An intensive, cohort-based pre-incubator focused on accelerating early-stage startup teams. Launchpad guides founders through business model design, traction, and investor readiness.
The SDC Launchpad curriculum is highly practical and mentorship-driven, focusing on actionable outcomes.
Advanced refinement of value propositions, customer segments, revenue models, and cost structures.
Strategies for acquiring early users/customers, measuring engagement, and iterative product development
Building realistic financial forecasts, understanding unit economics, and managing early-stage startup finances.
Dynamics of co-founder relationships, hiring early talent, and fostering a strong team culture.
Structuring the company, equity allocation, and basic legal considerations.
Crafting compelling pitch decks, understanding investor expectations, and preparing for initial fundraising conversations.
One-on-one and group mentorship from experienced founders, industry experts, and investors.
This is a requirement for every individual joining a team that will build a startup from scratch. The tools and frameworks made available will make the startup-building process easy to accomplish.
Intensive pitch coaching leading up to a global audience at the Showcase Day
Our valued partners have generously provided a range of benefits to empower our founders, helping you accelerate your growth and success. Take advantage of these exclusive offerings when you become a launcher with SDC.
Leverage the power of Amazon Web Services to build, scale, and innovate with ease.
Design and launch stunning websites without limitations, compliments of Webflow.
Create powerful, customizable apps without code using Bubble's intuitive platform
Supercharge your marketing efforts and engage with your audience effectively.
Personalize your customer interactions and drive meaningful engagement with Customer.io's advanced tools.
Streamline your finances and gain valuable insights into your business operations.
SDC LaunchPad is a highly competitive and takes only 3 cohorts (January, May, and September) in a year, with a maximum of 15 aspiring and first-time founders. The application portal is open all year round, and we will be on the lookout for individuals/startups who will get to be a part of any of the cohorts.
Fill out our user-friendly Online Application Form. Provide the necessary details that will fuel the selection process for admission, ensuring your unique qualities shine through.
Keep an eye on your inbox – an acceptance email means you have secured your spot in the programme! Your journey officially begins in that moment of excitement.
Once accepted, finalize your commitment by paying the required fees, and get ready to dive into a dynamic learning experience. Limited scholarships are available.
Whether you are new to the startup world or starting or have an early-stage startup.
Join as a startup and receive support tailored to your startup needs. Get prepared to pitch to ready investors. Up to 3 founding team members will be automatically accepted into the programme.
$30/₦30,000Apply Now
Join as a startup and receive support tailored to your startup needs. Get prepared to pitch to ready investors. Up to 3 founding team members will be automatically accepted into the programme.
$50/₦50,000Apply Now
SDC Launchpad takes only 3 cohorts (January, May, and September) in a year, with a maximum of 15 aspiring and first-time founders.
SDCs team comprises seasoned entrepreneurs, curriculum developers, venture builders, and ecosystem experts with deep knowledge of the African startup landscape. Supported by a Pan-African advisory network of over 50 mentors, operators, and investors, SDC ensures every program is both theoretically sound and practically relevant.
Multi-disciplinary Expert
Wisdom is a skilled Business and Transaction Lawyer with expertise in Tech Law, Legal Compliance, and Legal Education. As the Lead of Lawgic Africa, he offers legal advisory, compliance, legal risk management, and general legal education to professionals and startups.
Principal Partner & Founder
Customer Experience Consulting | Local Partner to Sandsiv (Voice of Customer Solution Provider) | Development and Training | CX Speaker. A dedicated Hospitality and Customer Experience professional, she has a proven track record in diverse industries. Her experience with multinational companies has focused on enhancing customer satisfaction, resolving issues, and driving business productivity.
Operations professional and entrepreneur
Luke is a versatile Operations Professional and Entrepreneur. With experience in software engineering, SRE, business development, and operations strategy, he has a proven track record in business process re-engineering. He is adept at crisis, change, operations, and risk management, as well as business valuation methods.Luke holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science and is currently pursuing an MBA. His diverse experience makes him a valuable asset for organizations seeking to optimize their operations and drive growth.
Investment and Portfolio Manager
Seye Kolawole is an investment and strategy professional with 8 years’ experience across the investment landscape, spanning investment management, buy-side, and sell-side M&A advisory, capital raises and due diligence mandates, public sector investment advisory and corporate development. She is currently an Investment and Portfolio Manager at Aruwa Capital, where she is responsible for deal origination, execution, fundraising and value creation initiatives across the portfolio.
Solicitor
Anthony is a Corporate attorney, qualified to practice in Nigeria. He provides legal advisory services to companies on the intersection of law, technology, and finance. He is well experienced in Finance, Technology, Private equity and Employment Law.
Managing Partner & Head of Wealth
Tim is a seasoned finance and investment expert with nearly two decades of experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, specializing in financial analytics, fund management, strategy, and business process re-engineering. He is a chartered accountant, certified tax practitioner, and Certified Management Specialist from the London Graduate School, holding fellowships in multiple professional bodies.
Chief Data Officer
Robert is a seasoned data scientist with over a decade of experience in database management, enterprise software development, data engineering, visualization, and Machine Learning. He is recently delved into embedded systems and TinyML, excited about their potential for widespread adoption in Africa.
Chief Data Officer
Damilola Robert is a dynamic Growth & marketing professional with a track record of success in the fields of marketing, growth, and Partnership. A graduate of Economics from the prestigious University of Ilorin, Damilola has a wealth of experience and a proven ability to drive growth and strategic marketing initiatives across the B2C and B2B market. Currently serving as the Head of Growth and Marketing at Bitnob, Damilola plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the company. Before his time at Bitnob, Damilola Robert led the Growth team at mDoc across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Damilola also has a solid foundation in the advertising industry, with seven years of experience in integrated marketing communication. He has managed brands like Nokia, Samsung, UBA, Nigerian brewery, MTN and many more.
Adefolajuwon Ijaiya is a seasoned Investment Professional with experience in building early-stage startups. His core expertise lies in Business Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Venture Capital. As a Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA®), he possesses a deep understanding of Financial Data Analysis within the Venture Capital context.
Multi Roles
He is a passionate technology leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and scaling high-growth startups across Africa. As CTO at Future Africa, he has evaluated and supported numerous startups, contributing significantly to the portfolios impressive performance. Olasunkanmis expertise spans full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, and strategic technology planning. He is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of tech talent and has mentored hundreds of learners.
IT professional
He is a business leader with nearly 15 years of experience spanning multiple functions. He excels at building highly effective and well-aligned sales, operations, marketing, and customer success teams. Sowoles professional journey includes impactful tenures at companies such as ULesson Education, Miva Open University, SeamlessHR, Bento Africa, and Dealdey. He has also consulted for numerous African SaaS and e-commerce firms, contributing significantly to their growth and success.
Health and Sustainability Consultant
He is a seasoned Health and Sustainability Consultant with nearly two decades of experience advising global stakeholders. Her expertise lies in developing innovative strategies, driving sustainable growth, developing capacity, and building strong partnerships. Oshunniyi has successfully designed, led, and supported complex multi-million-dollar projects funded by renowned organizations. Her work has spanned various regions, enhancing health security, strengthening systems, and promoting sustainable practices. She is passionate about contributing to global health security, socioeconomic, and sustainability initiatives.
Business Growth Expert
He is a dynamic operations leader with over a decade of experience driving business growth and expansion. He specializes in transforming logistics, procurement, and supply chain operations, implementing strategic initiatives that improve operational efficiency and cultivate partnerships. With a keen eye for market trends, Etuk leads diverse teams in adopting innovative technology solutions, enabling them to navigate complex challenges with agility. His commitment lies in delivering outstanding results while positioning organizations for sustainable expansion
Multi-disciplinary Expert
Wisdom is a skilled Business and Transaction Lawyer with expertise in Tech Law, Legal Compliance, and Legal Education. As the Lead of Lawgic Africa, he offers legal advisory, compliance, legal risk management, and general legal education to professionals and startups.
Principal Partner & Founder
Customer Experience Consulting | Local Partner to Sandsiv (Voice of Customer Solution Provider) | Development and Training | CX Speaker. A dedicated Hospitality and Customer Experience professional, she has a proven track record in diverse industries. Her experience with multinational companies has focused on enhancing customer satisfaction, resolving issues, and driving business productivity.
Operations professional and entrepreneur
Luke is a versatile Operations Professional and Entrepreneur. With experience in software engineering, SRE, business development, and operations strategy, he has a proven track record in business process re-engineering. He is adept at crisis, change, operations, and risk management, as well as business valuation methods.Luke holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science and is currently pursuing an MBA. His diverse experience makes him a valuable asset for organizations seeking to optimize their operations and drive growth.
Investment and Portfolio Manager
Seye Kolawole is an investment and strategy professional with 8 years’ experience across the investment landscape, spanning investment management, buy-side, and sell-side M&A advisory, capital raises and due diligence mandates, public sector investment advisory and corporate development. She is currently an Investment and Portfolio Manager at Aruwa Capital, where she is responsible for deal origination, execution, fundraising and value creation initiatives across the portfolio.
Solicitor
Anthony is a Corporate attorney, qualified to practice in Nigeria. He provides legal advisory services to companies on the intersection of law, technology, and finance. He is well experienced in Finance, Technology, Private equity and Employment Law.
Managing Partner & Head of Wealth
Tim is a seasoned finance and investment expert with nearly two decades of experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, specializing in financial analytics, fund management, strategy, and business process re-engineering. He is a chartered accountant, certified tax practitioner, and Certified Management Specialist from the London Graduate School, holding fellowships in multiple professional bodies.
Chief Data Officer
Robert is a seasoned data scientist with over a decade of experience in database management, enterprise software development, data engineering, visualization, and Machine Learning. He is recently delved into embedded systems and TinyML, excited about their potential for widespread adoption in Africa.
Chief Data Officer
Damilola Robert is a dynamic Growth & marketing professional with a track record of success in the fields of marketing, growth, and Partnership. A graduate of Economics from the prestigious University of Ilorin, Damilola has a wealth of experience and a proven ability to drive growth and strategic marketing initiatives across the B2C and B2B market. Currently serving as the Head of Growth and Marketing at Bitnob, Damilola plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the company. Before his time at Bitnob, Damilola Robert led the Growth team at mDoc across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Damilola also has a solid foundation in the advertising industry, with seven years of experience in integrated marketing communication. He has managed brands like Nokia, Samsung, UBA, Nigerian brewery, MTN and many more.
Adefolajuwon Ijaiya is a seasoned Investment Professional with experience in building early-stage startups. His core expertise lies in Business Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Venture Capital. As a Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA®), he possesses a deep understanding of Financial Data Analysis within the Venture Capital context.
Multi Roles
He is a passionate technology leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and scaling high-growth startups across Africa. As CTO at Future Africa, he has evaluated and supported numerous startups, contributing significantly to the portfolios impressive performance. Olasunkanmis expertise spans full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, and strategic technology planning. He is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of tech talent and has mentored hundreds of learners.
IT professional
He is a business leader with nearly 15 years of experience spanning multiple functions. He excels at building highly effective and well-aligned sales, operations, marketing, and customer success teams. Sowoles professional journey includes impactful tenures at companies such as ULesson Education, Miva Open University, SeamlessHR, Bento Africa, and Dealdey. He has also consulted for numerous African SaaS and e-commerce firms, contributing significantly to their growth and success.
Health and Sustainability Consultant
He is a seasoned Health and Sustainability Consultant with nearly two decades of experience advising global stakeholders. Her expertise lies in developing innovative strategies, driving sustainable growth, developing capacity, and building strong partnerships. Oshunniyi has successfully designed, led, and supported complex multi-million-dollar projects funded by renowned organizations. Her work has spanned various regions, enhancing health security, strengthening systems, and promoting sustainable practices. She is passionate about contributing to global health security, socioeconomic, and sustainability initiatives.
Business Growth Expert
He is a dynamic operations leader with over a decade of experience driving business growth and expansion. He specializes in transforming logistics, procurement, and supply chain operations, implementing strategic initiatives that improve operational efficiency and cultivate partnerships. With a keen eye for market trends, Etuk leads diverse teams in adopting innovative technology solutions, enabling them to navigate complex challenges with agility. His commitment lies in delivering outstanding results while positioning organizations for sustainable expansion
An intensive, cohort-based pre-incubator focused on accelerating early-stage startup teams. Launchpad guides founders through business model design, traction, and investor readiness.
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.
After an intensive 8-week startup support program, the founders participating in the SDC Launchpad have the opportunity to showcase their work to a panel of judges and a global audience.
Some of our partners are giving $10,000 worth of marketing credit, AWS credit, 4 month free access to tools and much more that can aid your Startup Journey.
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