The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has announced the shortlist for its Zero to 100 Pitch Competition 2026, revealing the 10 businesses selected to advance to the semi-final stage of the competition.
The announcement is an important development for Nigerian entrepreneurs who participated in the competition, which offers a total grant pool of ₦30 million to support promising businesses across the country.
The 10 shortlisted businesses will have the opportunity to present their business ideas and growth plans before a live audience and a panel of judges at the forthcoming National MSME Conference 2026 in Lagos.
With three major cash prizes available, the competition provides an opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to secure business funding, attract attention to their brands and take their businesses to the next level.
In this article, we will share the complete list of the 10 shortlisted businesses, the grant amounts available, the next stages of the competition and other important details entrepreneurs should know.
Here are the important details about the competition:
Programme Name: SMEDAN Zero to 100 Pitch Competition 2026
Organiser: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)
Total Grant Pool: ₦30 Million
Number of Shortlisted Businesses: 10
First Prize: ₦15 Million
Second Prize: ₦10 Million
Third Prize: ₦5 Million
Competition Venue: Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos
Semi-Final Date: 9 November 2026
Grand Final: 10 November 2026
Application Status: Closed
Official Website: https://conference.smedan.gov.ng/pitch
Following the screening and evaluation of applications, SMEDAN has selected 10 businesses to proceed to the semi-final stage of the Zero to 100 Pitch Competition.
The shortlisted businesses are:
Achilles Drill Ltd
Autotive Engineering and Innovations (AEI)
The Calcium Hub
Creed & Crown
Cresta Green Enterprises (Konecthive Ventures)
Horizoncrest Ltd
The Kishron Innovation Hub Ltd
Owo Market
Rèkool Access Technology
SocialSign Technologies Limited
Congratulations to all 10 businesses that made the shortlist.
According to the announcement, the selected businesses will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Lagos to participate in the live pitching sessions during the National MSME Conference 2026.
The SMEDAN Zero to 100 Pitch Competition 2026 offers a total of ₦30 million in business grants.
The funding will be distributed among three winning businesses as follows:
| Position | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| First Place | ₦15,000,000 |
| Second Place | ₦10,000,000 |
| Third Place | ₦5,000,000 |
| Total | ₦30,000,000 |
The first-place winner will receive ₦15 million, while the second and third-place winners will receive ₦10 million and ₦5 million, respectively.
The grants are intended to support business growth and help successful entrepreneurs strengthen their operations.
Being shortlisted does not automatically mean that a business has won the grant.
The selected businesses must still participate in the next stages of the competition before the final winners are determined.
Here is how the remaining stages will work.
The 10 shortlisted businesses will present their business ideas to a live audience during the semi-final stage at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos.
This will give the entrepreneurs an opportunity to demonstrate the value of their businesses, explain their growth strategies and convince the judges of their potential.
Following the semi-final presentations, five businesses will advance to the grand final.
These businesses will compete for the three available grant prizes.
The five finalists will present their businesses before the judging panel during the final stage of the competition.
The three winning businesses will be announced at the National MSME Conference 2026.
According to the competition organisers, the grants will be disbursed on stage.
The Zero to 100 Pitch Competition forms part of the National MSME Conference 2026, organised by SMEDAN.
The three-day conference is scheduled to hold from 8 to 10 November 2026 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The theme for this year's conference is:
The Next Frontier for Innovation, Policy and Market Access.
The conference is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges affecting Nigeria's micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Some of the major areas to be discussed include:
Business financing and access to capital.
Market access and export opportunities.
Digital adoption and technology.
Business policies and regulatory requirements.
Workforce development and business expansion.
The conference will also feature the Nigeria First Fair, where Nigerian businesses will showcase and sell their products and services to the public.
No. Applications for the 2026 edition of the SMEDAN Zero to 100 Pitch Competition have closed.
The application window ran from 15 to 27 October 2026.
The current stage is strictly for businesses that submitted applications and were successfully shortlisted.
Therefore, business owners who did not apply or were not selected for the shortlist cannot join the current semi-final stage.
However, entrepreneurs can continue monitoring SMEDAN's official communication channels for information about future business funding opportunities, entrepreneurship programmes and grant competitions.
Although only 10 businesses have made the shortlist, the competition highlights the importance of preparing a strong business proposal when applying for business grants and funding opportunities.
Entrepreneurs who intend to participate in similar competitions should pay attention to the following:
1. Proper Business Registration
Ensure that your business has the necessary registration documents. A valid Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration can help establish your business identity and credibility.
2. Develop a Strong Business Plan
A good business plan should explain what your business does, its target customers, revenue model, operational structure and future growth opportunities.
3. Prepare a Convincing Pitch
Business owners should be able to explain their products or services, the problem they solve and why their business deserves investment.
4. Understand Your Financial Records
Keep accurate records of your business income, expenses, sales and financial performance. These details can help demonstrate your business's financial position and growth potential.
5. Monitor Official Funding Opportunities
Regularly check SMEDAN and other government agencies for legitimate business grants, loans, entrepreneurship training and financial support programmes.
Entrepreneurs interested in future business funding opportunities should follow SMEDAN's official communication channels for announcements and updates.
You can also visit the official SMEDAN website:
For information about the National MSME Conference 2026 and the Zero to 100 Pitch Competition, visit:
https://conference.smedan.gov.ng/pitch
The announcement of the 10 shortlisted businesses marks another important stage in the SMEDAN Zero to 100 Pitch Competition 2026.
With ₦30 million available in business grants, the remaining stages will determine which three entrepreneurs will emerge as winners and receive financial support for their businesses.
For the shortlisted businesses, the next few days will be important as they prepare to present their ideas and compete for the available funding.
For other Nigerian entrepreneurs, this is also a reminder that business funding opportunities are available through government agencies and other development programmes. Staying informed, maintaining proper business records and preparing a credible business proposal can improve your readiness for future opportunities.
Congratulations once again to all 10 shortlisted businesses.
Stay connected with Youth Empowerment Nigeria for the latest updates on government grants, business funding, entrepreneurship programmes, scholarships and other opportunities for Nigerians.