SDC Launchpad Announces 2025 Batch 5 Cohort: Empowering Africa’s Next Generation of Founders

SDC Launchpad Team

Oct 20, 2025

6 min read

Empowering Africa’s Next Generation of Founders 🚀

The SDC Launchpad has officially unveiled the founders and teams selected for its 2025 Batch 5 Cohort, marking the start of an 8-week intensive founder journey designed to equip early-stage entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and structure they need to scale their ideas across Africa.

Running from October to December 2025, this year’s cohort brings together a dynamic mix of innovators building across fintech, sustainability, education, lifestyle, and technology. The program is backed by over $20,000 worth of perks from partners such as BrandDrive, Cloudplexo, SendPulse, and many more.

The program reflects SDC’s commitment to creating opportunities for African founders to learn, collaborate, and grow.

“Launchpad isn’t just about building startups; it’s about building founders. We want to empower creative minds to move from idea to execution, refine their products, understand their users, and grow sustainably. Africa doesn’t have a talent problem, it has an opportunity gap, and that’s exactly what we’re closing with Launchpad.”

— Cynthia E. Chisom, Principal Partner, SDC

Among the outstanding participants in this year’s cohort:

WasteVest (Olabode Afurewaju) — a sustainability-driven startup that rewards users for recycling and promotes environmental responsibility through technology.
Budgetify AI (Favour Okoh) — an AI-powered personal finance co-pilot designed to simplify budgeting, expense tracking, and investments.
Roomme — a housing and roommate matchmaking platform connecting young Africans to verified apartments and compatible co-living partners. Think Tinder meets Airbnb, but for long-term rentals.
KasuaBuy (Ayomide Ogunsanya, Samaila Audu, and Habila Samuel) — a digital marketplace redefining local commerce across Northern Nigeria, connecting buyers, sellers, and service providers in both English and Hausa.
Team Nova and Team Orbit — part of the Individual Track, where emerging founders are grouped into teams to co-create innovative, real-world startup concepts.

Throughout the program, participants will engage in masterclasses, advisory sessions, and interactive mentorship led by experienced founders and facilitators, including guest speakers such as Victor Daniyan (Nearpays), Tolu Gamp (Gamp), Cynthia Alabi (Uber), Benjamin Dada (Condia), Rita Idehai (Ecobarter), and Ndu Ekwomadu (BrandDrive).

They will also enjoy access to structured learning modules, weekly challenges, and a community spotlight designed to celebrate creativity, participation, and progress within the cohort.

The SDC Launchpad Batch 5 represents more than just another pre-incubator program — it’s a growing community of bold African founders ready to build, learn, and lead.

“We believe the future of Africa will be shaped by founders who are brave enough to start and resilient enough to keep building. SDC Launchpad exists to support and amplify those founders — one idea, one team, and one success story at a time.”

The program will conclude with a Showcase Day, where participants will pitch their refined ideas to judges, mentors, and partners.

The Little Things That Make All the Difference

Some of the most powerful gestures are the ones no one sees. The late-night check-ins, the unexpected calls to ask, “How are you really doing?”, the quiet support when the world feels too loud. When Gabriel Kosoko shared his heartfelt reflection after Launchpad, it captured exactly why SDC takes the time to truly support founders. These words felt like a warm light, a gentle confirmation that the small, sometimes unseen efforts matter more than we can imagine. What makes a founder’s journey special isn’t just the big wins or the perfect pitches. It’s the steady presence of people who believe in you, guide you, and help you see possibilities you didn’t know existed. That’s what SDC strives for every day, to show up for founders, even when it’s tough, even when no one is clapping, even when it would be easier to step back. Because it isn’t just a program, it’s a founder’s journey, one that is shaping some of the most remarkable founders in Africa and around the world. When someone says “thank you” for simply being there, it’s a beautiful reminder that support is more than advice or strategy. It’s about listening, encouraging, and helping shape the quiet, unseen parts of a founder’s story. If you’ve been thinking about starting something new, or if you’re in the middle of building and wondering if anyone sees the effort you’re putting in, this is for you, too. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Across every program, mentorship sessions, workshop, and shared community space, SDC stays dedicated to helping founders feel seen, supported, and ready to build boldly.

SDC

Fundraising

Dec 10, 2024

4 mins read

How Do You Build a Startup That Lasts?

We’ve seen startups rise. We’ve seen others fold. The real question isn’t just why they fail, but what we can learn from it. Building a startup that lasts goes beyond raising money or launching a shiny product. It’s about laying strong foundations, habits, mindsets and decisions that stand up even when trends shift and funding slows down. Many founders believe they need to have every answer before they start. But lasting startups are rarely built on perfection. They’re built on the ability to adapt, to listen to customers deeply, and to stay consistent when things get tough. At SDC Startup School, one way we bring this to life is through case studies. We take time to study what worked and what didn’t, helping founders connect the dots and avoid common pitfalls as they build. Through real case studies, we re-educate founders and guide them, helping them build with clearer vision, stronger conviction, and the courage to make better decisions. We encourage founders to look at patterns worth breaking and to build not just for today, but for the future and for the challenges and opportunities yet to come. You don’t have to tick every box before you start. What matters most is taking that first step and being willing to learn and adjust along the way. So, how do you build a startup that lasts? You start. You stay focused. You keep showing up. And you choose to build with intention, not just excitement. At SDC Startup School, we guide you through this journey, helping you learn, unlearn, and build with clarity. 👉 Join the SDC Startup School here

SDC

SDC Launchpad Announces 2025 Batch 5 Cohort: Empowering Africa’s Next Generation of Founders

Empowering Africa’s Next Generation of Founders 🚀

Among the outstanding participants in this year’s cohort:

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The Little Things That Make All the Difference

How Do You Build a Startup That Lasts?