At the third edition of its flagship innovation showcase, the NSIA Prize for Innovation (NPI 3.0), the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) awarded a total of $220,000 to Nigeria’s brightest emerging startups. The event took place in Abuja, drawing stakeholders from tech, finance, and policy, including the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
This year’s NPI Demo Day spotlighted 10 finalists, handpicked from a pool of over 5,000 applications, each with transformative ideas built for scale. According to NSIA, the goal is to accelerate homegrown innovation addressing critical challenges across industries, especially health and sustainability.
“The NSIA Prize for Innovation exemplifies our commitment to nurturing homegrown solutions with the potential for transformative impact,” said Aminu Umar-Sadiq, NSIA’s Managing Director and CEO.
The NSIA partnered with Cascador and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PIVAC) to diversify its award structure. These collaborations introduced new categories, allowing the authority to support more verticals with both capital and capacity-building opportunities.
D-Olivette, Promise Point, and GeroCare Lead the Winners’ Table
D-Olivette Labs, a green-tech startup developing AI-powered bio-digesters that convert organic waste into clean energy and fertiliser, clinched the top prize. It secured $100,000 from NSIA and an extra $15,000 Cascador Impact Prize, totalling $115,000.
Following closely was Promise Point, a woman-led agritech company revolutionising cassava processing. With operations across 1,500 hectares and a network of over 2,000 smallholder farmers, it took home $85,000, combining NSIA’s $70,000 prize and $15,000 from Cascador.
GeroCare, a digital health platform focused on elderly care, received $50,000 from NSIA and a $5,000 healthcare innovation prize courtesy of PIVAC, bringing its total award to $55,000.
Other standout innovations included Mediverse, an automated lab service, and Sosocare, an affordable health insurance provider. Each received $5,000 in healthcare impact funding. AI-powered mental wellness app FriendsnPal earned $15,000 for its predictive platform that supports mental health.
All 10 finalists will participate in a fully funded training at Draper University, Silicon Valley, gaining access to global mentors, networks, and best practices. NSIA describes this as a long-term strategy to shape Nigeria’s shift toward a knowledge-driven economy and entrepreneur-led development.
“This year’s partnerships with Cascador and PIVAC allowed us to deepen our impact in healthcare and social impact spaces,” Umar-Sadiq added.
Innovation at the Centre of Economic Strategy
More than just a prize show, NSIA’s NPI programme is part of a broader mission to drive job creation, boost entrepreneurship, and strengthen Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. The multi-phase competition includes a rigorous accelerator programme, online training, and physical bootcamps, all culminating in the final pitch event.
Each edition aims to uncover Nigeria’s most promising talent and connect them with the tools, funding, and exposure needed to scale. With its latest cohort now Silicon Valley-bound, NSIA has positioned itself as a critical pipeline for high-impact startups ready to solve local challenges with global ambition.
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