Lagos Innovates: A Golden Opportunity for Startup Founders to Get One Year of Free Workspace

Lagos is becoming an even more attractive destination for budding entrepreneurs, thanks to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF). Since its inception in 2016, LSETF has been dedicated to providing financial support to residents of Lagos, aiming to tackle unemployment and promote job and wealth creation. With a mandate to invest ₦25 billion in growing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and equipping Lagosians with valuable skills, LSETF is transforming the city’s business landscape.

By the end of 2017, LSETF had already made a significant impact, disbursing ₦4.2 billion to over 4,000 applicants, with 16% of that funding allocated to technology-based startups. But the good news doesn't stop there. In 2017, LSETF, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, launched *Lagos Innovates*, a program designed to streamline the process of building a successful tech startup in Lagos.

Lagos Innovates offers a variety of initiatives aimed at creating the perfect ecosystem for startups, including providing loans to hub operators, co-investing in startups, sponsoring events, and most notably, offering workspace vouchers. These vouchers give startup founders access to top-tier co-working spaces that can nurture their ventures and accelerate growth.

Earlier this year, Lagos Innovates announced its first set of beneficiaries for the workspace voucher program. A total of 24 startup founders were selected and allowed to choose from six partnering workspaces across the city. These lucky startups are now enjoying the benefits of working from prime locations tailored for growth and collaboration.

If you're a startup founder in the ideation phase or in your early revenue stages, you could be the next to benefit! Lagos Innovates is currently accepting applications for the next batch of workspace vouchers. To qualify, your startup must meet certain criteria, including being incorporated for less than a year, generating monthly revenues under ₦1 million, and not having received third-party capital yet.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join the Lagos Innovates ecosystem and take your startup to new heights. Apply before the March 31st deadline, and you could be one of the next beneficiaries to claim your free workspace!