USMAC’s Dr. Chris Burry, joined virtually from Silicon Valley, speaks on Nigeria's startup potential during the Abuja launch of the New Startup Founders Development Program.
USMAC initiative, part of the Skill Up Imo program, aims to train 100,000 youths and connect them with global employers through the ImoTalentHub.com platform. Photo Credit: Julian/NSA
In a strategic move to accelerate Nigeria’s digital economy and youth empowerment, the United States Market Access Center (USMAC) has launched the New Startup Founders Development Program, a global-standard initiative to nurture the next generation of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Imo Digital Center, UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, and other global partners, was unveiled at a high-profile media briefing in Abuja.
Briefing newsmen on Thursday, Matt Ifesieh, USMAC’s Africa Representative, said the program would “discover and incubate the next generation of Nigerian innovators,” beginning with a pilot in Imo State, where government support and digital infrastructure are already in place.
“We’re not just teaching youth to build companies. We’re teaching them to build themselves into global leaders,” Ifesieh said.
“This program is a natural extension to Governor Hope Uzodinma’s visionary Imo Skill-up programs – which is creating digital skills and securing digital workforce placements
or the teeming population of Imo and Nigerian youths. The Governors initiative has already steered youths away from restiveness cultism, internat fraud and other social Vices”
At the core of the initiative is The Founder Dojo, an intensive, multi-phase bootcamp that combines technical training, Silicon Valley mentorship, startup financing guidance, and access to venture capital. Key modules will include AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity.
The program unfolds in four phases:
- Phase 1: A 3-day bootcamp to identify 100 promising founders, of which 40 will advance.
- Phase 2: A 2-month training to help participants develop viable product or service ideas.
- Phase 3: A 4-month period focused on product development and early customer acquisition.
- Phase 4: A 6-month phase to build scalable customer acquisition engines and explore international markets.
Participants will benefit from world-class mentorship by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and professors from UC Berkeley, with introductions to global investors and partners.
Joining virtually from Silicon Valley, USMAC CEO Dr. Chris Burry emphasised that “founders are made, not born.”
“Nigeria has immense potential, but potential alone doesn’t attract capital. You need grit, mentorship, and demonstrable success. That’s what this program is designed to deliver,” Burry said.
He praised Imo State’s Governor Hope Uzodimma-led administration, citing the Igbo Digital City as a model for sustainable public-private partnership, with fiber-optic connectivity, power infrastructure, and over 60,000 youth already trained.
Pre-launch events are scheduled for August 14 in Lagos and August 20 in Abuja, with participation free of charge.
Selected founders will go through pitch bootcamps, receive mentorship, and compete in a final hackathon for international exposure and funding.
“This isn’t just a tech program,” said Dr. Burry. “It’s a nation-building platform, starting with founders.”
Also speaking, USMAC partner Tom Kolditz added that the program’s model is based on UC Berkeley research, tested across thousands of startups that have collectively raised over $8 billion and generated $42 billion in value globally.
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