Applications close August 17, 2026 · 0 days left
The biggestpitch stagefor womenfounders.
Pitch for ₦3,000,000 in equity-free capital. A structured capacity-building program with six finalists selected to compete live in Lagos on September 12, 2026.
Grand Prize Winner
₦1.5M
Equity-free · No conditions · Yours to keep
Until Grand Finale
00
days
00
hrs
00
min
All prize positions
₦3,000,000
Total prize pool
6
Finalists competing
500+
Live audience & investors
10
Judging criteria
What you win
Three women.
Three life-changing
awards.
1st Place · Grand Prize Winner
₦1.5M
Equity-free seed capital · 1-on-1 VC coaching session · Corporate exhibition space at SME Mall
₦1,000,000
- Prize capital — yours, no strings
- 6 months expert mentorship
- Co-working space access ticket
₦500,000
- Prize capital — yours, no strings
- 3 months capacity building program
- SME Mall partner network access
How judges score your pitch
10 criteria · 10 pts each · 100 total
Financial Feasibility
Unit economics, margin projections, and budget breakdown.
Business Viability
Long-term survival, operational efficiency, revenue traction.
Market Opportunity
TAM size and definition of the first 100 customers.
Innovation
Originality and differentiation versus existing solutions.
Pitch Quality
Delivery, deck clarity, time management, and Q&A.
Social Impact
SDG alignment, job creation, and gender equity.
Scalability
Ability to replicate and grow across multiple markets.
Market Strategy
Customer acquisition channels and digital positioning.
Preparedness
Application completeness, consistency, and readiness.
Team Strength
Skills balance, expertise, and founder dedication.
Scored 0–10 per criterion by an independent panel. Average across all judges = final score.
WIBC 2026 · Grand Finale · Lagos
Six women.
One stage.
One life-changing night.
Why WIBC Exists
Access, not ability,
is what holds most
women founders back.
Less than 8%
of startup funding in Nigeria reaches women-led businesses — not because they lack ideas, but because the system wasn't built for them.
7 in 10
female-led SMEs cite lack of capital as their number one barrier to growth, yet fewer than 1 in 4 have ever applied for a business loan.
₦3,000,000
in equity-free capital is being put directly into the hands of three women founders on September 12. No interest. No equity. No conditions.
Built for you if…
You're a woman.
You have a business.
You're ready.
You're just starting out
You have a business idea or a very early-stage venture and you need capital and structure to launch properly.
You're already running
Your business is live, you have customers or sales, and you're ready to take it to the next level with real funding.
Banks keep saying no
You've tried getting loans but couldn't meet the collateral requirements. Equity-free capital was made for this moment.
You want the right investors
Beyond the prize money, you want to stand in front of VCs, angels, and press who are actually looking to back women founders.
You want to build your skills
You're hungry for training — legal, finance, marketing, tech — from experts who understand the Nigerian SME space.
You're done waiting
You're tired of being underfunded and overlooked. You have the drive. WIBC is the platform. September 12 is the date.
Deadline: August 17, 2026
Applications close soon. Takes 15 minutes to complete.
The 5-Step Journey
Your path to
the stage.
BHC Diagnostic
Pay the ₦10,000 gateway fee and complete the 20-question Business Health Check. Your score unlocks the application form.
Full Application
Submit your business profile, financials, CAC status, and a 2-minute video pitch link. Tell us why you should win.
Capacity Webinars
Attend intensive Saturday and Sunday training sessions across at least 2 of the 3 August weekends. Mandatory for shortlisting.
Virtual Semi-Final
Top 20 applicants pitch virtually to an independent panel. Six finalists are selected for the Grand Finale.
Grand Finale
Six finalists pitch live on the SME Mall main stage before 500+ attendees, investors, and press. The best three win.
BHC Diagnostic
Opens Apr 1Pay the ₦10,000 gateway fee and complete the 20-question Business Health Check. Your score unlocks the application form.
Full Application
Closes Aug 17Submit your business profile, financials, CAC status, and a 2-minute video pitch link. Tell us why you should win.
Capacity Webinars
Aug 8 – 23Attend intensive Saturday and Sunday training sessions across at least 2 of the 3 August weekends. Mandatory for shortlisting.
Virtual Semi-Final
Aug 29Top 20 applicants pitch virtually to an independent panel. Six finalists are selected for the Grand Finale.
Grand Finale
Sep 12Six finalists pitch live on the SME Mall main stage before 500+ attendees, investors, and press. The best three win.
Mandatory Capacity Building
3 weekends.
6 disciplines.
Legal
- Business registration and licensing
- Contracts and regulatory compliance
- Legal risk management for SMEs
HR
- Employment contracts and payroll
- Staff policies and compliance
- Building people systems for growth
Technology
- Digital tools and payment systems
- Business automation and efficiency
- Tech as a competitive advantage
Both Saturday and Sunday sessions across at least 2 weekends is mandatory to remain eligible for shortlisting.
FAQs
Common questions.
Ready to
pitch for it?
Complete your BHC diagnostic, submit your application before August 17, and step onto the biggest pitch stage for women-led businesses in Nigeria.
Free to apply · Deadline August 17
For Attendees
Attend the
Grand Finale.
September 12 · SME Mall Stage · Lagos · 500 seats