Bolt, an African ride-hailing operator has unveiled the Top 20 finalists who have been inducted into the two-week Bootcamp phase of Bolt Den marking a significant milestone in empowering drivers on their entrepreneurial journey.
A move, which has been described as a monumental leap toward entrepreneurial excellence.
“As we celebrate the drivers who have made it this far, we recognise that drivers are the force behind the wheel, navigating the future of mobility. We are excited to witness the evolution of your ideas as you learn, unlearn, and relearn through the process of ideation” said Ewoma Jerry-Ogeme, Public Policy Specialist for Bolt, Nigeria.
The virtual induction ceremony was held on November 8, 2023, and served as a digital handshake to enlighten drivers about the Bootcamp which is pivotal in nurturing innovative ideas and equipping them with essential knowledge in diverse areas such as business development, financial management, people’s management, trademarks, digital marketing, corporate governance, and more.
The top 20 drivers who emerged from the ideation phase are from five cities, Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna, and Kwara. These drivers are now preparing for the pitch day which is set for November 20, 2023, to present their innovative ideas to a distinguished panel of judges from all walks of life across sectors such as technology, banking, and education who will scrutinise, vet the ideas and shortlist the top 10 drivers. The shortlisted drivers will receive €2,000 seed funding and gain access to a 6-week business mentorship program.
The Bolt Den initiative will culminate in a grand finale on November 21st, with the Award Ceremony coming alongside the launch of a new study from the Oliver Wyman Mobility Forum on “Shared Mobility’s Global Impact” in Africa and Europe. During the event, the top ten drivers with the best innovative ideas will be announced, and Dr Andreas Nienhaus, Head of the Oliver Wyman Mobility Forum, will outline the economic, social, and environmental impact of shared mobility, and the sector’s potential to support ongoing development in African transport systems.
Shortlisted drivers expressed their gratitude for the opportunities presented by the Bolt Accelerator Program and anticipated the pitch day where they would compete to win seed funding of 2000 euros.
Paradise Okoronkwo, Programs Manager at The Nest, shared her excitement, stating, “This induction ceremony has been both exciting and inspiring and your innovation, determination, and talent have set you apart in this highly competitive process. This is just the beginning of a transformative experience.”
