Prime Startups Marks 10 Years of Scaling African Ventures from Ideas to Impact

In Africa’s fast-moving innovation space, the word “startup” often conjures the image of founders with big dreams and even bigger challenges. But true transformation lies not just in launching new ideas, it's in scaling them into sustainable companies that power economies and create jobs. For the past decade, that has been Prime Startups’ mission.

At a recent media parley hosted at the UNDP Innovation Center in Ikoyi, Lagos, Prime Startups shared how its role has evolved from early ecosystem building to becoming a committed growth accelerator and strategic partner for African entrepreneurs.

Olumide Olayinka, Partner at Prime Startups, said, "Our journey over the last ten years has been about more than just finding promising startups; it's about moulding them into resilient, market-leading companies. We get excited about the innovative idea, but we are passionate about the commercial success that follows because that's where true, sustainable impact lies. Every job created, every market expanded, every dollar raised, is a testament to the sheer potential of African entrepreneurship and our unwavering commitment to helping it thrive."

This focus on long-term growth drives Prime Startups’ model, supporting founders year-round, enabling cross-border partnerships, and engaging with policymakers to unlock real economic value. From market access to investor readiness, their work centers on helping companies move beyond survival mode and into scalable, revenue-generating operations.

Sinari Daranijo, Board of Trustees Member at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), highlighted how scale matters. He pointed out that as startups grow into mid-sized companies, they generate thousands of meaningful jobs from logistics and customer service to tech and operations, contributing to economic stability and inclusive development across the continent.

Also at the event, Nnena Onyewuchi, Head of Marketing at Carbon, spoke about Carbon’s strategic partnership with Prime Startups and its commitment to supporting African founders. Other notable attendees included Dimeji Timothy, Country Manager at Indrive, and Isioma Utomi, Lead of Women Who Launch and founding member of Lagos Startup Week.

Prime Startups’ edge lies in its laser focus on helping African ventures grow not just locally, but globally. By providing access to networks, market insights, and seasoned guidance, they help transform potential into proven performance, attracting serious investment, increasing revenue, and expanding market reach.

As Lagos Startup Week 2025 kicks off at the Civic Centre under the theme “DND – Disrupting the Next Decade,” Prime Startups’ story offers a timely reflection on the real engine of innovation: not just starting up, but scaling up, building the future of Africa one growth company at a time.