambitious ideas into thriving businesses through world-class education, expert mentorship, and a proven methodology that has helped launch over 800 successful startups.
Our pillars guide every action and decision we make
Our Mission
To deliver world-class, practical primary startup education that equips aspiring and first-time founders with core knowledge, skills, and mentorship—while strategically partnering with organizations to build robust entrepreneurial ecosystems in Africa and other emerging economies.
Our Vision
To be the leading force in closing the primary startup education gap in Africa and other emerging economies.
Core Value
Innovation
Focus
Discipline
Dilligence
Impact-Driven
We are relentlessly focused on achieving measurable outcomes and real-world success for both the founders we educate and the partners we collaborate with.
Contextual Relevance
Our solutions and programs are deeply rooted in, and responsive to, the unique realities, challenges, and opportunities present across Africa and other emerging economies.
Empowerment
We are dedicated to equipping individuals and organizations with the essential knowledge, practical tools, and unwavering confidence required to build, grow, and scale
Strategic Partnership
We operate as a trusted and reliable collaborator, consistently bringing specialized expertise and operational excellence to achieve shared goals and maximize collective impact.
Innovation & Adaptability
We are committed to continuous learning and evolution, constantly refining our methodologies and developing novel approaches to meet the dynamic needs of the ever-changing startup ecosystem.
SDC Innovation Drives
SDCs impact is channeled through a suite of strategically designed programs, each targeting a distinct stage of the entrepreneurial journey
SDC Startup School
A self-paced, online program dedicated to foundational startup education. It bridges the knowledge gap for aspiring and early-stage founders, offering essential training on core business concepts, idea validation, and initial market entry.
Ideal For:
SDC Launchpad
An intensive, cohort-based pre-incubator focused on accelerating early-stage startup teams. Launchpad guides founders through business model design, traction, and investor readiness.
Ideal For:
SDC Champions
Focused on universities, Champions offers dynamic bootcamps, hackathons, and competitions to nurture student startup founders. This program supports ventures from ideation through early execution, helping build a vibrant pipeline of future founders within academic communities.
Ideal For:
SDC Startup Stories
A flagship podcast and content platform sharing founder journeys, lessons, and insights. Startup Stories inspires and educates a broad audience, extending SDC’s reach beyond formal programs.
Ideal For:
Objective - To equip aspiring and first-time African founders with the foundational knowledge, practical skills, and support needed to launch and grow successful startups
Goal 1
Guide founders through idea validation, business model execution, and investment storytelling
Goal 2
Foster a practical approach to startup development, ensuring founders can build viable ventures from the ground up
Goal 3
Connect founders with relevant mentorship, resources, and a supportive community
SDCs distinct approach is characterized by the following key approaches
Founder-First Philosophy
Placing the founder's needs at the center of all program design and delivery
Redefining Early-Stage Education
We are redefining what early-stage founder education should look like by rooting every learning experience in storytelling, real-world application, and community-based accountability.
Practical, Hands-On Education
Moving beyond theory to focus on actionable skills and real-world application.
Contextual Relevance
Deeply understanding and integrating the unique challenges and opportunities of the African market into our curriculum.
Investment Storytelling Mastery
Equipping founders with the ability to articulate their vision and business model compellingly to attract investment.
Business Model Execution Focus
Guiding founders through the practical steps of building and refining their business models for sustainability.
Operating at the Base of the Startup Support Pyramid
Specializing in the critical early stages where founders need the most foundational guidance, before they are ready for accelerators or venture studios.
Implementation Partner
Guiding founders through the practical steps of building and refining their business models for sustainability.
Proven Track Record
SDC has successfully coached hundreds of founders through the earliest stages of their journey, supporting them from venture-backed growth to corporate integration.
Africa’s pipeline of future startup founders.
SDC is the essential starting point for Africa’s next generation of founders. Our founder-first approach, proven methodologies, and strong network make us the go-to platform for those who want to build and grow impactful startups. By focusing on primary startup education, we lay the groundwork for sustainable innovation and long-term success, giving every founder the great start they deserve
Program Expansion
Developing novel approaches and models in primary startup education to address evolving founder needs and market trends.
Geographic Reach
Deepening our presence and impact across more regions within Africa and other emerging economies.
Strategic Partnerships
Continuously forging new alliances with organizations that share our vision for empowering African founders.
Thought Leadership
Enhancing our position as a leading voice in primary startup education and ecosystem development across the continent.
Meet the Team
With over 35 years of combined experience, our passionate team is dedicated to empowering and guiding first-time and early-stage founders from idea to impact. We thrive on building startups and believe in supporting founders every step of the way—side by side, with purpose and heart.
Cynthia E. Chisom
Principal Partner
Cynthia E. Chisom is a seasoned Startup Advisor with a global footprint. She has worked with numerous incubators and accelerators, including CC Hub, VC4A, Ventures Platform, UNIDO, Fuel Africa Incubator, GCIP Accelerator, and others, guiding early-stage founders.
Expertise:
Clinton Ngotta
Tech Team Lead
Senior Software Engineer and Team Lead with over 7 years of experience delivering scalable IT systems and mentoring developers and interns in both corporate and startup environments. I’ve worked extensively with frontend and backend technologies including React, Node.js, Django, and cloud deployments on AWS
Expertise:
Gold Sani
Programs Manager
Result-driven and detail-oriented Project Manager with a strong background in academic and community-based project execution. Proven experience leading teams, managing educational programs, and organizing tech-focused events that impacted over 3,000 individuals. Certified in Project Management, HR, HSE, and Customer Service, with excellent communication and coordination skills. Keen to drive strategic initiatives and lead collaborative projects that deliver measurable results.
Expertise:
Jemimah Tarus
Growth and Partnerships Lead.
I'm committed to advancing quality healthcare and embracing innovations like AI integration. My clinical expertise, leadership, and critical thinking drive my proactive approach. I excel in content creation, campaign management, and social media strategy. My creativity and adaptability allow me to enhance digital presence effectively and increase engagement. Known for my storytelling skills, I leverage these abilities to drive impactful marketing initiatives and connect with audiences meaningfully.
Expertise:
Kachi Vivian
Comms Team Lead.
As a communications person at SDC, I manage how we tell our story, through words, content, and how we show up as an ecosystem. I have a background in Food Science and Technology, and I’ve done research on food products and their nutrients. I have also contributed to menstrual health research.Across everything I do, I care about how information is shared, how people receive it, and what it makes them feel or think. That feedback matters, because it helps us do better, refine what we build, and communicate in ways that are actually useful.
Expertise:
Opeoluwa Damilola
Comms.
Working at SDC feels like being part of something truly impactful. It’s exciting to be surrounded by people who are passionate about innovation, growth, and community. Even in these early stages, I already feel inspired, valued, and eager to contribute meaningfully.
Expertise:
Hennury William
Programs.
A relationship-driven professional with experience in M&A(Mergers and Acquisitions), sales, and investor engagement. Passionate about building Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape, he supports visionary entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and direction needed to scale impact-driven ventures. With a deep love for finance and innovation, he is also a strong advocate for biotechnology; from gene therapy, tissue culture, and genetic engineering to precision medicine, GMOs, and other cutting-edge life science applications shaping the future.
Expertise:
Samuel (Oluwafunso) oke
Comms
I’m a passionate and impact-driven professional with 2 years of experience in product management, leading cross-functional teams to build user-focused solutions. My journey has been shaped by a deep interest in how technology, business, and people come together to solve real problems. Currently, I serve as the Partnerships and Communications Manager at SDC Startup School, where I help drive strategic collaborations, manage stakeholder relationships, and support the growth of early-stage entrepreneurs. This role sits at the heart of my interests — combining leadership, communication, and strategic thinking to support innovation and capacity building.
Expertise:
Timothy Oyonumo
Comms
As a brand and graphic designer with over 4 years of experience helping bold businesses and startups build visual identities that attract their kind of people. My focus is on brand strategy, identity design, and creating visuals that actually connect. I’ve worked across industries from logistics to education to help teams show up clearly and confidently.
Expertise:
Cynthia E. Chisom
Principal Partner
Cynthia E. Chisom is a seasoned Startup Advisor with a global footprint. She has worked with numerous incubators and accelerators, including CC Hub, VC4A, Ventures Platform, UNIDO, Fuel Africa Incubator, GCIP Accelerator, and others, guiding early-stage founders.
Expertise:
Clinton Ngotta
Tech Team Lead
Senior Software Engineer and Team Lead with over 7 years of experience delivering scalable IT systems and mentoring developers and interns in both corporate and startup environments. I’ve worked extensively with frontend and backend technologies including React, Node.js, Django, and cloud deployments on AWS
Expertise:
Gold Sani
Programs Manager
Result-driven and detail-oriented Project Manager with a strong background in academic and community-based project execution. Proven experience leading teams, managing educational programs, and organizing tech-focused events that impacted over 3,000 individuals. Certified in Project Management, HR, HSE, and Customer Service, with excellent communication and coordination skills. Keen to drive strategic initiatives and lead collaborative projects that deliver measurable results.
Expertise:
Jemimah Tarus
Growth and Partnerships Lead.
I'm committed to advancing quality healthcare and embracing innovations like AI integration. My clinical expertise, leadership, and critical thinking drive my proactive approach. I excel in content creation, campaign management, and social media strategy. My creativity and adaptability allow me to enhance digital presence effectively and increase engagement. Known for my storytelling skills, I leverage these abilities to drive impactful marketing initiatives and connect with audiences meaningfully.
Expertise:
Kachi Vivian
Comms Team Lead.
As a communications person at SDC, I manage how we tell our story, through words, content, and how we show up as an ecosystem. I have a background in Food Science and Technology, and I’ve done research on food products and their nutrients. I have also contributed to menstrual health research.Across everything I do, I care about how information is shared, how people receive it, and what it makes them feel or think. That feedback matters, because it helps us do better, refine what we build, and communicate in ways that are actually useful.
Expertise:
Opeoluwa Damilola
Comms.
Working at SDC feels like being part of something truly impactful. It’s exciting to be surrounded by people who are passionate about innovation, growth, and community. Even in these early stages, I already feel inspired, valued, and eager to contribute meaningfully.
Expertise:
Hennury William
Programs.
A relationship-driven professional with experience in M&A(Mergers and Acquisitions), sales, and investor engagement. Passionate about building Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape, he supports visionary entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and direction needed to scale impact-driven ventures. With a deep love for finance and innovation, he is also a strong advocate for biotechnology; from gene therapy, tissue culture, and genetic engineering to precision medicine, GMOs, and other cutting-edge life science applications shaping the future.
Expertise:
Samuel (Oluwafunso) oke
Comms
I’m a passionate and impact-driven professional with 2 years of experience in product management, leading cross-functional teams to build user-focused solutions. My journey has been shaped by a deep interest in how technology, business, and people come together to solve real problems. Currently, I serve as the Partnerships and Communications Manager at SDC Startup School, where I help drive strategic collaborations, manage stakeholder relationships, and support the growth of early-stage entrepreneurs. This role sits at the heart of my interests — combining leadership, communication, and strategic thinking to support innovation and capacity building.
Expertise:
Timothy Oyonumo
Comms
As a brand and graphic designer with over 4 years of experience helping bold businesses and startups build visual identities that attract their kind of people. My focus is on brand strategy, identity design, and creating visuals that actually connect. I’ve worked across industries from logistics to education to help teams show up clearly and confidently.
Expertise:
Ready to move from idea to impact?
Whether you’re just starting or stuck mid-way, we help you find clarity and move with intention. Every founder deserves a place to start and something stronger to grow with.
Creating a new generation of innovative and resilient founders
SDC is Africas leading platform for primary startup education, dedicated to closing the foundational knowledge gap for aspiring and first-time founders across the continent. Our mission is to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs by providing accessible, contextually relevant, and world-class training programs that guide founders from idea to execution.
Milestones & Achievements
From our founding to today, we have consistently delivered results for our founder community.
STARTUP STORIES - ARTICLES
Launched our podcast series, Startup Stories, where we share inspiring stories from successful founders and industry experts.
STARTUP STORIES - PODCAST
Launched our podcast series, Startup Stories where we share industry experts.
SDC - FIRST COHORT
Launched our first cohort of the Startup Development Course, empowering 50+ founders with the skills and knowledge to launch their startups.
SDC STARTUP SCHOOL
Launched the Startup School, an online platform offering comprehensive courses, resources, and community support for aspiring and first time founders.
SDC LAUNCHPAD
Launched the SDC Launchpad, a 8-week accelerator program designed to help early-stage startups refine their business models, build MVPs, and prepare for funding.
STARTUP STORIES - ARTICLES
Launched our podcast series, Startup Stories, where we share inspiring stories from successful founders and industry experts.
Learn moreSTARTUP STORIES - PODCAST
Launched our podcast series, Startup Stories where we share inspiring stories from successful founders and industry experts.
Learn moreSDC - FIRST COHORT
Launched our first cohort of the Startup Development Course, empowering 50+ founders with the skills and knowledge to launch their startups.
Learn moreSDC STARTUP SCHOOL
Launched the Startup School, an online platform offering comprehensive courses, resources, and community support for aspiring and first time founders.
Learn moreSDC LAUNCHPAD
Launched the SDC Launchpad, a 8-week accelerator program designed to help early-stage startups refine their business models, build MVPs, and prepare for funding.
Learn more
What Our Partners and Founders Are saying
We cant do it alone. We have a dedicated network of partners passionate about supporting founders growth.
Not gonna lie, SDC Startup School has helped me change my approach regarding my startup since I joined. I now understand that a startup is not just about your idea, but about solving a problem that is actually a problem. SDC Startup School Thank you for the opportunity.
I remember a friend sharing details about the SDC Startup School with me. And honestly, it was one of those things I didn’t even know I needed. Founded by Cynthia E. Chisom and it’s honestly one of the most practical startup courses I’ve come across. It’s not just theory, it’s a step-by-step breakdown for anyone who has a business idea and doesn’t know where to start… or how to start smart.From understanding the real work of building an MVP to learning how to validate your idea, create structure, and even communicate your solution better, this course walks you through it all. And the best part? It’s 100% free. I’ve used what I learned from the course to help the startup founders I worked with, especially when we’re structuring marketing strategies or refining goals. If you’re a founder, an aspiring founder, or you’re just curious about how startups work, don’t sleep on this one.
Words can't even express my gratitude to the SDC team I must say this is really beyond what you are paid for it is actually an agenda ,a pursuit or a course. I am here to say a big thank you for every time you show up even when it is not convenient for every time you give a footprint, road map, or even vision .... In short thank you SDC for this wonderful program and watch out because I will be right there on your podcast sharing the victories with the upcoming founders
we listened and learnt a lot from our session with Mr Ishmail in the aspect of restructuring our focus and giving us a clear sense of what product we need to build first and fast
It was very impactful,there’s an understanding of what we are working, then a critique of it, opening our eyes to areas to be wary of, the importance of looking at other industry players. And an assignment. In all it was very impactful and helpful to I and my team. Thank you for the help and support.
The advisory sessions provided valuable insights. We gained a clearer understanding of our product, established criteria for failure, and pinpointed our target audience. She also assigned us tasks to identify critical issues and their resolutions, conduct extensive market research, and create a roadmap. We appreciate Cynthias guidance and eagerly anticipate our future sessions with her.
TThis has been a very helpful and insghtful learning material for me. I converse with other founders who didn't pass through this and I can clearly see a big gap from my approach and theirs. Thanks so much Chisom for all you do. You are indeed one of the true builders on the continent.
I have learned a lot, especially yesterday when Cynthia discussed the customer persona, value chain, and friction. It opened my mind to many things one has to know and prepare for before solving any problem.
It has been a great experience so far The class has been a ton of knowledge to my brain. I have been able to understand what it takes to build a startup You have to be ready!!
The podcasts (case studies) stand out for me. Being able to listen to experienced founders with the aim of incorporating those learnings to my activities will definitely be a gamechanger. Not to mention the industry jargon that I've learned over the past three days... I'll definitely sound smarter going forward.
Attending the SDC Start-Up School under the guidance of Cynthia has been an enlightening experience. Cynthias extensive industry knowledge has provided invaluable insights and unique perspectives on the intricacies of building and managing successful startups.
The use of relevant books from case studies of other founders has added a practical dimension to the learning process, enriching my understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape. This program has been an exceptional opportunity for gaining essential knowledge and practical wisdom in the realm of startups.
