ASIRP – Abia Startups Investment Readiness Programme
Watch for new cohort announcements
The Abia Startups Investment Readiness Programme (ASIRP) is RAD5 Tech Hub’s flagship startup acceleration program, funded by AfriLabs and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through the Digital Africa Seed Fund. Designed to help 300 startups and businesses in Abia State become investor-ready, ASIRP provides three months of intensive training, direct mentorship, and hands-on business support across product development, technology, customer validation, team formation, business model innovation, sales and marketing, financing, and startup funding. The program runs in two six-week phases – delivered both physically and virtually – targeting entrepreneurs at both pre-revenue (idea/concept stage) and post-revenue (early stage) across sectors including Fashion, Fintech, Education, Health, E-commerce, Agribusiness, Climate/Energy, SaaS, Logistics, and more. At Demo Day, the top 20 businesses pitch to investors for a share of $2,000 in grant funding, with selection based on demonstrated growth against program KPIs. ASIRP aims to make at least 70% of its participants investor-ready within six months, while targeting 40% women-led business representation, creating 1,000+ new jobs in Abia State.
Program Benefits
- Intensive training in product development, business modelling, sales, marketing, and startup funding
- Direct mentorship from industry experts and investors
- Physical and virtual training sessions (twice weekly - Mondays and Fridays)
- Pitch competition at Demo Day with $2,000 in grant funding for top 20 businesses
- Funded by AfriLabs and AFD/Digital Africa Seed Fund - free to participants
- Opportunity to be among RAD5's investor-ready startup alumni network
Requirements
- Must be an entrepreneur or business owner based in Abia State
- Open to both pre-revenue (idea/concept stage) and post-revenue (early-stage) businesses
- Business must demonstrate Desirability (people want it), Viability (it can be profitable), and Feasibility (it can be built)
- 40% of cohort reserved for women-led businesses
- Must be available for twice-weekly training sessions across the full program duration